9 Mistakes New Grads Make in Their First Job ( How to Fix Them!)

9 Mistakes New Grads Make in Their First Job ( How to Fix Them)9 Mistakes New Grads Make in Their First Job ( How to Fix Them) Just as you were getting used to the rules and politics of university life, youre back to square one with a new challenge your first job . While the skills and knowledge youve gained in college will certainly be an important part of your toolkit for doing well in your new job, theres also a new rulebook you need to get acquainted with. Prepare for your first job by avoiding these nine mistakes that you may be liable to inadvertently make.1. Not understanding the implications of your mistakesBefore, when you messed up or didnt put the work in, only you bore the consequences through a bad grade or a failed class. Now, your mistakes have wider implications than just grades other people are depending on you to do a job that will have real effects and results in the world. You need to take responsibility for your mistakes , because now their implications affect more people than just you.Networking can be intimidating, especially for a generation accustomed to socializing through screens. But a simple coffee chat with someone in your company may have more beneficial consequences down the road than you would expect. It also important to learn how to network smarter. I always believe networking is not about only meeti ng new people, but making the most of your existing relationships. Ask them the question Who do you know who? and start to leverage their networks so you move out exponentially, says Andy Lopata, author of Recommended How to Sell Through Networking and Referrals.3. Underestimating the importance of finding a mentorIf I hadnt had mentors, I wouldnt be here today. Im a product of great mentoring , great coaching Coaches or mentors are very important. They could be anyone your husband, other family members, or your anfhrer, Indra Nooyi, the CEO of PepsiCo, has said. Mentors can leverage you through y our career when you most need it. While mentorship isnt something thats talked about a lot when youre entering the workforce, its critical to start thinking about finding mentors from day one.It might have been okay in college to pull all-nighters before a big deadline. But pulling an all-nighter and then going to work the next day is unsustainable , especially if youre expected to be fully functioning at work. Its now your responsibility to your job and even more importantly, your colleagues to bring an awake mind to your job.5. Treating your boss like your professorWhile your professor may have been gracious in granting you extensions for your paper you handed in a week late, your boss might not be so understanding especially if you tell them at the last minute that youre going to need more time for something. In addition, while your processors primary goal was to help you learn, your bosss primary goal is to help you work. Keep that in mind as you navigate this new power d ynamic .Just because a big meeting isnt a final exam doesnt mean you shouldnt study for it like you would for a test. And just because youre not being evaluated with a grade every time you turn in an assignment or complete a project doesnt mean you should take it any less seriously. Especially as a newbie on the job, this is your time to show up with your research already done and your slides already made, so that you can prove yourself to others and avoid wasting their time.As a new member of the workforce, this is your first chance to prove yourself in the professional world. Marissa Mayer, the former CEO of Yahoo, has said of starting out in her career, I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think thats how you grow. When theres that moment of Wow, Im not really sure I can do this, and you push through those moments thats when you have a breakthrough. Failing to find that edge can stall your future development. In college, feedback was almost always associated with an event that many consider stressful finding out your grade. But in work life, there is no report card. The feedback you get only serves to correct your mistakes and propel you forward. Feedback should be solicited rather than shirked.9. Using social media in the arbeitszimmerUnless your job title contains the words social media strategist , chances are your boss (and colleagues, for that matter), wont be very happy to look over and see you browsing Facebook. The same goes for scrolling through your smartphone. Your office does not afford the anonymity of a large lecture hall.