Career Guide: 7 Common Mistakes of Fresh Grads Commit On Their First Job

You’ve just graduated. Now, it’s time for your first job! Of course, you want to do well in your first taste of professional life. What are the common mistakes of fresh grads you need to avoid? How can you stand out and make your first professional experience a success? Read on and find out.

As a fresh graduate, you will likely make mistakes in your first job because of a lack of experience. Making mistakes in your first job is inevitable, but you can make a difference by being aware of the common mistakes in advance to best avoid them. 

Why is it important to avoid common mistakes?

Your first work experience will always be full of adjustments. You are basically new to everything. Being in the workforce is different from being in school, so it’s no wonder there are common mistakes fresh grads commit.

A few mistakes, as few as they can be, can significantly derail the early stages of your career. It’s important to recognise these mistakes, so you can proactively avoid them as you go along your career journey. Avoiding common mistakes will also help you develop a professional attitude that will lead to a successful career.

What fresh graduates need to know

Your first job is the foundation of your professional career. It’s an exciting time full of firsts. It’s essential to take note of the common mistakes fresh grads usually commit so that you can steer away from impression killers. 

1. Not asking questions

One of the most common mistakes fresh grads make at their first job is failing to ask questions. You might feel shy or unsure who to ask, but it’s better to muster up the courage to ask questions. Don’t wait until after you’ve made a mistake when you could’ve avoided it in the first place.

It’s understandable to take time and understand the new environment you are operating in. Asking questions will help you understand the expectations of your job and eliminate unnecessary mistakes. It demonstrates your engagement with your work and will help build rapport with your employer.

2. Being late

Punctuality should always be a given at school and at work. You might have been used to pulling all-nighters before, but now that you are a professional, you’re expected to fully function at work. It’s your responsibility to manage your time wisely.

This also goes for being at work on time. Traffic is a given. It’s not always an excuse. You don’t want to rush every morning and appear messy at work. You want to breeze in like a professional. Stay calm and be prepared to take on the day’s work.

Showing up to work on time and meeting deadlines shows respect for others. Remember, your work affects others too. When you arrive at work or submit a task late, it will have a domino effect on your team. So, knowing your time and how you manage it is important.

3. Making assumptions

Many fresh grads are understandably eager to make a good impression and do everything they can to climb the career ladder. However, being a know-it-all in your efforts to impress can turn off your employers. It’s totally fine to not know everything right away. Yes, everything is ‘fresh’ from your end, but the skills and knowledge you gained during your school days are still raw. 

If you don’t know the answer to your employer’s questions or are unfamiliar with the process, it’s fine to say so. You want to avoid making assumptions and getting them thrown to your face. Pretending to know everything can become your downfall when setting up your employer’s expectations, and you need to follow through.

4. Lacking initiative

As a fresh grad, this is your first chance to prove yourself professionally. It would be a mistake to not take the extra mile. This is your time to transition and grow from student to professional. It would be best if you challenged yourself early in your career to develop good habits.

Don’t get too complacent just because you landed your first job. Once you adapt to your new environment, take the initiative and ask for other responsibilities to further develop your skills and abilities. For example, you can suggest new ways to improve processes. Your new ideas will highly impress your employer and showcase your proactiveness.

Taking the initiative at work showcases that you are an independent worker full of creativity. It highlights that you have goals that you want to achieve. That’s always a plus on your employer’s book.

5. Not taking time to network

Not building relationships early in your career can hurt you in the long run. Interpersonal skills are a universal talent that will gain you workplace connections that could yield new professional opportunities down the line. You never know when you’ll need a good referral.

Don’t try to force yourself on everyone, though. You don’t want to seem unauthentic. Forge friendships as organic as they can be, step out of social media and talk to your colleagues. Find a common interest and start a conversation. 

Networking is also a great way to find a mentor. Reach out to your manager and communicate your eagerness to learn about their practical experience in the job. Having a mentor can leverage you through your career when you most need it.

6. Letting your personal life interfere

Another common fresh grad mistake is forgetting to draw the line between personal and professional life. Using social media, checking your personal email, or even online shopping on company time is a big no-no. Steer clear of it at all costs.

It would be best if you focused on your work when you were at work. Try to separate your personal life when you can. Not only will it benefit your career development, but it will also help you manage your mental health.

7. Thinking you’re too good for the grunt work

Working as a fresh grad means your first job will likely involve grunt work. It means taking on tasks that seem repetitive or administrative. But don’t take these tasks for granted. These mundane tasks you’re doing as a new employee contribute to the bigger picture. Trust the process. Your responsibilities contribute to the overall success of your organisation.

Developing professional skills takes time. Don’t rush through it. Your superiors went through it, and you’ll learn the importance of it in the long run. For example, doing boring reports can help improve your detail-orientedness and critical thinking.

Life advice for college graduates

Your first job is a big step in your career, and how well you do it can significantly impact how quickly you progress. It will kickstart a new phase in your life, and you will want to do well. Avoiding these common mistakes of fresh grads can help your professional reputation and achieve your long-term career goals. Ensure your career success by watching out for these common mistakes and making the best of your first professional experience.

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Finally, visit the Career Resources Hub for more fresh grad career tips.