Greetings dear readers and welcome back to Karo’s little corner. Today we’re not talking about mental health, I am just sharing a few tips on work environment. Enjoy 😉!!!
Last year around this time, I shared with you guys that I was searching for a new job. I did land an amazing job back in April, and during those months, I’ve learned so much, and I’ve also grown as a person. I know a lot of my friends, specially the ones from my generation are either in search of a new job, or are beginning this new path of their lives. Therefore, I want to share a few things that I’ve learned so far.
These are my dos and don’ts for starting on the right path at your new job :
A. Dos
1. Be open-minded. Work is not like school. You will meet people from different generations, different age ranges, different backgrounds, different perspectives on life… It’s important to keep in mind that not everyone needs to see life the way you do. Allow yourself to hear different points of view without judging. Do not engage in heated debates because you can’t accept your coworkers’ points of view. You are the newcomer, you can’t barge in with your ideas and impose them on anyone. Be humble!!
2. Always be on time. Growing up, all the schools that I’ve attended were at least 30 minutes away from my house. So I always had to wake up early to go to there. It has then become an habit for me. I hate being late, so I used to always be at work at least an hour prior. Plus, in Haiti you never know what can happen. Therefore it is important to always leave enough time for traffic or any other reasons that would cause a delay.
3. Dress accordingly. My mom always says that it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. Depending on the workplace, dress codes might be required. Nonetheless, if your office doesn’t require any specific uniforms or dress code, always make sure you’re dressed well. That will leave a good impression. If you’re unsure of what type of outfits is required, you can always ask.
4. Ask for help and advice. When you’re new, don’t act like a “know-it-all”. It doesn’t matter if it’s not your first job, companies are different from one to another. So that means, their policies are different, their structure is different etc… Also, most of the things you will be doing at work, you will have to learn how to do them. When in doubt, it’s better to ask, instead of making an enormous mistake.
5. Be open to learning. Learning doesn’t stop when you finish school and graduate. As long as you are alive, there will always be something to learn. There are a lot of tasks, no matter where you work, that will require skills that you will learn on the go. Take notes if possible when a coworker is showing you how to do something.
6. Be kind to everyone. This one is self explanatory. Nowadays, around the world they are preaching a culture of hate. Over here in Haïti, we can feel it around us. We live in a society that has lost all it’s values. The hate is palpable. There are so many crimes happening every single day, that it’s forcing us to be aware of our surroundings and not trust anyone. Everyone is living for themselves, myself included. So if you can be kind at least to one person every day, do it. A simple “good morning” is enough. One thing about me, I will say good morning and talk to everyone, no matter their position because I always say that you never know who will help you one day.
B. Don’ts
1. Stay in your corner. As an introvert and a really shy person myself, I know that it’s not easy to fit in. Thankfully, at work everyone is so nice and has been so kind to me that it doesn’t even seem like I am a newbie. Make an effort to talk to people or to participate in activities.
2. Bring your personal issues with you. Being Haitian and living in Haiti right now is a nightmare. We all have our own problems to worry about. But one thing you have to remember is that the minute you step into your office space, those problems need to be left out the door. I understand that we’re all frustrated but there’s a time for everything. Don’t let whatever’s troubling you be shown in your work and affect your performance.
3. Don’t wait, take initiative. I can never stay still and not do anything. During the first weeks, every time I was done with a task, instead of waiting, I would always go to my superior’s office to ask if there’s something else I could do. This shows that I am not only motivated but also interested in working. Finding a job is hard enough, so it’s really up to you to fight to keep it.
4. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Like Boileau said , “Bring your work back to the workshop twenty times. Polish it continuously, and polish it again”. Mistakes help us grow as a person. You need to make mistakes to be able to polish your work. It will happen, no matter how much you try to be perfect. Don’t be afraid! (Ps: that doesn’t mean that you have to deliberately make mistakes, you can try to avoid them but if it happens, it happens, move on!)
**Also, keep in mind that these tips are not only meant to be applied when you just started a job. They should be part of your everyday lifestyle.
That’s all I have for today guys! Thank you for always reading my texts! Until we meet again, stay safe and be blessed… always!!!❤️ Love you guys!!