First, some good advice:
As far as possible, try to get paid for doing something you enjoy.
Don’t plunge straight into working if you have the opportunity to travel or work abroad first.
Don’t use your exit interview to vent – you never know whom you’ll meet up with or need again.
PIECE OF BAGGAGE TO LOSE, NOW!
The sneaking suspicion that you aren’t good enough.
If someone bumps you with their supermarket trolley, do you automatically apologise? Have you never asked for a pay rise? Do you secretly feel you got your job through a lucky mistake? Constantly feeling unworthy of good things is an insidious, unnecessary handicap. You are good enough.
To Do
1. Update yourself with the truth
Enumerate your best qualities: for example, empathy, spontaneity, loyalty to your friends. Then list your life achievements: ‘gave up smoking’, ‘left a relationship that made me miserable’. Copy out your list and post it where you’ll see it often.
2. Keep a journal
Use it to record your dreams and daily feelings. Reading through it regularly will help you track your emotional changes over time and pick up recurring psychological themes.
3. Pick your supporters. Write a list of friends who run you down, even subtly.
Next, write a list of those who are supportive of your brave decisions.
Now consciously decide whom you really want to be around.
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DON’T LIE IN JOB INTERVIEWS
Because the working world is built on trust, lying can prove detrimental. In short, your lies will follow you. Start your working relationship off positively by being truthful upfront. During interviews, don’t lie about qualifications, dismissals or reasons for wanting to change jobs. Most interviewers can detect lies, and a reference check easily confirms them. Employees are usually hired according to the general picture they project, not the finer details, so admitting to weaknesses shouldn’t jeopardise your chances. If you’re hired on the strength of lies, you run the risk of being found out.
Lying to ‘cover yourself’ when you’ve made a balls-up at work can be tempting, but the repercussions of lying are far worse than those of owning up. A good manager will appreciate it when you’re honest enough to say, ‘I’ve made a mistake. What can I do to help solve the problem?’ By taking responsibility for your mistakes, which takes courage and maturity, you earn respect. When you’re caught lying, regaining your colleagues’ trust and respect will be difficult. And, next time there’s a botch-up, they’ll undoubtedly look your way first.
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HOW TO HANDLE YOUR FIRST DAY AT A NEW JOB
Find out as much as you can beforehand. For example, you don’t want to make the mistake of parking in the boss’s parking bay…
Don’t be late. Allow an extra 10 minutes to find parking and cover any last-minute hitches (leaving your glasses at home, laddering your stockings.)
Find out what the dress code is. Generally, though, it’s advisable to wear something classic and smart-casual in a neutral colour and wait until you’ve sussed out what’s acceptable before dazzling your new colleagues with your psychedelic shirt collection. And unless you’re starting work at an erotic dance club, avoid wearing overly sexy or provocative outfits such as too-tight trousers, miniskirts, or low-cut tops that reveal acres of cleavage (or chest hair if applicable).
If your boss hasn’t already, it’s a good idea to <stronginforming staff what you do and where they can find you.
In the early days, avoid responding to your new colleagues’ friendly questions by spilling your life story. Be discreet with personal details until you’ve decided who you can trust and who you want to befriend.
Humility is important. Don’t go into a new environment thinking that you’re God’s gift or you’ll come across as a know-it-all. Confidence and friendliness generally make a better impression than being a bit shy and reserved, but try not to overdo it. Rather than rushing in with attitude and expecting everyone to adapt to you right from the beginning, just sit back awhile and observe.