When you think of the word new, many things come to mind. New car, new apartment/house, new city/town, new perspectives on life, and the inevitability of a new job after college. Many parts of this life new-ness can be exciting but many of the underlying parts can be very scary in this brave new world. Three things come to mind when preparing to be the new kid on the street at your first grown up job:
- Fear about the new-ness and routine of a grown up job
This is totally normal and you can liken being scared/nervous to wanting to be the best new employee you can be. It can be helpful to get to work early your first day, soak in the environment of the part of town you’ll be working in, and grab a cup of coffee. Being a sponge on the first day and first week/month of your new job can pay major dividends in getting you comfortable in yourself and your role.
- Uncertainty about fitting in with your co-workers and becoming your own person
Put simply, if you can go into your first job with the mindset that no one is paying attention to you as much as you think they are, you will grow by leaps and bounds! Becoming your own person also involves being authentic in your daily interactions with others. They will warm up to you so much more when they see the real you and you’ll rest well at night knowing you were able to showcase your true colors to others in the workplace.
- Fear, uncertainty, and doubt of your abilities in your new role
Many of us fall victim to something called “Imposter Syndrome” which in a nutshell is doubting our abilities and not thinking we are capable of doing anything we put our mind to. The reality of the situation is that your new grown up employer hired you for reason as they saw your true talents and abilities and what you will become in their company. You are more than enough to prove yourself with your new employer and always remember that!
By continuing to keep the three items above in the forefront of your mind as you prepare and execute in your grown up job, you will unearth abilities/capabilities that you never thought were imaginable!