Ten Tips for College Grads Starting Their First IT Job
Posted on Wed, Jun 01, 2011 @ 09:11 AM
With graduation season in full swing, a new group of young IT professionals will soon be entering the workforce. To help them succeed in their first jobs and beyond, here are some tips from MCPc.
1. Put 100% into each task at hand.
Sometimes your job will require you to perform monotonous work. Don’t get discouraged; instead, show a willingness to complete any task at hand. Your co-workers will appreciate your eagerness to learn and succeed.
2. Demonstrate a good work ethic.
Arrive to work before start time, and don’t pack up to leave until after quitting time. During work hours, strive to deliver the highest quality work as efficiently as possible.
3. Treat your co-workers with respect.
Go out of your way to be nice to people and treat them in a respectful manner. For example, say hello in the hallways or invite your co-workers to lunch. Keep in mind that these people may be the ones to write you letters of recommendation, suggest you for an open position, or introduce you to your future boss/employer.
4. Take initiative
Once you have your feet wet — after about 90 days — suggest improvements to processes if you see them. For example, if you would have liked a more structured onboarding or training, take the initiative to create an instructional manual in your spare time, and present it to your manager for approval.
In addition, if you see something that needs to be done, do it. Being proactive will show your co-workers and managers that you respect their time, and that want yourself and the team to succeed.
5. Remember, you’re not in college anymore.
While you may have been able to go out with your friends on a Thursday night until 2am in college, this lifestyle may not sync well with a full-time job. Be responsible in your decisions, and understand their consequences. If you choose to go out, make sure it doesn’t affect your work the next day.
6. Dress for success.
Dress for the position you want to be promoted to, not the one you currently have.
7. Don’t discuss your salary.
It’s unprofessional to discuss your compensation with co-workers. These conversations can cause rifts between employees, hurt feelings, and incite jealousy and competition, so it’s best to avoid them.
8. Speak kindly of others.
The old saying is true: “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It’s just as easy to get a bad reputation at work for gossiping and spreading rumors as it was in college and high school, and it’s just as difficult to erase that reputation later.
9. Be smart about your finances.
Sign up for your company-sponsored 401k plan as soon as you can to take advantage of the benefits of compounding interest. At minimum, contribute the amount needed to get the highest company match. For example, if your company matches $.50 on every dollar up to 3%, contribute 3%. It’s basically like giving yourself a raise.
In addition, employers run credit and criminal background checks on people all the time. It may seem obvious, but it’s important to understand that a bankruptcy or rap sheet will eliminate you pretty quickly from consideration for many jobs, and will bring your trustworthiness into question.
10. Be honest.
We all know it’s not always easy to be honest, but it will go a long way toward building your trustworthiness and demonstrating your emotional intelligence — both of which are critical to building your career.
Bonus tip: Remember how lucky you are to have a job. Think about all the people who are unemployed and would love to be in your shoes. Even when you are overwhelmed and unsure of yourself, remember that your employer hired you for a reason. They saw your potential and picked you over other qualified candidates. Do your best every day to validate that decision in your favor.
Your thoughts?
What is the best advice you have for recent college grads making the transition to the workforce?
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Beth Stec is VP of Corporate Communications and Human Resources at MCPc, and is responsible for the development and management of personnel programs and policies. Connect with Beth on LinkedIn.
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Image credit: ralphandjenny
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