These last two-years have flown by. Time flies as you get older. It feels only a few months ago, that I started as a graduate, and now I am a full-time employee. The difference between them is the responsibility I have over my work and the fact I have more job security.
I’m looking back on the last two-years which I used to find my feet in employment (and personally). And just because I have found my feet, it doesn’t mean I know how to walk yet. I’m not telling you how to do it, as its a journey, we all have to endeavour. At the end of this post, I have shared some points that might help you in finding your feet (professionally).
Highlights during the two-year graduate scheme.
I left my original company for 6 months, for an opportunity that brought out my confidence in the workplace. Working in a team that supported the overall sector, I got a birds-eye view of the management of the industry. I loved it as it made me think more about what I wanted in my career. This opportunity gave me a team dynamic that helped me realise my influence and method of incorporating myself within it. I took that back to my original job and basically came back a new person.
I mentioned in my last post that as a graduate I had several days away from work to do activities that supported my development. We did a retreat each year where we did outdoor activities, sugar coated with corporate jargon to make it work-related. During the first retreat, I conquered my fear of heights and my avoidance to do anything outdoorsy. I rock-climbed without tears, or feeling so shaky that I couldn’t move, and took responsibility instead of staying in the background. It was really validating, doing those things that haunted my childhood experiences. As an adult, the fear isn’t as paralysing but rather the fuel to give it a go and embrace the moment.
Lastly, one thing I didn’t like about my role was that I didn’t feel like the tasks I was set had any real purpose/benefit to the company. Since coming back from my secondment, I tried a new approach to receive a new work task. I asked them:
- What is the aim of the overall project?
- What is the purpose of my task to this project?
- What do you expect to be in my work as a minimum?
- What is the timeline you are working toward and where do you see my task fitting in?
When I did this, I completely streamlined the discussions. In my department everyone is a specialist, and they struggle to explain things to someone as clueless as me. This meant I’d normally end up going to them asking questions for clarity, because they couldn’t get to the point when they gave me the task. This approach meant I got what I needed from the beginning. I told them what I could do, and set small deadlines for myself, leading to their deadline. They were impressed that I took charge on those discussions and made them efficient. I felt like a boss, and have developed a reputation in the office that, I don’t tolerate nonsense and waffle.
Challenges faced during the last two-years
Since I was not intending to stay, I didn’t really try to maintain relationships. I made a really close friend at the beginning of the grad scheme. However, I knew my motivations for being in that friendship weren’t going to forge a long-lasting one. So, when the friendship ended, I didn’t try to create new ones, I just increased the distance. This meant that when I finished my graduate scheme, I didn’t feel like I was part of the cohort anymore. That is my own fault, as I thought I wasn’t staying at the company. Alas, I stayed. This has put me in a position of not having a lot of people to interact with, outside of work. It sucks, and I’m consciously working on creating new bonds that are genuine to me (and hopefully them), but making friends as an adult is a lot harder than in school.
I lost motivation and drive to try after the first 6 months. The graduate scheme was a fixed term contract, so I couldn’t progress until I completed the two-year scheme. I stretched myself in the first 6 months, before realising that. So, I decided to reduce my workload. Along with this, I started reducing the expectations of others on me. Our industry is slow, so even if I worked really hard, I would always be held back by the industry. So, logistically it makes sense to work at the same pace, which uses less energy and less motivation which I can direct elsewhere (like the blog). The challenge? I need to ramp up the motivation and drive, to match the expectations of a full-time employee, two-years on. (but I will figure out a good balance)
What has changed about me in the last two-years
Most of my changes occurred in my personal life, which then fed into my professional life. I started therapy, which enabled me to rationalise my thoughts better. Taking exercise more seriously, and setting achievable goals, kept me motivated. I reflected on my past, and present to have more clarity in what I want in my future. This has meant I know more about what I want from my relationships. Also, there is the general growth and maturity that comes with being independent, and handling the circumstances of life alone.
These changes mean I am known in my team to be the person who “calls people out on their nonsense” (professionally). Setting a task with me, means when we have briefing sessions, they tend to be quick, because I don’t want fluff, I need the specific details. However, this doesn’t mean I am not approachable, I’m very chatty in the office too. I have definitely grown during the graduate scheme, and I’m very glad I had the two-years to find my feet before gaining the full responsibilities in my work. The graduate scheme, however, did not “change me”, it contributed to my growth along with my personal life. Don’t go into one thinking you will come out a new person, without putting in some work in your own time.
If I were to do it again, what would I do differently (If had this knowledge)
This is useful information for anyone trying to find their feet in the first two-years after university:
- When growing a network, take note of what the person is good at/knowledgeable of. This way when you contact them, you can provide a justification, and they can see the link you have made. Plus, it makes them feel like you really thought it through, and it’s not just you looking for a favour. It can take a while to get comfortable networking, so get practising.
- Offer to take some small projects from other departments. I’m not saying take every opportunity out there, take the ones that benefit you. Each person has a list of competencies to achieve in their job, select specific tasks from other teams to complete it. This shows you can balance work, but also that you take initiative to support the business with your skills. I saw another graduate do this, and it was genius.
- Please keep a log of all tasks you have contributed to, and in good detail. When bringing evidence for a pay progression or an award, its so helpful to have this available. Set some time each week to reflect on what you did and note any completed work. This also makes performance reviews easier, as you already have things written down, showing organisation. I only took this seriously when I started preparing to argue for my pay progression, and I was glad I had the evidence from the last teo-years, but the brain isn’t that good.
- A graduate scheme will not prepare you for everything in real/company life, only the basics. The world of work is complicated and huge, and nothing can prepare you enough. Having an understanding in how you work, will make it easier for you to integrate and settle in each environment.
- Just because other people are achieving different milestones before you, doesn’t mean you are falling behind and is not a reason to try and “compete” with them. We all have our own paths, so you trying to “beat” someone is a waste, because it will divert you away from your original path. I never tried to “beat” anyone, but I did scare myself into thinking I wasn’t doing enough, even though we had different priorities and goals.
Moral of my story:
- Don’t expect to come out of the graduate scheme completely prepared to be a fully prepared employee – Focus on getting to know yourself better professionally and personally.
- I did a lot of unexpected growth – And I have made it look so easy, it’s not and that’s ok. Take it one little bit at a time.
- Making friends is hard – not impossible. In the meantime find some peace and joy in your solitude, and attempt new relationships when you’re ready.
- Don’t be discouraged of others progress – you will most likely have different goals, with overlapping milestones, so don’t lose focus on your own path.
- Also, all the things I mentioned in the “What would I do differently section”
- Two-years is a long time, but also a short time – Don’t forget to enjoy finding your feet
