No One Will Tell You This About Your First Job!!

Summary

In this video, Ishita, your fresher coach, shares real-life corporate experiences every new employee faces, both tough and rewarding. From being overlooked in meetings and dealing with unfair workload distribution to experiencing micromanagement and toxic positivity, she offers practical tips to navigate these challenges. Ishita also highlights the positive side of corporate life: rapid skill growth, building a network, and seeing your work go live. By offering advice on handling setbacks and celebrating wins, this video helps freshers build confidence, learn from mistakes, and grow in their careers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Your first job is a tough but transformational experience that teaches you valuable life lessons and skills.
• 😀 Getting overlooked in meetings can be frustrating, but it's often due to familiarity with others' voices. Be consistent and proactive to gain visibility.
• 😀 Unfair workload distribution is common for freshers, but it's important to set boundaries while seeking opportunities for growth.
• 😀 Micromanagement may occur in your first job. To address this, proactively communicate updates and stay organized to build trust.
• 😀 Credit theft in the workplace can happen. To protect your contributions, make them visible in advance and subtly claim ownership.
• 😀 Toxic positivity in corporate culture can normalize burnout. Don't be afraid to ask for support and prioritize self-care.
• 😀 Your first job accelerates skill and confidence growth. Make sure to track your progress and share small wins with your manager.
• 😀 Building a network is crucial. Start interacting outside your department and create real relationships with colleagues across functions.
• 😀 Seeing your work go live is a major milestone, as it validates the impact of your efforts. Document it for your portfolio.
• 😀 In your first job, you'll also discover what you don't want to do. Identifying tasks that drain you helps clarify your future career path.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The video discusses the challenges and growth experiences faced by freshers (new employees) in the corporate world. It covers both negative experiences, like unfair workload distribution and micromanagement, as well as positive ones, such as rapid skill growth and networking.

Why do freshers often feel overlooked in meetings?

Freshers may feel overlooked because their voices might not carry weight initially. The people in the room might be more accustomed to hearing from more experienced colleagues, which can result in their points being ignored.

How can freshers deal with being overlooked in meetings?

Freshers can deal with this by following up on their points in meetings, sending a crisp follow-up message summarizing their contributions, and increasing visibility by sharing insights in team chats or groups.

What is the typical first job experience in terms of workload distribution?

Freshers often face unfair workload distribution, where they are given 'grunt work' such as organizing meetings or making coffee rounds. While it's seen as part of the learning process, it may also reflect seniors offloading tasks they don't want to handle.

How can freshers avoid getting overwhelmed with grunt work?

Freshers should not say yes to every task. Instead, they can ask for more valuable tasks by showing initiative, such as offering to shadow seniors on important projects while assisting with the grunt work.

Why do managers tend to micromanage freshers, and how can they handle it?

Managers often micromanage freshers due to past negative experiences or their own difficulty letting go of control. Freshers can handle micromanagement by proactively updating managers on their progress and creating trackers for longer projects to build trust and reduce micromanaging.

What should freshers do if their credit is stolen by a colleague?

Freshers should avoid confronting the situation angrily. Instead, they can make their contributions visible beforehand by tagging their name in documents or mentioning their work in meetings to subtly claim credit before it's stolen.

What is toxic positivity, and how can freshers avoid falling victim to it?

Toxic positivity refers to the dismissal of genuine concerns with overly simplistic advice, such as 'toughen up.' Freshers should avoid normalizing burnout and should ask for clarity and prioritize their workload assertively to avoid getting overwhelmed.

What are some key positive experiences freshers can expect in the corporate world?

Positive experiences include rapid skill and confidence growth, the opportunity to work on real projects, and building a professional network. These experiences help freshers transition from basic tasks to handling more significant responsibilities.

What is the importance of networking for freshers in a corporate environment?

Networking is crucial for freshers as it helps build visibility and trust within the company. By interacting with people outside their immediate team and offering help, freshers can develop relationships that will benefit them in the long run.