No, I’m not talking about a run-in with the cast of the popular MTV show. It’s been about two months since my graduation from Temple University. As I join the thousands of fresh-faced graduates coming into the workforce (and, in this economy, many others still looking,) I couldn’t resist the chance to share some knowledge I’ve gained as a full-time employee at one of Philadelphia’s top PR agencies.
Agency work is exciting and fast paced. I have yet to experience a boring day at Vault and I don’t see that happening any time soon. This made the transition from college to the working world a lot easier for me. If you’re going to be at one place 40 hours a week, you’d better like it!
That being said, work can easily start to overwhelm a new hire like me. As a college student with a lot on my plate, I thought I was the queen of prioritization and time management, but those two concepts have a completely different meaning in the work world.
Luckily, I reached out to a colleague here at Vault for some advice on how to be successful in an entry-level role.
These were her pearls of wisdom:
1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! (Gee, how ironic that I had just reached out to her!) It can be difficult for any staffer, but especially those in an agency where everything is a priority for clients, to manage tasks or even push back when your plate is too full.
2. Don’t be afraid to take more time if it means finishing work thoroughly. In an effort to impress the boss, many new employees try to finish things quickly, but it is getting the job done right that makes the best impression.
3. Write it all down. Taking good notes shows the people assigning you projects that you are keeping track of all the details.
4. And finally, ask questions! Many new hires think that asking questions means you don’t have the expertise to do a task correctly, but…you know what? You may not! You’re a new hire—asking questions is a natural part of the learning process. There will be a time very soon when you can just pick up a project and run with it.
One of the best lessons I’ve learned in my transition is that there are a whole lot of things left to learn—and a lot of fun to be had! I’m enthusiastic and excited for the future.
If you're a new college graduate, what are your plans? What do you think will help you get there? Good luck!