Choose your first job wisely to be successful:

To most of us a first job is a real sign of the world that was promised. It is validation of the self that we have so carefully built through years of struggle and countless sleepless nights.

Therefore, it is no surprise that the question: ‘What should you look for in a first job?’ has undergone much needed scrutiny. This article will offer no easy hacks or cheat sheets. Instead, I will share what I have learnt along the journey and hope you will find wisdom in the perspectives that emerge from a retrospective connecting of many dots.

The metaphor of first love seems fitting to describe the emotional anchors associated with a first job. We all enter the world of work with the unflinching belief that we will change it — create an impact or become the best! The infectious enthusiasm that all the ‘firsts’ elicit is etched in our personal histories.

Personal values: 

On campus, our decisions are often influenced by what I would call the ‘collective conscious’ or our personal imperatives. So the highest paying job suddenly becomes synonymous with the dream job. Free goodies, red-carpet campus connect events and suddenly we are taken in by ‘all that jazz’.

Think about what your personal values are, what you most enjoy doing and then target a job and an industry that will give you an opportunity to experiment and learn. Do not chase a salary figure. Find a role that you’d love and you will earn.

Manager: 

Your first manager will determine the work ethic that you will embody for the greater part of

your career. Seek to work with a manager who will intellectually challenge you, who will nudge you out of your comfort zone and help you see the world through varied lenses.

Don’t get too hassled if you land up with a bad manager. You will learn as much from them if not more —what not to do when you become a manager and this is an important learning.

Organization’s culture: 

The culture of a place, its values, norms and practices have a huge impact on our happiness and success. But how do you figure out the culture of a company you’ve never worked for? Asking the question ‘How is this organization different from other organizations?’ will not give you answers. People generally think their cultures are more distinctive than they actually are — uniqueness bias. Though it is tempting to look for a great culture, it is wiser to rule out the worst cultures, as toxic behaviors wreak more havoc than positive behaviors breed joy. If the general view of an organization is that it is wildly unfair and inflexible — cross it off your list.

Note how an organization responds to failures. Every on-campus presentation will speak about how innovation is core to the company’s culture. Dig deeper. An organizational culture that encourages fast failure and quick integration of lessons learned is likely to be innovative in practice.

Growth mindset: 

Remember to have fun. Your first job is your learning zone. Operate in it with a growth mindset. Instead of just spending time doing things, spend more time exploring, asking, experimenting, reflecting, striving and becoming. Find a mentor or a trusted colleague to exchange ideas or have vulnerable conversations with.

Be patient: 

Take your time when entering the workforce and go step-by-step. Sometimes decision-making in large organizations may not always keep pace with the expectations of people who live in the digital age. All your ideas may not be accepted. Understand that an organization that has stayed around long enough would have seen several cycles of change. Do not read implicit knowledge as resistance to change.

Persevere and be committed to succeeding. And if you still wind up feeling shortchanged, remember it is not the end of the world. It is just one phase of your life!

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