If you’ve experienced the hazards of a new job, you know exactly how tough it is to keep your head in the game, and what it takes to survive it. Some of you may have just acquired your first job. Others of you might still remember what your first job was like.
No matter the case, there’s nothing that can prepare you in high-school or college for the Top 10 lessons you can only learn on the job. They are listed below in written form, but you must have the actual experience before the seriousness of these rules can truly be ingrained in your heart, and internalized in your mind.
1. Nothing is perfect.
Nothing you do will be perfect. No written piece, and no customer service, is purely perfect. You will quickly find that most jobs entail more than one task per day. In order to keep your workload from piling up, you must give each task your best shot, and then move right on to the next one.
2. You can learn at least one thing from anyone.
The fun thing about working with others is the vast amount of professional experience they may be able to share with you. By asking questions, and being willing to learn, you’d be surprised how many new skills you can learn on the job.
3. People like to be heard.
Some people want so badly to be considered the “prodigy” of the office that they spend all their time and energy trying to impress others. This is a losing strategy. As a wise man once said: “Honor flees from those who chase it, and chases those who flee from it.” You’ll learn that listening to the opinions of others can be equally as powerful as sharing your own.
4. Always say “good morning”, and “good night” to coworkers in the office.
This is a simple one, but a remarkably practical one. It doesn’t matter if you happen to sit silently for 9 hours straight during the work day. For your own sake, you must at least portray some social skills at the beginning, and end of every day.
5. One thing at a time.
Like anything else in life, no matter how many things are on your plate, you MUST NOT PANIC! By taking a deep breath, coffee break, walk around the block, or simply turning on some music, you can re-center yourself during any time of the day. Be confident that you have the skills necessary to break up every project to manageable chunks.
6. You have 100% chance of failure if you don’t try.
This concept has been rephrased in a hundred different ways from experts in literally every sector of society. It’s been said by boxers, hockey players, and office managers alike. So, you know there must be something eternal and true about it.
7. It’s never a one-man / one-woman show.
You may be convinced from movies about successful people that all it takes to build a million-dollar company is one motivated person with a dream. This cannot be farther from the truth. Truly great products and services necessitate talented people with a wide variety of skills. There’s never one person with all the answers, but that’s okay because it’s a team effort.
8. The majority of what you learned in high school and college is useless.
It’s sad to say how many irrelevant topics you probably learned in school. Don’t get me wrong. It’s very possible that your diploma helped you get your foot into the door. But, if you truly want to excel in your company, you need to keep your mind open, and continue learning on the job.
9. Be grateful for what you have.
No job is a perfect fit. You will inevitably be frustrated during some time or other with other people in the company. To remain sane, and happy, it is important to take every day, and project, with a grain of salt. Somewhere in the world, there is surely somebody that would kill to have a job like yours.
10. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Many people will advise you to give 110% every day on your new job. This seems like perfectly good advice. But, it can also be problematic if it causes you to burn out. Don’t think of yourself as a shooting star. The main thing is consistency and stamina.
Summary
We hope you enjoyed our Top 10 lessons you can only learn on the job. Got any other lessons you wish to add to the list? Drop us a note on our Facebook post of this article.
