Great, you got the job, now what?
How do you start your new job off right? I have LOTS of opinions on that, but why take my word? Let’s hear from new hires who just started working over the last 1-3 years. Their direct quotes in blue italics.
Celebrate before starting
Take the time before starting full-time to relax and do something you’ve always wanted to do. It’s a great time to take a break before diving into your career. (MH)
Don’t worry about all the hard skills, you’ll be taught those, just be eager to learn, and fun to work with and everything else will fall in place. (JK)
Be reliable, do the work
Do the little things right at first. People don’t expect you to have industry knowledge, but they do expect you to do things that require effort and organization. Doing the little things correctly when starting will give your boss faith that they can trust you going forward (SF)
Start strong. First impressions last. (AM)
Work hard! Now’s the time to show off all you know but also be ready and open to learning a whole lot more.
Your first 3-6 months will dictate your next 1-2 years at your firm. Most candidates will end up switching jobs after 2-3 years. Make a good first impression and be in learning mode.
Develop relationships
Develop relationships as soon as you can! Try to find people you love working with (partners, directors, managers, etc.) and try to gain as much as you can from them! (SV)
Reach out to people to get to know them, no matter what their seniority. Be prepared for the meeting with questions and do research on their background if possible. (MH)
The networking never ends. Set up lots of times to speak with people at the firm and ask them to connect you to others. I spoke with an Emory alum in my first two weeks and found out about a group that I love. I’m now apart of that community and on my second project with them. Second, come prepared. When you’re checking in with your manager or meeting with a co-worker, have agenda items to talk through/ Qs you need to get answered. This will drive work forward and gives people time back. (MC)
Ask good questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You’re not expected to know all the answers immediately, and your team wants you to succeed.
Understand that you may not know everything but show that you are proactive and willing to learn. If you don’t know how to do something, try reaching out to your network first so see what others have done in your situation before giving up. (SE)
Ask questions earlier rather than later. Give yourself a buffer on deadline expectations (where applicable) to check your work and seek trusted individuals in the group who have your best interests in mind
Start your career with a learning mindset, learn as much as you can from peers, managers, friends. Its ok to not know everything, never hesitate to ask questions or speak up on what interests you. (SK)
Do no be afraid to ask questions early and often. Of course, these should not be things that are easily found on google, however, if you are having trouble with something the people working with you rather explain it to you early than in crunch time. (JL)
Ask. Questions. LOTS OF THEM! You only get to be “young and dumb” for so long. Take notes and make sure you don’t repeat the same mistake. (JJB)
Don’t be shy to Ask Questions! Just make sure to combine a couple rather than going back and forth. Asking questions shows that you are interested and want to learn! And remember people are more likely answering questions to a new person then if you wait to settle in and then ask.
Ask all the questions you have! When you start, you have unlimited questions on definitions, acronyms, processes, etc. that will help you make new connections on your team, learn more about your role, and have your team see that you are a curious and intellectual teammate.
Be helpful
Make sure to raise your hand when you can and help others out when you can. I think this one is kind of obvious but doesn’t hurt to say. Especially in banking, I’m with my colleagues for 12+ hours a day, and it’s important to know how to work with your team and be cohesive in your team. One of the best ways I’ve been able to do that was by being proactive and covering on items for members on my deal team. Not only does it help create a good impression, but when it comes time when you need a help, people will be more than willing to help you out.
Do not be afraid to offer new solutions to old methods. Constantly think about how you could make a process more efficient. It rewards the entire team. (VJ)
Know your audience
Be engaged with your managers early. Ask for feedback 2-3 weeks into any project to recognize any good work or fix any poor behaviors. This show great initiative too (AR)
You are going to have a boss and your boss is going to have a boss, etc. everyone reports to someone, and you should try to learn what they all expect and how they manage to understand better how and why you are getting the work you get.
Understand the personalities and work styles of people on your team. I realized soon enough that the corporate world is full of people with different personalities and different quirks, and as a junior on the team, it can be tremendously helpful to know what they are and how to adjust your own deliverables/working style when you’re on a team with these individuals.
Advocate for yourself
Make sure to be an advocate for yourself. The one big difference from college and working is that efforts in don’t always mean that you get the result on paper that you want. While it’s super important to put your head down and learn the job in your first couple months, it’s also equally important to know when to speak up and gain visibility within your team. If you’re doing work you want to make sure that people know it and if you have good opinions you want to make sure that people hear it! Being an advocate for yourself and your work will make sure people remember you and have will subsequently advocate for you as well.
Take ownership of your career and speak up for yourself when you need.
Make time to understand the value you bring. Knowing who you are, your skills, interests and potential, will allow you to be your own best advocate. (CX)
Pace yourself, find a rhythm
Do your best to learn quickly, but don’t take for granted the opportunity to be bad at something again. Ask as many questions as you can, pool your resources, and consolidate for yourself what your mentors think you need to know to be successful in the role. Also, it’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed for the first 3 or so more months, don’t freak out if that’s you. We’ve all been there. (AP)
Strategy is about what NOT to do – don’t overcommit to internal firm activities. Choose one thing you’re very passionate about and make sure you’re leaving enough time to balance it with your case work/projects. (MH)
It’s easy early on to think you should try and be as proactive and ambitious on taking on more work. While there is some truth to this, it is also very important to take time to understand the big picture of the job and get to know your teammates.
Know how to balance your work and your personal life. I think this one is easier said than done, especially considering most students in the BBA program want to go down the banking and consulting paths, which are notoriously difficult from an hours perspective. However, knowing what you prioritize in your personal life and being able to work in the time to meet those priorities (even if it’s just half an hour a day) is so important to avoid burnout on strenuous jobs. This is where I think place of employment and team culture plays a factor – my current group values people’s personal time (they advocate for taking gym breaks, long dinners, refusing to ping each other on vacation, etc.) and it has been super helpful for my own mental health.
Make sure you have a solid morning routine. Set yourself up for success every morning and you won’t be stressed about running late or looking unprofessional.
For high pace orgs/industries, it’s up to you to manage your own load and work/life balance. Work will always be there, but your sanity wont. Overworking yourself won’t do any good if you hate your life and quit before you see returns on your labor invested. (TW)
Be eager to learn
Take risks and ask questions, that’s the only way you will learn. (JPS)
At the bottom of the totem pole, people like if you show the propensity to work hard and curiosity. People are very helpful in the beginning, there is a mutual benefit for training you well; if they train you well you take work off of them. If you ask good questions take copious notes so you can record the answers and do not have to ask them again. It comes down to making people’s jobs easier, doing work right the first time, and being proactive for your managers. Sounds stressful but it happens slowly and the best advice is to be intentional about all of what you do. Also, introduce yourself to everyone. (SK)