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Early career dos and don’ts for Gen-Z
Whether you’ve done an internship during every college summer or are dipping your toes into the world of work for the very first time, getting your career underway is a daunting experience.
Because not only are you trying to learn, make a good impression and gain experience, you’re probably also grappling with the subtle nuances of office politics.
So how can you ensure that you’re going about things the right way so that you build a good rapport with your colleagues and reputation with your manager? Below we’re detailing the career dos and don’ts every Gen Z worker should know about.
5 internship opportunities to apply for
- Intern, InsideHigherEd, Columbus
- Ada Winter Extern Program – 2024/2025, Mercy, Ada
- Kingfisher Winter Extern Program – Spring 2025 Grads, Mercy, Kingfisher
- District Manager Intern, Aldi, Olathe
- Oklahoma City Winter Extern Program – 2024/2025, Mercy, Oklahoma City
Mirror your colleagues
While you should always be yourself and never try to emulate someone else in an effort to fit in, you should be able to pick up on certain subtleties around office etiquette by observing what your colleagues do in certain situations. For example, does your team tend to have their cameras on during a call? Then you should do the same.
Or perhaps mornings tend to be the time for deep focus work and your co-workers don’t want to engage in chit-chat first thing. By adapting your own way of working to mimic that of your co-workers, you’ll be able to seamlessly integrate into the team.
Look for a mentor
One of the best ways to learn on the job is by having a mentor and according to National Mentoring Day, 97% of workers who have a mentor say they are valuable and 67% of businesses reported an increase in productivity due to mentoring. This is because mentors can act as a source of encouragement, help guide you professionally and can also give you a steer on what you’re doing right and things that need improvement.
If your company has a mentorship programme, you should make it your business to apply. If not, you can ask your manager or a more senior member of staff who is also on your team if they would be willing to provide mentorship to you for a set period of time, for example your first six months.
Know your limitations
As a recent graduate, nobody is expecting you to know absolutely everything. And while you should always take the initiative to figure things out, there’s merit in knowing your own limitations and asking for help or guidance if you need it. Not only will this show your colleagues and manager that you’re not afraid to speak up, it will also highlight that you’re interested in learning more and gaining new skills.
Don’t try too hard
When you’re brand new, you might feel as though you need to make an extra special effort to get to know your co-workers. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that you should focus your energy on doing the best job possible as office friendships will develop organically over time.
Similarly, when it comes to the actual work, you don’t need to jump through hoops to justify being there. While it’s great to show off how enthusiastic you are, you won’t do yourself any favors by sucking up to superiors.
Be accountable
Even if the buck doesn’t stop with you and your work is always being checked by someone more senior, that doesn’t mean you should rely on others to do your work for you. You should give each and every task 100%, and if you do make a mistake your superiors will know it wasn’t for lack of trying. A good way to navigate this is to map out what you need to do on a daily and weekly basis so you can stay on top of deadlines.
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