Life Before Noon: A Millennial’s Manual

At an after-work function last week, a colleague (it still feels weird for me to say that) was discussing a recent issue he had with a parent of a prospective student. He was appalled that this student’s parent was doing all the work for him — calling about this and that — when the student should be the one taking the initiative to get the questions he had answered himself. After this little rant several of my co-workers just looked at each other and in unison shook their heads and simply said one word, “Millennials.”

It got me thinking.

Being a Generation Y blogger and all, I should have been well aware of what I was getting myself into. Perhaps I’m just naive, okay really naive, but I entered my first post-grad job not concerned with a potential divide that could exist between the Baby Boomer generation and the Millennials. (And for that matter, where do those angst-ridden Generation Xers come into play?) But the truth is an (typically) unspoken rift between the old and the new thrives in the workplace. That’s life, kid.

If I had a nickel for every computer tip I’ve given in the last three weeks, well let’s just say, I’d have a lot of nickels. But technology isn’t the only thing we’re good at. Despite what you may think, some of us can take constructive criticism and accept failure as a possiblity. And most of us certainly wouldn’t allow our parents to do the talking for us.

Stereotypes exist. And I’m not out to become some beacon of hope for my fellow Millennials and launch some overzealous political movement fighting for right to party. But I hate being la bled as a self-involved whiner who needs to be spoon-fed success in order to sleep at night.

Not all of us were given trophies just for participating in Little League. Some of us got them for actually being able to hit a ball every now and then.

-Marilyn

As you can tell from the past couple of posts on LBN, some of us are starting our first post-grad jobs. And while Rachel’s last post gave us a play by play of those first crucial days and how to expect the often overlooked (i.e. bus schedules and the tasks your boss will throw at you to “get your feet wet”), I thought I would take a look at some tips to help you manage the more typical aspects of your first week on the job.

We all know the advice for prepping pre-first day — do your research, dress appropriately, etc. But what about the specifics? Filling out tax forms and the countless stacks of paper work HR hands you that first day can be daunting, and if you’re anything like me, a little over your head (I’m still not entirely sure what a 401K is). Hopefully some of this advice that I’ve received from employers, friends and the blogging community will help ease some of those first-week jitters.

1. Listen at orientation.It can be tempting to zone out when the rep from HR covers your IRA plan for the fourth time, but it’s probably not a good idea. The information they’re covering is seriously important and it’s nice to have a better understanding of all the unfamiliar terms and policies. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. I had my rep triple check the forms I gave her just to make sure I comprehended exactly what I was signing.

2. Take notes. Every meeting you have, every tour you get, every random piece of advice your coworkers give you — jot it down. You don’t know what is what, so write down anything you hear. It’s better to have too much info than not enough.

3. Start building relationships with your coworkers.First impressions count. Try and meet everyone you can but make a genuine effort to get to know them. No doubt you’ll be introduced to the ones you’ll interact with on a more consistent basis, but go out of your way to set up a coffee date with the ones you necessarily won’t.

4. Soak it all in. Your first week is for you to have a chance to observe your work environment and let it really sink in. It will be filled with a ton of education and discovery about your position and the company, and it can be overwhelming, so try to take it one thing at a time.

As a first timer entering your first legit 40 hours per week, you’ll realize that your college degree does little to help prepare your for that first week. Since when was the last time you consulted your PR Design Guide for tips on how to operate the fax machine? But that is one of the good things about the new kid — most companies will take the time to train you appropriately so you’re not expected to run down the specs on a process simplification project right away. They get that you’re the new kid and you’re allowed time to figure things out for yourself. Be proactive in making that first week count and you’ll be well on your way to having a successful first two weeks.

-Marilyn

After spending a couple months job searching and painstakingly long hours contemplating my future it finally paid off and I landed my first post-grad job. But between the feelings of excitement and relief came a lot of stress. What will my first day be like? Will my new co-workers like me? Will I even like them? There are many questions that come with starting something new and your first job is especially suspect to this. Making the transition from college to your career can be tough, so here are some tips to calm your nerves.

1. Research. I’m preparing for my first day on the job the same way I prepared for the interview by researching. It’s very important to learn the company’s philosophy, organizational structure and culture before you go in. You’re not going to be able to learn everything on your own, but it’s nice to head in with some valuable knowledge about the place that pays your bills.

2. Dress appropriately.You may have been able to gauge the company’s dress code when you went in for your interview, if not it’s better to lean on the conservative side of things until you figure out what their culture is like. Stick to a simple, classic suit and you can’t go wrong. Take a tip from Deion Sanders, if you look good you feel good and if you feel good you’ll play good.

3. Ask questions. You’re new and your co-workers will get that. It’s okay to ask questions and let others help you out, but don’t go overboard. Come across as too needy and you’ll be branded as incompetent. But avoid the opposite — refusing help and they’ll see you as snobby. Aim for a happy medium and you’ll be fine.

4. Stay positive. Even though you may be nervous and have no idea what to expect you should still go in with a good attitude and a smile on your face. Be friendly and polite. Like your mom always says, just be yourself.

When it comes right down to it you have to throw expectations out the window. Nobody can foresee what your first job is going to be like, but you can aid the process by thoughtfully preparing for it.

-Marilyn