Stepping Into the World of Work

To me, the world of work is a promising place.

It’s also an unknown place, a new place, a different place, and a scary place for many early career professionals.

When I was preparing to start my first job after college, I was flooded with a mix of emotions. A natural adjuster, I felt ready for a schedule, for expectations from my mentors and my supervisor, for what I would encounter working with young students, for the content I was responsible for teaching them and the skills I was entrusted to help them build.?

I wasn’t ready for the financial planning, the career growth and projection, the uncomfortable conversations and meetings, the perceptions from coworkers, and the holistic change that comes with graduating from college and entering my career.?

In an April survey by ResumeBuilder.com, 74% of managers and business leaders reported that they find Gen Z more difficult to work with than other generations.

Given the challenges we see employers face when hiring and training young talent, how do we prepare ourselves for the world of work to support ourselves, to work well with our colleagues across generations, and to foster strong relationships with our managers and mentors?

I have a few ideas:

1. Know yourself, your value, your shortcomings… all of it!

Forbes named self-awareness as the most important skill for hybrid work environment leadership early last year, and I would argue it extends as an incredibly important skill for young professionals. Self-awareness helps us understand what we’re good at, how we can extend our skill sets to others and to our work, and what we need to do to be better. It also helps us communicate more openly and honestly, build trusting relationships in the workplace, and advocate for our needs with the ability to recognize when we’re missing the mark.

Of course, gaining self-awareness is always a work in progress. We adapt to our surroundings, make better use of our skills and strengths in certain settings over others, and grow as individuals and within our teams. I have always had a strong understanding of what I want and need from a workplace and career, but it was hard to name my skills and specific attributes. In a world of work where foundational skills, enduring skills, and systems skills are so important, it’s key to know what you’re good at and to be able to successfully articulate that value to opportunities.

Self-assessments and skills sorts helped me understand my strengths. Asking for feedback and developing a pattern of checking in with myself and my network also helped me grow my relationship with myself. By being more self-aware, I’ve strengthened my communication, developed a better understanding of my teamwork and collaboration styles, made better decisions for myself and others, and effectively managed my stress. I also know my areas for growth, what I can do to be a more supportive colleague, and how I can ask productive questions and gain meaningful feedback from my challenge network.

2. Communicate your heart out

Communication really is key. Knowing yourself involves knowing your communication style preferences, your strengths, and your areas for growth. It took a bit for me to understand my own values when it comes to communication, but because the process is iterative and ever-evolving, there’s always room for improvement and self-evaluation.

Communication, one of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies, is high on the priority list for employers to see in their Gen Z hires. Not only do employers want early career talent who can communicate well, they also want talent pools who are open to feedback, whose communication is solid in written and verbal forms, and whose character allows for meaningful conversations. It’s important to develop strong communication between managers, colleagues, and beyond.

Effective communication supports employee engagement, mitigates potential conflicts, boosts productivity, and builds positive relationships across teams. Gen Z can enter the world of work with an openness to modes of communication that other generations will enjoy, and they can also establish their communication norms and expectations. There’s a learning opportunity for everyone involved, bettering the world of work every step of the way.

3. Invest in yourself & those you work with

You are all you’ve got. If you’re not taking the initiative to invest in yourself, for the benefit of your current workplace and your future professional self, you are doing yourself a major disservice.?

Every 3 months or so, I take time to review my professional goals and dreams. I write out my accomplishments, my sticking points, my wins and my losses, and more. I plan for the future, emphasizing what I hope to achieve with clear action steps to get there.?

I also take time, both on my own and with my supervisor, to think of ways to invest in my colleagues and the collective work we do as a team. I champion professional development and find ways for us to engage with thought enhancers on a variety of topics relevant to career development. I discuss strategy with leadership in terms of where we’re heading and what we need to prioritize for the betterment of our work.?

Investing in yourself is a process that should begin early and stay as a regular practice throughout your professional career. You are your biggest asset, and while it’s always important to pour into yourself, it’s equally as important to pour into those around you.?

As a first-generation, Gen Z college student and professional, entering the world of work was a significant moment and period of learning. If you find yourself in a similar position or are looking for ways to support Gen Z young professionals as they navigate this process, connect with me to learn more.

This week, I…

This week, as a professionally unprofessional, I balanced facilitating a graduate course with my full-time job. While multitasking and taking on several responsibilities isn’t always pretty, it makes me feel whole and satisfied. I also spent extra time with my partner and friends, which fed my soul.