5 Things to Expect in Your First Professional Role

The first thing you notice in your first job is the stark difference between work and school. In school, many things are still being given to you, as you’re still being taught. No one expects you to know that much, after all you’re still a student.

But as soon as you step into the workplace, not only are you bombarded with expectations, but there are so many unwritten rules you’re “expected” to follow. And they really do expect you to follow unspoken rules. Your first job could even be an internship. This article helps you to understand what to expect in your first professional role.

1. Administrative Overload

Expect a lot of paperwork. You’d find yourself saying a lot of “why is that even necessary?!!”. This is where you’re set up so that you can even function in that environment. There are many things that are specific to workplaces, like how you get in and out of the building. Who you communicate with, what you do when you have a problem and several others.

Depending on the type of job, you may need some light – or intensive – training. If you’d be communicating electronically, an email has to be set up for you.

2. Technical Hurdles

Even after everything is set up, expect to run into some issues. These issues can include but aren’t limited to login, access to files, and several other things users of computer systems encounter in the early stages of usage.

3. Slow start

For the first few hours, or maybe even days, you may have nothing to do, and you just have to sit through the boredom. You cannot afford to distract yourself with your phone for too long, otherwise you come off as unserious.

This is also somewhat understandable too, as your line manager isn’t yet sure what responsibilities to give you. This will not be for long, as you were hired for a reason, and at some point, the work will come.

4. The Subsequent Whirlwind

After the slow start, expect things to pick up quickly. Before you know it, things are moving at 500 MPH, and you’re struggling to keep up. This is where you need someone you can talk to. It could be your line manager or a colleague who has been there before you.

That person will help you understand what’s normal and what’s not. The person will also help you solve some problems, so that you don’t need to go to your line manager or IT every 40 minutes.

5. Unwritten Rules

This is why you need to pay attention. Not everything will be said. For instance, you may notice that everyone dresses in a dress short and tie, even though you were told to just “look good”. It’s wise to adjust accordingly.

Don’t say “well no one actually said I should dress this way”. It may not be dressing. It could be that you notice everyone stands up when a certain person walks in, even if every “manager” has already been introduced to you and this person wasn’t one of them.

Workplaces are for teamwork, so being able to blend in means picking up on what is said, and perhaps more importantly, what’s not said.

Useful tips for your first job

Be proactive in introductions: Introduce yourself first, don’t wait until people introduce themselves to you.

Ask Questions: Ask for processes, procedures, and where to find resources you may need. Ask about observations you’ve made too, don’t assume you’ve figured something out. Things aren’t always what they seem.

Avoid overloading yourself: Don’t be quick to say yes to everything. Understand your role first.

Conclusion

Your first job can be overwhelming, but if you’re prepared for it, it won’t hit as hard. Once you get past the first few days, you’d settle in just fine. Remember that the administrative stuff is more for your benefit.

How? In large organizations, success depends on being able to keep track of what you’re supposed to. This is why processes are put in place. With this corporate starter pack, you’re ready for your first job. You already had the technical skills, now you have everything else you need.

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