TIPS FOR NEWBIES/FRESH GRADUATES ON JOBS

by RC 22:51 0 comments

There are ample advice's in the web on preparing for job interviews, etiquette attending interviews, choosing jobs etc. What are you going to do once you have landed on a job offer and you have accepted it? The next two to three years is going to be the defining moment in your life. The first steps you are going to take is going to be the one chiseled into to the last. Your first few weeks/months/years:

1. Ask as many questions possible (but don't be a pain in the @#$* by annoying with your questions).

I get it, you will be wondering, I am asking you to ask questions and at the same time telling to be cautious. Asking question is an art, ask questions relevant and important in your job line of fire. Not simple & logical ones, and also not technical ones for a newbie whereby you cant even digest the explanation. Whom are you going to ask?? Boss, colleagues, technicians, clerks, operators.... Now, your boss (generally speaking) they want solutions NOT QUESTIONS. Colleagues: Welcome to company politics, they are usually the best ones BUT also it can turnout to be a nightmare. Shed, hide, delete, throw away your EGO, go down to ask with all others at all levels AGAIN RELEVANT AND ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS. Wrong questions might make you a fool!!

2. Visibility: Yup that's the ball game.

What visibility here, show yourself everywhere, take responsibility, throw in your voice (in meetings, ideas, solving problems etc). Don’t shy away, if you can’t be an alpha male/female, make sure your in the dynamic personality team.

3. No "Tai-Chi" shows

“Tai-Chi” is a term coined within the industrial fraternity for a person whom is dynamic, vocal, omnipresent at all issues BUT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING!!. He is easy to spot, flatterer, sweet talker, famous in pushing-“tai chi” jobs. Please do not adapt such an attitude,  sincerity coupled with passion in doing work is utmost here.

4. Record 

Yearly appraisal is very important at manufacturing or at any jobs, recording tasks with proofs, accolades filed in, white papers, awards etc, will ease your yearly appraisal process. This records will also help you in defending and justifying your work performance.

5. Jumping jobs or loyalty

A sensitive area for both the employer and the employee, an area where has been in dispute for a long time. The employer feels they have given ample, the employee feels he is not valued, thus he leaves and the employer disappointed.

Now, for newbies put aside your feelings, grow up in the job for the next two to three years. Jumping jobs just to get better remuneration package might look good due to $$ BUT in actual situation your CV will reflect your JUMPS and paint you bad. Value the opportunity given by the employer, response to it by showing your loyalty and commitment (remember all those flowery words you used in your resume, are those to deceive?). Learn the job, learn the nooks and corners available, at the end it will surely be recognised and being a long term employee will surely benefit in most cases.

6. OT

Another sensitive matter, there are personalities:

i.                     Staying back and not doing anything for the sake extra hours OT

ii.                   Some create job for justification

iii.                  Some search for extra hours jobs for justification

iv.                 Some are required to stay back BUT they don’t

v.                   The rare ones, they stay back to learn new stuffs BUT they NEVER claim

I am not here to advise what is right and wrong, I know it aint my money or anyones cash BUT it’s the company’s cash, STILL there must be conscience and ethics in this matter. At the end of education, it is not about money, status, fame etc BUT its about CHARACTER (my teacher says this often to me). You are given the carte blanche within the manufacturing floor to move, learn and adapt, use it to the maximum and learn the job.

7. Mea Culpa

To do a mea culpa requires guts, in the manufacturing floor it requires more than guts. Owning up to ones responsibility due to some mishaps or failures is important. For a newbie, you better do it, don’t shy away or let someone take the blame.

This are to the best of my knowledge, some tips and guides recollected walking down the memory lane, all the best on the new job.