You’re Hired, Now What?

Posted: October 17, 2014, 11:31 a.m.
by Rachel Uniatowski.

You did it. You landed your first job right out of college, and you’re on your way to becoming a public relations professional. But wait — you’ve only had internships, and you have no idea what to expect when you walk in the doors on your first day. Don’t panic. Before you head out into the real world, here’s some advice on how to survive your first job.

Double check everything
Santa isn’t the only one who needs to be checking his list twice. Be sure to thoroughly check your work multiple times. Even better, get your colleagues to proof your work before sending anything out. Don’t get me wrong. Mistakes will happen — it’s your first job — but if you can limit the amount by double-checking your work, your boss will appreciate it.

Network 
“Don’t stop believing” . . . I mean networking. Just because you are newly employed doesn’t mean you need to stop networking. Continuously connect with other professionals in the field to keep building relationships. You never know if you’re going to like a job, and it’s important to keep connections outside your company in case you want to make a career shift. Keeping relationships alive in your network is also a benefit whenever you are seeking advice.

Ask for help
“Help, I need somebody, help” . . . seriously, it’s OK to ask for help. Your boss will appreciate you more when you ask for help rather than doing a poor job. If you don’t understand something or need information, ask your boss to set up some time to sit with you and make sure you are on the right track.

Do more
Go in early and stay late. In the words of Nike, “Just Do It.” Your employers will appreciate your dedication and will be impressed by your hard work. Putting in the extra hours will not only benefit your boss but also yourself. You will learn more and gain more experience than you would by only giving the minimum.

Speak up
Speak now or forever hold your peace . . . no one will ever hear your good ideas if you don’t speak up. Just because you’re in a lower-level position doesn’t mean you can’t pitch ideas to your boss. Don’t be afraid to express your views. Your employers hired you because they thought you were great; make them remember that.

Now that you have some tips to surviving your first job, put your head up, strut through those doors and rock it!