Navigating the workplace

The transition from uni life to the workplace isn’t always easy. There’s no set structure of modules and lectures here; you have to establish your own work pattern and work within a team without ruffling any feathers. Don’t panic though, this essential guide will help you settle in quickly.

1

Tackling the first day

The first day of a new job can feel pretty terrifying. You don’t know anyone’s names or how they like their tea, and what happens if you’re not good enough? We all get those day one panics, but just remember that you wouldn’t be there if they didn’t think you could do the job well, so no matter how you’re feeling on the inside, try and walk in with confidence.

Just remember that you wouldn’t be there if they didn’t think you could do the job well.

Sometimes the hardest thing is establishing yourself within the team. You want to feel comfortable around the people you work with and make a good impression, so here’s a couple of things you can do to achieve just that:

    • Don’t wait around for someone else to do it for you, go round the room and introduce yourself to everyone, finding out what all their roles are. They’ll appreciate you taking the time to do it and it’ll help you figure out who does what.

    • If you’re off to the kitchen to make yourself a cuppa, ask around to see if anyone else wants something. This will help you to chat to people and get to know them outside the work environment.

    • Literally as many as you can. You’re never going to integrate yourself into the workplace and get to know both your colleagues and the business if you don’t question everything. Be curious and you’ll soon be an expert.

    • Don’t just scurry off and have lunch by yourself, ask a colleague to show you their favourite lunch spot. You can can share with them any worries you’re having, and they’re bound to make you feel better.

    • If you think it’s appropriate, suggest grabbing some drinks after work with the team. You’ll be able to find out who they all are as people and it’ll make the work environment more relaxed. Just don’t get drunk and make a fool of yourself on the first day – not a good look!

2

Working the team dynamic

We’ve all seen The Office. A small group of people working in an enclosed space day in day out means a certain dynamic develops. And as a newcomer it can be difficult to know where everyone stands.

Every office will have some sort of hierarchy, and it’s important to learn this. Suss out the management structure, and who is ‘in charge’ of who, to make sure you aren’t stepping on any toes. Things might need to be ‘signed off’ by someone you might not expect, so always check before you plough ahead with something.

Remain switched on to who works closest to who, and (god forbid) if there’s animosity in the team. Knowing the team inside out will help you to make friends quicker and use the people around you most effectively, so stay switched on at all times. Similarly, under no circumstances should you resort to whining about a colleague behind their back – go home and have a moan to your housemate, but in-house bitching will only come back to bite you.

Every office will have some sort of hierarchy

3

Key workplace skills

So the first day is over and done with and you’re now into your work routine. It’s no longer about getting to know your colleagues; your focus should now be thriving in your role and impressing senior managment. There are certain skills and attributes that will definitely help you to succeed in the workplace, and maybe even put you in line for that next promotion. Here’s our picks:

    • You might have been used to working independently at university, but chances are you’re now part of a team, so you need to get used to working effectively with others. Always respond to emails, ask questions, get people’s advice and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

    • Don’t go in there all guns blazing, but you need to show you’re able to take charge of a project and get results. Put yourself forward for opportunities if they come your way, and if there’s something you think needs changing, don’t be afraid to make some suggestions.

    • They won’t expect you to walk into the job knowing everything straight away but they will expect you to learn on the job. Even if you feel like you haven’t a clue what you’re doing (we all feel like that, don’t worry) showing a curiosity for what’s going on and actively working to develop your skills will go a long way.

    • Work can get pretty stressful, whether you’re dealing with difficult customers or struggling under the workload. It’s crucial that you learn to stay calm and deal with situations appropriately – temper tantrums won’t impress.

    • Emotional intelligence is one of the most sought after skills in the modern day workplace. You need to be able to judge situations and know when it’s appropriate to stay quiet, when you really need to speak your mind.

    • If you live your life too scared to try anything new in case you make a mistake, you’ll get nowhere, so put yourself out there and be bold. If you make mistakes, it’s fine – just hold your hands up and make sure you don’t do the same thing again. You learn and grow by making mistakes, so throw yourself in.

