JOB HUNT ADVICE Getting on the
Love it or hate it, even at the end of your advanced studies or after travelling the globe to find yourself, the world of work will be your final stop
I
n fact, all roads lead to the world of work. So, what should you expect? The rules of engagement are different, the financial rewards are higher, and your first ‘real job’
is effectively your ‘graduation’ into the world of adulthood.
As a student, your only focus was to
pass specific exams and to complete a particular mix of coursework, labs and worksheets. Success was determined entirely by how well you delivered in these areas. Your personality, whether you are a team player, the group comedian or just unsociable, did not affect whether you became academically successful. You simply had to perform in assessments, exams and, for those completing masters and doctorate programmes, a thesis and viva. Post-studies, the rules of engagement and the metrics that determine your success or failure are significantly different. So, what are these new metrics, the
rules of this new game called ‘work’? Perhaps the most important one is best summed up in the seemingly tautological phrase: you first need to get along before you can get along.
The work environment is inundated
with political intrigue. This should not be too surprising because the workplace is made up of people of all shades of personality and affectations. This cocktail of individuals need to work together, ideally for the better good of an organisation. Unfortunately, individual preferences and basic human nature wins over corporate unity, particularly if there is a feeling or belief regarding detrimental prejudice. It is common for colleagues to be
promoted ahead of you because they are better liked; they have a better fit with line managers. Your work might be better, which no doubt will be appreciated, but perhaps you just do not fit in as well. And while fitting in might have been a useful skill as a student, it wasn’t necessary for advancement. In the workplace advancement means seniority, privileges and, of course, a larger salary. Unfortunately, likeability is also necessary for advancement in your career.
You are now part of the working world. Your time is not your own. You are now part of a much larger system, and you are an extremely small cog. You need to fit into a new daily routine. Your opinions, while interesting, will be frequently dismissed because you will not yet fully understand the full dynamics of your setting. Yes, your bank account is healthier, but now involvement in sports, music and keeping physically fit is far more challenging. Simply put, your time is no longer yours to entirely manage.
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GradJobs.co.uk | Autumn 2017
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