Surviving Office Life

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by Jenny Ungless, Monster’s Career Life Coach

So, finals are becoming a distant memory, your post-graduation gap year has come to an end, and you’re facing the world of work for the first time. Or perhaps you’re one of those really organised people who’s going to be graduating this summer, and wants to start preparing now for the lifestyle changes that being a grown-up professional will require. Either way, we’ve got some top tips for you on how to survive the world of work:

The Scale of Change
First of all, don’t under-estimate the scale of the change you’re about to experience. As a student you’ll have had a huge degree of control over how you spend your day and manage your time. Get used to the idea that, at work, it’s highly unlikely to be like that. You’re going to have people managing you, and reporting on you. The way in which you respond to this will be critical in determining the impression you make.

Office Politics
You’ll probably encounter office politics for the first time, too. The trick in the early days is to get to know everyone, but not to align yourself with any one grouping or faction (yes, it can be that bad!). You need to know what’s going on, but don’t be tempted to become part of a clique. Rise above the office pettiness. And the golden rule is: never say behind someone’s back anything that you wouldn’t say to their face.

What’s Expected of You
Get clear at the outset what is expected of you. Make sure you know what your duties and responsibilities are, and make an effort to find out what your manager regards as the important tasks, so that you can focus your effort accordingly. Get to know the office rules – both written and unwritten: what time do you need to get in to work by? How long can you take for lunch? Etc. Getting these apparently minor things wrong can make a terrible impression. Put effort into getting to where you’re meant to be on time – gone are the days when you can get up late and walk into a lecture halfway through!

Prioritise
Learn to prioritise. First thing every day, make a list of what you MUST get done that day – and then get on with it! Tackle the task you’re dreading most first – once you’ve done it, you’ll feel so pleased with yourself that you’ll breeze through the rest of your work. At the end of the day, take 10 minutes to update your to-do list and plan for the next day.

Organisation
Be organised. A cluttered desk doesn’t make you look busy, it just makes you look a mess. If there isn’t one already, put in place a straightforward filing system. Set aside time every day to clear routine emails and paperwork. Try to handle each piece of paper only once – if it will take less than 2 minutes to deal with, do it straightaway. And resist the temptation to keep checking your email – that’s one of the biggest time drains!

Managing Deadlines
For bigger tasks, be clear what your deadlines are and plan accordingly. Don’t leave a big project till the last minute – that just gives you unnecessary extra stress. Break it down into smaller chunks and do a little every day. That makes the task less daunting and means that you won’t end up panicking and having to work flat out to meet the deadline.

Take a Break
Take regular breaks. Always have a lunch break and, if you can, get outside for some fresh air. It will clear your head and help you to focus better. If you find yourself regularly working very long hours, book an appointment at least once a week - a gym class, massage or just arrange to meet friends - so that you are forced to leave work on time. And don’t allow yourself to get drawn into the “I must be the first to arrive/last to leave” competition that often happens in an office environment. As long as you’ve done what you need to do, don’t be afraid to get up and go home at the normal time. Other people will thank you for it!

Holidays
Make sure, too, that you take your full holiday entitlement. No one is indispensable – the company will NOT fall apart if you are not there for a few days. And no one ever wished on their deathbed that they’d spent more time in the office! The key is to get the balance right so that you enjoy, rather than dread, going to work and can switch off effectively when you leave.

Managing your Money
The most exciting thing about starting a new job is getting your first pay cheque. But try to resist the temptation to blow it all in the first week. It’s boring, but you need to learn the word “budget”. Many young professionals put off doing anything about saving because it seems too dry or too daunting. The message is: don’t! Money that you save in your twenties will earn you a much higher return than anything you save later in life – because it has more time for growth. Think about a personal pension if you don’t have a company one; as a minimum, make sure you use your tax-free ISA allowance every year if you possibly can. Read the personal finance pages of newspapers, search the Internet, book an appointment with a financial adviser - do whatever it takes for you to get money-savvy.

The Property Ladder
One area where many young professionals struggle is getting their foot on the property ladder. Again, it’s useful to sit back and think about different strategies here. For example, would you be prepared to live at home for longer to allow you to save a deposit? What about exploring some of the new options on the market where 3 or 4 graduates can purchase a joint mortgage based on their total salaries – giving them good buying power? (Check out our Mortgage Calculator, for example). Also consider the advantages of the Continental approach, where property ownership is much less of a big deal and most people rent happily for years. Again, it’s about trade-offs – what’s most important to you at this stage?

Be Patient
Finally, remember that your first job is a big stepping stone and it will take you time to adjust. Be patient with yourself. And if you find the worst comes to the worst and you absolutely hate your job, don’t panic: the first few years of your career are all about trying out different things to see what really suits you, and very few people get it right first time. It’s all about building up experience of what works for you and what doesn’t.

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of big changes, and would like some support to help you plan for them, City Life Coaching is currently offering Monster clients a special discounted rate of £175 for a 2-hour career coaching session (normal rate £250). Simply email jenny@citylifecoaching.com quoting “Monster offer”.

Copyright: City Life Coaching 2006