4

Finding your passion

No doubt you will have your role within the team. Whether you’re working in sales or marketing, you’ll have set responsibilities and tasks to complete every day. But what will make you truly love your job is finding your niche within that role, the one thing out of all the things you do that you’re most passionate about. This will help guide your future career path, and determine what you want to specialise in as you progress.

What will make you truly love your job is finding your niche within that role.

Take some time to reflect back on your work every so often, think about what you have achieved and what you enjoy most. You’re more likely to excel in stuff you enjoy, so don’t be afraid to ask your manager to assign you work in a specific area if that’s what you’re good at. It might not always be possible, but they’ll appreciate the fact you’re actively engaged in your work and you care about what you’re doing.

5

Being yourself

In amongst all the tips we’ve just given you, it might seem like there’s not much space to relax and be yourself. But one of the most important things to do in a workplace is to let your personality come across.

There is a perception, that especially in some corporate office environments, there’s a pressure to act serious and professional at all times, and that means not talking about what you got up to at the weekend or what music you’re listening to. In reality though, no matter how smart they’re dressed, everyone in your office is human and they’ll appreciate you more for showing the real side of your personality. This will give you more confidence to put forward ideas at meetings, you’ll be able to relax more and ultimately enjoy your job more. You might even find things you have in common with your colleagues that they never would have expected.

So even though you’re trying to impress, don’t be afraid to let your true self shine through – you’ll probably make more of an impression that way anyway.

Back to all guides
Guide to graduate schemes cover
Graduate Schemes

Everything you need to know about graduate schemes, including the applications, deadlines and salaries and how to get a full time job.

 8  minute read

Guide to internships cover
Internships

Debut are here to make understanding internships all the easier with our ultimate guide. It will answer all your questions – cross our hearts.

 9  minute read

Guide to placements cover
Internships

The graduate job-scape can be terrifying. But this nifty guide will help you navigate the wilderness and nab a placement at the other end.

 8  minute read

Tackling Job Applications Cover
Job Applications

Job applications are tough, especially for graduate schemes and internships. Debut are here to make them all the easier with our ultimate guide.

 10  minute read

Ultimate CV Guide Cover
Job Applications

Forget the rest. Our guide to creating a CV is the real MVP of CV creation guides. Dive in for a downloadable template and more.

 11  minute read

Ultimate Skills Guide Cover
Job Applications

Demonstrating skills in your job application is key to grabbing that elusive job offer. We tell you how to apply skills to your CV, cover letter and more.

 8  minute read

Ultimate Cover Letter Guide Cover
Job Applications

Featuring a template, step-by-step guide and checklist, this is the only guide you’ll need to write perfect cover letters.

 9  minute read

Interview cheat sheet cover
Job Interviews

Succeeding in job interviews is no mean feat. But with these tools, you’ll definitely be able to get your point across. We’re here to make sure of it.

 8  minute read

Types of interview cover
Job Interviews

Being prepared for the different types of interview you may face is essential for landing a job. Let us give you the low-down on what to expect.

 8  minute read

Common interview questions cover
Job Interviews

Does being asked why you’re a good fit a company break you out in a cold sweat? Our guide to common interview questions is here to help.

 6  minute read

Interview techniques cover
Job Interviews

Job interviews can be scary. That’s why we’ve created this nifty guide full of tips and techniques to help you nail every interview you attend.

 9  minute read

Job offers
Graduate Schemes

Receiving that job offer is the moment you’ve been waiting for, but make sure you read our guide before you sign on the dotted line.

 5  minute read

Rejection
Graduate Schemes

Getting a rejection after a applying for your dream job can knock you back. But take these steps and you will soon turn that no into a yes.

 7  minute read

Guide to unpaid internships
Internships

Unpaid internships are common across a variety of sectors - but are they legal and how can you budget for them? Here's your ultimate guide.

 5  minute read

Career planning cover
Personal Development

With your future spread out before you, how do you even begin to start career planning? These top tips will help you take those first moves.

 8  minute read

Building your personal brand cover
Personal Development

There’s only one thing you have that no other job candidate does: your brand. And this guide is here to show you exactly how to build one.

