Four Tips for Becoming a Trailblazer at Your First Job

Four Tips for Becoming a Trailblazer at Your First Job For four (maybe five okay, six?) years, youve dreamed of walking across the stage at graduation, mom and dad snapping pictures, a diploma fresh in hand that tiny piece of paper telling the world youve been stamped for approval by the Academy.And now youve done it. Youre off the stage and onto the next step of adulthood. Within a few months, youll (hopefully) start your first job. Nervous though you may be, youre likely determined to do well.But, we get it. Youre new the real world. Youre bedrngnis entirely sure how to do well. Youve never had a career. No fear Bill Peppler, managing partner at IT and tech staffing agencyKavaliro, has kindly offered his advice on how you can have an impact on your new organization and make your mark from day one.1. Start During the Interview ProcessIf you want to be a trailblazer that is, the kind of new employee who dives headfirst into things and keeps their e ye on success at all times youfirst have to find a job that is the right fit for both you and youremployer. If youre introverted and the job requires extensive people-to-people interaction and high energy, youre not setting yourself up to do your best work.During the application and interview process, you have to pay attention to your prospective employers culture and think about whether or not its the right place for you.Some companies may be so set in their ways or so structured and regimented in the way they do business that there wont bethe chance for someone to even be atrailblazer, Peppler says. Its important to be honest about who you are as a person and be receptive to the ethos of the company, if you want to find the best match.2. Know Whats Expected of You Before Day OneIn order to hit the ground running, you have to know whats expected of you and you need a clear sense of what you expect from the company.We ask that you share whats expected on our end, Peppler says. How do we keep up expectation on things like pay structure and benefits when potential reviews might be done during the year.In other words You cant meet expectations if you dont know what they are. Your wertmiger zuwachs will reflect that andthats not great news if youre trying to become a trailblazer.3. Exceed ExpectationsAfter youve been in the job for a while and have learned how to meet theminimum expectations set forth by the company, you have to then ask what can be done to surpass those expectations.According to Peppler, a trailblazer understands the role, understands what the goals may be, and understands how to supersede those goals. Its that bit about superseding that really matters here. Trailblazers go above and beyond whenever they can.4. CommunicationAs with any job, communication is paramount. This cant be stressed enough A trailblazer establishes a clear avenue of communication from the very beginning.If there is something you see, whats your solution for it?Peppler s ays.The assumption is that youll establish a line of communication, and anytime you have an idea, a fresh perspective, or an issue, you wont shy away from bringing it to the table.Ultimately, a trailblazer will do all of these things without being told. And you probably wont have an endless supply of reminders once you enter the workforce.So, consider this your guidebook. Pocket it. Stow it away for later. Relish the fact that you dont really have to do homework anymore youre a graduateBut, when it comes time for the dream interview or your first day of work, give this article another look. Now follow those tips and soon, youll be the kind of trailblazer that others are following.