From College Girl to Career Woman:
Vital Things University Won’t Teach You Part 2
Written by: Kate Wisniewski, Pharmaceutical Recruiting Intern
More than likely, your day will go by in a flash. Between meetings, calls, and benchmark goals, your mind will be preoccupied with several things at once. Therefore, it is inevitable that you will make a mistake and not realize the supportive group around you. Take these tips into the workplace and your perspective will be changed for the better.
It’s okay to mess up, but fix what you broke with no excuses.
There is something to be said for owning up to your mistakes. I accidentally created a big problem in our database system over the first three weeks of my job. When my boss told me about the glitch, I was sure I was going to get the can. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is incredibly nice and supportive here at Germer. However, I was so used to the mantra imposed on us in college that perfection is key and anything below is unacceptable. There is always someone else that will gladly take your place. Throughout college, you are graded on a 0-100% scale. You are constantly striving to be ‘good enough’. At work, you are good enough, that’s why you got the job. At no job do you need to be perfect, but you do need to be responsible. When you mess up (and believe me you will), be a mature adult and accept the blame and work towards fixing that problem. If that means working through lunch or coming in early, then, so be it! Don’t be the employee that is running to the door at 5 o’clock. Be the employee that does her job right and with integrity.
You’ll make a little family you had no idea you were missing
At university, you probably made friends in your peer group or around that range. In the workplace, you can work with a recent college grad all the way to your Grandpa’s poker buddy. There will be so many new faces, stories, and personalities you’ll meet. Maybe you don’t like some of them or maybe you’re lucky like me when you genuinely enjoy your colleagues’ company. Regardless, learn from these people. Support them and they will support you. You’ll be spending more time with these employees than you will with your family. Make sure the company culture is a good fit. That woman that sits behind you or the guy a couple rows down will become your work-family. Take them for what they are. Be excited to be a new member, because they will become an integral part in your life.
I hope these tips helped!
Remember: everyone’s experience is different, but, if you’re lucky, you’ll have a fulfilling job and an awesome workplace like mine.