 7  minute read

Student guide to networking
Personal Development

Networking can seem like a terrifying prospect, but follow these top tips and you’ll be swapping business cards in no time at all.

 8  minute read

Freshers' guide to careers cover
Personal Development

So the time has finally come: it’s Freshers’ Week. Seven-plus days of pure freedom, and here's how to make the most of it.

 8  minute read

Personal Development

Careers fairs are a great opportunity to suss out employers and do some networking but you need an action plan. Here's one we made earlier...

 6.5  minute read

Navigating the workplace
Personal Development

Making the transition from uni life to the professional workplace can be tough, but following these tips will help you settle in.

 6.5  minute read

Personal Development

Apart from its beautiful cities and all the tea you could dream of, the UK is a hub for international students because of how much choice there is.

 9  minute read

Assessment Centres

There are lots of hoops jump through in assessment centres, but this guide will help you make it to the end without losing your head.

 6  minute read

Psychometric Tests

The unique insights psychometric assessments provide into an individual is exactly why they are being used by more employers.

 10  minute read

Sectors

Accountancy may seem like a dry subject area, but if you’re good with numbers and have a logical mind (and like dealing with money), it could be the perfect role for you.

 10  minute read

Guide to Banking & Finance
Sectors

Fancy a career in Banking & Finance? It's fast-paced and lucrative field to be in, but often stressful. Here's our guide to everything you need to know.

 4  minute read

Charity sector
Sectors

Want a job role which will enable you to give back to society? Working in the charity sector is the perfect way to put your skills to good use, whilst also helping to improve people's lives.

 9  minute read

Consultancy guide
Sectors

If you fancy a career in Consulting then you need to read this guide, including the job roles you could be doing and the skills you need.

 8  minute read

Consumer retail
Sectors

Working in Consumer and Retail could involve everything from buying and merchandising to logistics and technology - here's your guide.

 7  minute read

Defence
Sectors

Working in the Defence sector offers so many more options than simply joining the Army, Navy, RAF or Police.

 8  minute read

Guide to the Energy sector
Sectors

The energy sector is incredibly vast with multiple avenues to explore, but it's also a sector in which innovation is happening all the time.

 7  minute read

Engineering sector
Sectors

There are so many different types of engineering, from aerospace to software, and we’re here to demystify them all.

 10  minute read

Law sector
Sectors

Law is not quite as glamorous as it seems on Suits, but it’s still a fascinating and highly rewarding industry to pursue a career in. Here’s everything you need to know…

 11  minute read

Guide to Marketing & Media
Sectors

The Marketing and Media industries are some of the most popular among graduates, so here's our guide to getting ahead.

 4  minute read

Public sector
Sectors

In the Public Sector you could be doing anything from fighting fires to saving lives. Read on to find out what experience you need and the skills you should be developing…

 9  minute read

Your guide to the technology sector
Sectors

It is a multi-million pound industry which affects so many aspects of our daily lives that without it, many of us feel lost.

 8  minute read

Guide to telecommunications
Sectors

The Telecommunication industry connects people all over the world with cutting edge technology. Here's your guide to the growing sector.

 8  minute read

Guide to London
Locations

This is the ultimate guide to London to help you grapple the capital, master the tube, and become a savvy city dweller.

 8  minute read

Guide to Birmingham
Locations

Fancy moving to the UK's second biggest city? Here's out guide to everything it has to offer and why you don't want to miss out.

 6  minute read

Guide to Manchester
Locations

The land of Coronation Street, Oasis and world class football - but what more does Manchester offer? Here’s our ultimate guide to living and working in the city.

 5  minute read

Guide to Liverpool
Locations

More than just the home of scouse accents and the birthplace of The Beatles, Liverpool has so much to offer as a city for graduate living and working...

 8  minute read

Leeds
Locations

It's the fastest growing city outside London and right in the middle of God's Own Country - here's why you should consider moving to Leeds.

 6  minute read

The Careers Conversation Tile
Personal Development

Careers today are very different to what they were 30-odd years ago - and employers are looking for people with the right skills to be able to adapt for the future.

 14  minute read

Download the free app today

Debut is available to download in the iOS App Store & Google Play Store

Apple app store button Google play store button