Crushing Your First Corporate (Or Any) Job

In one of my first assignments in a new role (after pivoting from a completely different educational background), I turned in an assignment that was not what my boss had expected. She looked at me like I was the most incompetent human on earth and sarcastically said, “oh, I forgot that this was your first real jobby-job.”

I didn’t know how to advocate for myself and I was scared to ask any questions. I felt like I was floundering until eventually, I got fired.

It took me many more years to figure out how to do things the right way with a lack of sufficient mentorship. But you don’t have to figure this out alone.

So how can you meet – and exceed – expectations from day one? Here are five tips for crushing your first (or later!) 9-5 job.

1. Network, Network, Network

Three of the jobs I’ve held, including the most senior ones, were because of contacts that I’d made completely outside of the workplace – I never even submitted an application.

You want to set yourself up at the very beginning of your career with strong mentors and supporters. These are the people who will write letters of recommendation, connect you with opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise know about, and give you valuable and actionable advice.

Creating authentic connections goes beyond simply getting a job. By maintaining a diverse professional network, you will expand your horizons of what is possible in your own career.

Set goals to meet people in all departments and levels of your organization (including support staff), members of your community, and interesting people in the virtual world. Find out what they do and let them know what you do and how you can help. When you strengthen this connecting muscle, you’ll also see your confidence and communication skills grow.

2. Be Prepared

There is nothing worse than going into a meeting with your manager where she asks you a question and you stare blankly back at her. Instead of going into your check-ins expecting to simply answering her questions, take the lead! Go in with an agenda, a list of tasks you are working on or have recently completed, and any questions that you need answered to complete your next set of tasks (and always pen and paper or your laptop!). Do not be afraid to ask for clarity or an explanation if you didn’t understand something.

This proactive mindset is also known as “managing up” and it can set you up to get trust, respect, and more responsibility within your organization. Initially, it may feel like you are being asked to read your manager’s mind, but getting in sync with her will eventually lead you to anticipate what she wants. The key is being aligned not just on the deliverables, but on the goals and values of the people (you, her, and the rest of your team) and the company.

3. Count Your Wins – and Collect Your Losses

Keep track of all of your successes at work, whether it’s winning a new client, presenting to your organization’s leadership team, making a sale, or making a positive change within your workplace. Even (especially) if it’s something that is outside the normal scope of your work, include it – you never know when that nugget will become useful as your career trajectory plays out. Be as detailed as possible, and include numbers, statistics, and data. When you ask for a raise or promotion, sit down to write your resume, or look for a mentor, this list will be so helpful. 

Obviously, however, not everything is going to be a win. You’re going to make mistakes because you’re human. Think of each instance as an opportunity for growth. If your boss points something out to you, be humble and open to coaching. Don’t get defensive and argumentative. Understand how and why it happened, and learn from it. Importantly, don’t allow these stumbles to put you in a state of self-doubt and lack of confidence. You’re better for having gained this valuable feedback!

4. Set Boundaries

It is your company’s job to get as much as they can out of you. And it is your job to maintain your mental and physical health. Letting your manager and co-workers know your personal limits, preferred times and methods of communication, and working style.

Setting boundaries can sound really scary (“what if they say no?!”), but by clearly defining your expectations of how you want to be treated, and also acknowledging the boundaries of others, you are creating a baseline for respect and professionalism among your colleagues. Not only will this protect your time balance and prevent you from getting burned out quickly, but it will model an environment where toxicity and bullying are not tolerated.

5. Negotiate Your Salary

Women often don’t negotiate their first salaries as frequently or aggressively as their male counterparts (and sometimes not at all). Especially in an economy like the one that we have now, it can feel like any offer is better than not having a job at all.

Your first salary can set the basis for your future compensation, and can even dictate how quickly you will receive a raise and promotions.

This initial discrepancy can even lead to sexist misperceptions about your abilities, work ethic, and goals (because if the guy down the hall is making more, he must be better qualified, right?!). If you demand more, you’ll show up at a higher level and command more respect. P.S. Always negotiate something - if they absolutely can’t give you more money, ask about things like stock options, work-from-home, vacation days, or other benefits.

This blog was previously published on worked-up.com.