The joy of landing your first job is inexpressible. But as soon as the excitement and jubilation wear off and the joining date approaches, you start to feel some trepidation about the job.
“How am I going to settle in the new place?” “How will I make a place for myself?” “What to do and what to stay clear off?” “What sort of people will I meet?”
Several such questions creep in your mind and make you anxious.
If you join individually or even in a group, the new unknown corporate world poses a lot of challenges. And with no guidebook or mentor, it’s even more challenging to meander your way through the new organization and make the right choices.
So here are a few tips for settling down quickly and become the Best in your first Software Job:
1. Silence is Golden
For the first couple of months or until you know the organization better, talk less, and listen more. What you have learned in college or what you know may not be useful in this new environment. It’s better to keep your mouth shut (unless specifically asked for) and listen more to the people around you and get to know the organization better.
2. Who’s Who
Look up for the who’s who within the organization. It’s essential to know the important people or departments in the organization with whom you might need to interact. Some such people would be:
- Team members, you would be working with
- Reporting Lead
- Reporting Manager
- Client, you would be working for (even if you don’t get to interact initially, its good to know the client and the contact name)
- HR Executive, to whom you can direct any Organization Policy related queries
- Networking Executive, to whom you can direct any system and network related issues. You are bound to face system and network issues initially so make sure you know who they are and where their location.
3. Technology Stack
Find out the technology stack that you would be working on. It could be something that you have know from your college days. In this case, find out what features of that technology are being used in the project and revise.
In case, new technology is being used; it’s better to start learning it from day one and stay ahead of your peers.
4. Follow the Instructions
When you don’t have experience and the things that you have learned until now are not of much use in the corporate world. So the least expectation from you is to be able to follow the instructions to the dot. That means ‘do the things exactly as mentioned.’ Don’t assume, don’t deviate, don’t do more or less than necessary.
If you think you have a better idea, then run it by your lead or the person who assigned the task first.
5. Ask Questions
When in doubt, Ask! This is even apt for your first job.
There will be many tasks that you will be assigned and sometimes you won’t fully understand. It’s better to ask the questions and clear off your doubts and then go and do it rather than do it with incorrect assumptions.
Even if you have understood a complex task, better to paraphrase your understanding and get a confirmation before you begin with the job.
People seldom mind answering questions but are disappointed if the task is done incorrectly.
6. Be Professional
When you walk into your first job, leave your college behind. Both the worlds are very different.
Conduct yourself in a professional manner.
7. Have A Great Attitude
As a fresh graduate, one thing that you can bring to the table is a great attitude and an open mind. In the initial days, your attitude towards work and coworkers will determine where you will end up within the organization. And you will get the work based on other’s impression about you.
Always be ready to pick up any work that’s asked of you. Try to do the work to the best of your abilities. Be a sponge and soak in as much information as you can, learn as much as you can and from whoever you can. Talk to colleagues from different departments, different projects, and gather their experiences. Work hard, Work honestly, and carry a never say die attitude.
8. Impeccable Reporting
Reporting is one of the most important aspects of a job. When you have finished your job, immediately report back, so that your lead knows the work is completed and you are ready for more.
When the assigned work is going to take more time than anticipated, report ahead of time rather than the lead having to follow up with you
Before you leave for the day report back verbally (if possible) and through an email, the status of your day’s work. If you are stuck somewhere, ask for help rather than sitting on your own.
Proper and timely reporting makes you a reliable person in the eyes of your lead and manager.
9. Take the initiative and Speak Up
Lastly, if you want to make a mark for yourself, make sure you finish the work assigned to you in time or earlier and with the highest quality.
Take the initiative and ask for more work if the work assigned to you gets over. Help out your peers and ask your seniors if you can help them in any way. Sometimes doing unit testing for their code piece could be a big help for them.
When your views are sought on any matter, make sure you provide it. Even when you are not asked and you feel your inputs can help, speak up gently and make sure you are heard. Such initiatives never go unnoticed. Make yourself visible in the Organization for all the right reasons.