From One Beginner to Another: A Guide to Getting By in the Workplace

By Charise B. Alinsoot

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a young woman in possession of a diploma, must be in want of an established career. This is probably how Jane Austen would have started one of her renowned novels if she were a young professional in 2018. Every year, thousands of young women graduate from college and universities. With their hard-earned college degree from various programs and fields of study, they course through the nerve-wracking yet hopeful process of landing a career.

I am no exception to this intimidating yet equally exciting stage of a young professional’s life. Having been in the corporate field for more than a year, I am grateful to have received guidance from the many women in my life who continuously support me through their kind words of encouragement and advice. In times of doubt, confusion or curiosity, I always look to my aunts, older friends, and mentors to impart with me their knowledge on how they were able to handle then what I am facing now as a woman in the corporate field.

It was always enlightening to know more about the journey and tales of accomplishments from the past, but it was the experiences of my classmates and coworkers that made me feel that I am not alone and that there are many others who share my thoughts and feelings about being a young professional. Thinking that there are others who, like me, find it important to learn not just from the people who had started their careers way before, but also from those who are just starting to find their place in their own fields now, I would like to share the learnings that helped me through the early stages of my work life.

Always be ready for change. Being able to keep up with a fast-paced working environment is essential in any organization that values growth and development. In the workplace, everything is subject to change, including tasks, titles and teams. The only way to adapt to these changes is to change yourself as well. Change your strategy, priorities or even your outlook. What I love about learning is that what you know can never be final. As you work on more projects and work with more people, what you know eventually changes. You are able to see things differently and understand how far a knack for innovation and change will get you.

Keep an open mind. People can look at the same object but perceive it differently. This is true in a lot of cases because of many possible factors like differences in experiences, responsibilities or intentions. However, this is not an excuse to completely disregard the perception of others. Just as how it is important to experience something first-hand, the insights of other people are also valuable in understanding something, may it be a person or a project. Being able to listen to your superiors and colleagues gives you the chance to assess a situation from multiple points of view. This is also useful in removing any form of bias or prejudice, giving you a clearer and less restricted ability to deal with the situation.

Go back to your goal. As the workload gets heavier and the process gets longer, tasks may begin to feel draining and seem less and less meaningful. One may begin to rethink the importance of certain responsibilities and roles. Going back to the main goal has been a great help to me in regaining my understanding of a requirement and the motivation to get it done. When things start to get complicated and details and side tasks feel like more of a distraction rather than a responsibility, it is helpful to reassess how these efforts contribute to the overall desired output.

Focus on your own self-improvement. Equestrians put small eye covers called blinkers on racehorses during competitions to prevent the horse from seeing beside and behind. This keeps the racehorse undistracted from what is happening to the other horses, thus, focused on moving forward and finishing the race. This also applies to people and careers. Not only is comparing your abilities and achievements with others toxic, but it is also unfair. There are many factors as to why people develop different skills at different paces. Becoming self-aware about your strengths and points for improvement is one thing. Taking the necessary steps in improving yourself in a healthy manner is another. It is helpful to evaluate yourself once in a while and determine where you are on the road to being who you want to be. The only time you are truly not good enough is when you give up on getting better.


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About the author:

Charise is a graduate of De La Salle University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Sciences.

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Discover Your Full Potential with Looking Glass, a Publication from John Clements

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