What are the most effective ways to learn from your first job?

Be a sponge. The world of work is different from the world of education. There is not only your assigned responsibilities but understanding how people manage themselves in competitive situations. And, you need to decide what kind of professional you will be.

One of the best moves I made when I started my first professional job was scheduling 1:1 coffee chats with various people at work. I talked to team members, managers, and individuals from other departments to build connections. These chats helped me create a network of supportive colleagues, making it easy to ask questions and learn fast. It also gave me insights into different roles and opportunities, so I had a better understanding of potential career pathways.

Keep a diary. Write down what happened during the day, no matter how trivial or unrelated. At the end of each month, filter your findings and categorize them into: What you did right, what you want to do right next time, what you need to do them right.

Share them with your manager yes, seek advice, ask for it, expect it. Your development is important. More importantly, write your goals down for yourself. Put them visible in your work space and hold yourself accountable. Ask yourself regularly "am I tracking for this". I believe in micro goals, you should constantly be setting them for the next day, week, month..... maybe in harder times you set a goal for the next hour.

Ask questions, be curious. Be a learner. Ask 'why' [the company or team] does it 'this' way. Offer your perspective and know that some of your ideas will work and some won't, and the ones that won't may spark new ideas.

Seek feedback from not only your manager but also your colleagues, project managers, and partners. Ask your significant other for feedback on your work/work ethic.

You need feedback to learn and grow, and if you’re waiting for your annual review to find out how you’re performing, you’re not getting enough of it. Let's find out this principle: - Understand the kind of feedback you want, whether it’s coaching, praise, or an evaluation of recent work. - Ask in real time. This will create a more organic feedback loop going forward. - Pose specific questions designed to elicit helpful information and examples.

As you build professional relationships, hone in on the person or leader that you'd like to understand their perspective and learn from regularly.

Few ways to find a mentor at your workplace 1.Observe your surroundings: Identify individuals whose work and knowledge leave a lasting impression. Perhaps a seasoned colleague catches your eye? 2. Leverage your network: Reach out to managers, peers, or even family connections. 3. Initiate with openness: Approach potential mentors with a genuine introduction. Express your eagerness to learn and inquire about their career path. 4. Start with simplicity: Begin the mentorship journey with casual interactions like coffee, lunch, or brief meetings. Establish a connection without overwhelming pressure. Remember, mentors are eager to help emerging talents shine. With initiative and respect, you'll secure a valuable career guide in no time.

In my experience finding mentors ( Not mentor ) is very important in a successful life. And the reason to choose mentors because you will set 2-3 skills or goals you need to achieve and choose the right mentor accordingly. I belive also there’s a big difference between mentor and life coach so focus on what you actually need. Mentors can be found online inside your organization, previous colleagues, Industry experts or even paid mentors through different Mentorship platforms.

"Take initiative" really boxes it up. Stick your neck out there and make yourself available. Volunteer with another department, maybe you have no clue what they are doing but you can make a great door greeter, note taker, carry stuff around person. Insert yourself around knowledge, you'll be amazed what you take in, and very soon are contributing to. Send an email to someone you look up to, ask if they will meet 15 minutes once a quarter. Be calculated, have your questions ready, be open. Do this well and it won't be 15 minutes a quarter for long.

Expressing genuine curiosity and showcasing the skills you’ve acquired in school or through volunteering can be valuable ways to demonstrate initiative. Visionary leaders appreciate young professionals that are inquisitive and teachable. They can invest in those who are interested in mastering a new principle or process. The relationship, communication, leadership, and technology skills early career professionals acquire through their education or community involvement can also add value even when they aren’t required by a job description. These can be integrated into daily tasks and longer term goals to concretely show (not simply tell) high potential, and make a case for additional opportunities.

É fundamental estar atento ao cenário, fazer perguntas e estar disposto a ajudar. É importante preencher os espaços vazios, entendendo quais são as necessidades do setor onde você está inserido, sendo proativo e se sentindo um aprendiz nato.

Your first job often serves as a valuable compass, helping you navigate your career path. It's essential to pay attention to minor details and the feelings and insights they bring. Reflecting on your experience allows you to pinpoint what suits you best and what doesn't, shaping your journey towards a fulfilling career.

“The unexamined life is not worth living“ -Socrates I think that, Socrates, was being a little bit dramatic, though there is some wisdom to his saying. Taking some time to reflect what you did during the day, week, month, quarter, year. What did you do well? What would you do better/differently? Then planning out when you will actually do both. Otherwise, instead of spending three years at a company, getting progressively better, you might spend three years at a company, basically doing the same thing as when you started.

If we take a deep dive into the evolution process, observation led to theorization. It's not until you analyze what you're being trained for, what needs to be done, and what we're trying to achieve; you can't evolve in your profession. Your learning can only stimulate, after being critical enough to innovate and come up with your own understanding of the work process.

First and foremost my first job helped me to balance between our enthusiasm and work culture. It’s very important to learn to pace ourselves because we can gradually become burned out, which will affect our overall performance and experience of the workplace.

Reach out to as many people as you can for coffee chats. If you are an intern, your message acceptance rate will never be higher! Everyone is willing to help the intern and knows what it feels like. During an internship at LinkedIn, I sent out 130 messages for informational interviews with employees and I had 128 meetings as a result. That's the highest rates I have ever, and probably will ever experience. Take notes, ask questions, ask for advice, and follow up! If someone takes the time to speak with you, reach out a few weeks later to thank them for your time and share how their advice has helped you. You'll be amazed at the lessons and opportunities that can come from these coffee chats!

University of Minnesota, former Olympian, J.Robinson taught me. "Put in the work they aren't willing to, they won't put in" "when they call it quits put in an extra hour, that's two hours you are now ahead. Multiply that daily it adds up fast"

Learning is not only for the fresh graduates As i used to have 30 years of experienced colleague in my first workplace and when we had the transformation from papers and files to computers he came to me asking to learn how to use the softwares especially with using english language which was a bit difficult to know how to use the softwares So i teach him every now and then and from that time i knew that there is no limits in learning

Get your hands dirty; say yes more often than you say no. Travel, see the world; work with others. When you're starting your professional career, you want to add 'more tools to your toolbelt' so when times arise and you can't work on what you're passionate about, you'll have other skills to offer. When I started in wetland science, I wanted to work in the field (outside) all the time, but there were times that that wasn't available (snow cover, rain, no fieldwork available), so I considered what else I enjoyed - GIS, so I focused on that, completed a GIS Certificate, which was a tool to my toolbelt. It provided additional tools to my toolbelt, I learned how to 'speak GIS' with other GIS professionals and managers.

Also, consider staying updated on industry trends in a new job by focusing on these three effective methods: Subscribe to reputable industry publications and websites for the latest news, insights, and trends. Join professional associations or groups, attend conferences, and network with industry peers to gain insights into emerging trends. You can use online learning platforms offering industry-specific courses and resources available for experts to stay informed about advancements in your field.

Feedback is crucial in the early years, learn/observe/absorb everything you can. Be careful not to get hyper focused on replicating, remember how someone you look up to "got there" might not be the path that is going to work for you. Take the lessons of hard work networking and make them your own. Stumble early, take calculated risks of trying it your own way. Take the failure, ask questions, and try again. When we were kids, the ones that crashed their bikes the hardest and most frequent.... the ones that went a mile a minute on ice skates and ended up on their face more than upright. They learned faster and mastered the craft before the rest. We fall so we can learn to get back up.

Learn! Put what you learn into practice! Observe the good habits and be inquisitive. Get involved and contribute and keep up to date with the sector you are in.