Your first job after graduating college is like a stepping-stone. Oftentimes, your first job will be stressful and it won’t pay well, which is par for the course. This is why they call it entry level. No matter the stressfulness of the job or the low pay, you want to take this job seriously, because it could determine the rest of your future career. The decisions you make in your first job will be noticed in your next job, and so on. Moreover, the things you learn by working hard and asking questions will boost your success in your next position. Here is how to succeed in your first job after graduating college.
Be Willing to Complete Tasks that Others Won’t Complete
Picking up slack is important when you are trying to impress. However, it can also be beneficial to you too, especially if you are trying to test your limits in a professional setting. Plus, it will reflect positively on your performance reports, which could determine future promotions.
Go Out on a Limb and Stay After Hours if Necessary
There will be times when the work builds up and starts to overflow. If this is the case, you may be the one to stay after hours to complete the work. Instead of hoping you don’t get picked, you may want to elect yourself to stay after hours. This is the best way to get to the position where you are doing the delegating and not the other way around. It may take a couple of years, but you will really appreciate the fact that you went the extra mile.
Speak to Your Boss and Ask What They Want in Your Position
If you get to work with your boss, you may want to ask questions about what he or she looks for in your position. A model employee should be unique, but they shouldn’t go outside of the parameters of what a boss is looking for. Plus, many different business leaders will have a model. It is your job to learn what that model is, because it may help you get ahead and be the best you can be in your position.
Come to Work with a Professional, Positive Attitude
Of course, you also want to come to work with a professional attitude. This means that you should be well rested, well dressed and well groomed. On a Monday, you don’t want to look like you spent the weekend letting loose. Your tie should be straight, your suit jacket should be pressed and you should be ready to present new ideas and apply yourself.
Be Ambitious and Always Look Ahead
On top of everything, you want to be ambitious. This means that you want to always think of your career with a macro perspective. Moreover, you should always be learning – not only from your successes, but also from your mistakes and failures. In the end, this may be a stepping stone position, but you want to be able to step out to the next stone when you are ready. What you do today, could prepare your for University of Maryland’s online MBA program, and it’s programs like these that lead to successful, high-earning careers.
