I came into my first job with gusto! My mottos were ‘rock-the-boat,’ ‘shatter the status quo,’ and ‘pour your heart and soul into everything.’ I was confident and unafraid to show my personality or share my ideas.
I am thankful I started my career this way because it allowed me to embrace new responsibilities and maximize opportunities to learn. While I would never recommend anyone tone down their confidence at any stage of their career, reflecting on that first job and the transition from university to the corporate world, there were a few cringey habits I wish I had kicked sooner.
1. Forgetting You are There to do a Job
Once, I told a colleague that I felt I had more value to offer, but the company wasn’t utilizing my skillset to its fullest potential.
The answer seems obvious now, but at the time, he taught me a valuable lesson. He explained that a company’s role isn’t to maximize my skillset; rather, it hires individuals to fulfill specific roles and complete necessary tasks.
The transition from school to the workforce is interesting. In school, the focus is on creating a multidimensional brand. You get accepted to a top university by creating a resume of accomplishments in sports, activities, societies, and volunteer work, along with academic achievement. In contrast, advancement in the workplace is based on performing well in assigned tasks.
In your first job, it’s crucial to remember that the primary value you bring to your organization is filling the organizational gap you were hired to fill.
2. Treating a Business Presentation Like a Performance
As I prepared for my first presentation to our leadership team, I had planned to start with “I am excited to speak with you all today!” However, my colleague stopped me and said that phrase sounded cheesy.
Looking back, I now realize I was performing rather than informing. I was presenting to people I interacted with every day, but I approached it as if I were on stage addressing a large audience.
In your first job, it’s important to adapt your presentation style to be more informative. It’s not about delivering every word perfectly or keeping the audience entertained; rather, it’s about ensuring that you understand your content thoroughly, and you can provide the necessary information to help your leadership team make informed decisions.
3. Not Using Company-Branded Templates
I was working on a team with colleagues who had just graduated from university. We were putting together a presentation when they suggested using a custom slide template instead of the company-branded one.
Their rationale was that the slide template choice could showcase their creativity, but I explained that it might distract from the message we were trying to convey.
Even though your company-branded slide template may not be the most creative option, it provides a standardized way to present information, allowing leaders to focus on and digest the content. No matter if it is a slide template, email signature, or any other type of branded communication, it is important to stick with the provided template to ensure the materials are aligned with the company brand.
4. Not Feeling Like an Adult
I grew up always using “Mister” or “Miss” when speaking to adults. During my first internship, it felt strange to look around and realize that I, too, am now an adult and should drop the prefix and address people by their first names.
There are cultural contexts where using a prefix instead of a first name is appropriate, but don’t revert to it simply because you still feel like a kid. If you don’t feel mature enough to use someone’s first name, it may delay your opportunities to take on more responsibility and be perceived as a leader.
The transition from university to the corporate world takes some time. You will experience exponential growth in your first year, so make sure to seize every opportunity to learn and develop your professional acumen.
As you embark on your first job, there are a few habits you should aim to break early. Remember that you were hired to fill a gap in your organization, and you add value to your company by achieving success in your role. Don’t forget that the goal of a boardroom presentation is to inform rather than perform, and you should use your standard company templates to minimize distractions. Finally, embrace the fact that you are an adult, capable of handling the responsibilities and on the path to advance into leadership roles.
