“YOUNGEST PERSON AT WORK?”

Having been "the youngest person at work" on a number of former occasions, I can genuinely relate to you. Running round trying to meet clients to justify a value add, let alone an age gap. Jump forward 10+ years and pair that former youthful advantage with leading teams of "High School Graduates, Interns and University Graduates" that were 17 - 25 years of age, it's safe to say that I have personally seen the struggles. 

Whether you are 18 or 25+ years of age typically the first day on the job can be a little nerve wrecking. New faces, new surroundings, new processes and you don’t even know where the bathroom is (for some reason you also feel somewhat afraid to ask!). The good news is, there is a way to successfully integrate in to the system a little quicker but it also requires a little more effort from you.

Let’s touch on 2 closely related topics that a large majority of Interns and Graduates face in the work environment. "First Day At Work" & "Being The Youngest Person In The Office". 

Here are 10 points that might help:

1) Just be YOU. You got the job for a reason. You’ve cleared the screening process, the rigorous interviews, scary line managers calling your bluff on CV points and you successfully secured your place alongside them in the office. This means you must have done something correctly, so don’t be so hard on yourself. Be natural, be you.

2) Start asking questions. Don’t sit back and wait to be given a series of tasks, this is the most ineffective way to settle in to a new role and also doesn’t reflect well when trying to impress your new line manager. We want to see those that are proactive not reactive, see what you can do whilst you’re being set up. The first few days are normally full of administrative duties, training, introductions etc. but this doesn’t mean you can’t take on a couple of small tasks whilst you wait for your first briefing or assignment. 

3) Take a deep breath, swallow the confidence and introduce yourself. Start networking around your new office as quickly as possible to get your face known. Drop in the one liner that it’s your first day and you are super excited about the opportunity to get started, word travels fast with the new kid on the block!

4) But lose the ego. Ego in any role is needed (to a certain degree), it gives you that backbone booster to remind yourself that you are good enough to get it done and get it done well. It does not mean become the elephant in the room attempting to convince the Group General Manager that you are the best graduate they have ever witnessed because you were top of the class at an Ivy league university whilst you casually sip a latte in the pantry! Fine line between confident and smug. 

5) Study up on the company. Research, research, research – naturally, for the most part should have been done as part of your hiring process but it doesn’t hurt to bring yourself up to speed on who works where, what departments they operate in, what the expansion plans are for the firm, what information is publicly listed or featured in the news or social media. 

6) Dress to impress whilst pushing for success. First impressions are everything, make it count. You’ve cleared the rounds that “require” you to be at your very best, don’t let it slip just because you’ve arrived at the destination. The better you look, the better you feel and the more appealing you become to those around you. Bring the energy!

7) Put in the hours. At the beginning you are going to need to prove yourself, whether you have the experience or not you have big boots to fill. Use your young and vibrant energy on going that extra mile, bring out the fighter. Don’t however burn yourself out. (Future you will thank me for that one liner!)

8) Ask for the stories. How did your manager get to where they are today? How did your colleague end up specialising in a niche area? Why do they love working for the firm? Understand the culture through your colleagues, build the relationships from day one and show your genuine interest.

9) Respect that your manager is your manager for a reason. This one is a big one. Some professionals gel from the beginning however others take time, but the fact of the matter is, your manager is there for a reason. Respect his/her views, thoughts and processes even if you don’t necessarily agree.

10) You are not going to change the world (or the company) overnight. It takes time to adjust to the system. One thing that I have seen on a number of occasions (with fresh graduates in particular) is that if within 3-6 months you feel that you have not yet made a significant impact to an organisation it means you have failed or not added value. Wrong. All great things take time, stop being so hard on yourself and just ensure you continue to do your best. 

Being the youngest professional in the office can definitely be difficult for the most part however it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences out there if you embrace your surroundings, becoming a knowledge sponge and rise to the challenges.

My grandfather has a great saying that “You can’t put a wise old man’s head on a set of young shoulders”. Words worth dwelling on!