Advice and Wisdom

Advice For 20-Somethings From A 20-Something: Utilize Year One

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BY SARAH WEEDEN

Taking a break from the questions while everyone is out graduating and job hunting and doing their best not to move back home.

(Hint: Your mom won’t think it’s cute to do your laundry anymore.)

On June 6th, I hit my one year anniversary at my company. So, this post is going to focus on the best way to utilize year one. Because, for a lot of you, year one is about to start. Obviously my situation is one of many.

I can only give you my perspective.

This is my bias:

  • Went to undergrad.
  • Went to grad school.
  • Moved to NYC.
  • Work at a 50 person agency.
  • In account management.

That being said, these are my seven basic rules for survival and, hopefully, success. Why seven? Because that’s how many I just came up with.

Rule #2 In Action

1. Work as if your life depends on it. Because, guess what? It does.

To live, you need money. To get money, you need to be employed. To be employed, you have to be employable. Be employable.

2. Make friends at your office. You won’t stay sane without them.

They are going through/ have gone through everything that you are. Your story is not unique. Rely on each other.

3. Prove yourself to the highest person you can reach. They will help you climb.

Your project manager isn’t going to promote you. Your boss is. Let them see what you’re capable of.

4. Make time to have a life. It’s okay if your life is in the office.

Have happy hour beers with your coworkers. See the make friends point above

5. Utilize stairwells for freak outs and crying fits. Not meetings.

Don’t be that person losing it in a meeting. Leave the room. Collect yourself. Move on.

6. Don’t live up to your title. Live up to the title you want to have.

If you only do what’s asked of you, you’re never going to feel fulfilled. You’re also never going to go anywhere fast.

7. Use correct grammar. Always. Always, always.

Clients expect you to run their business. How safe will they feel if you can’t complete a sentence correctly?

If you follow these rules, I promise you this: you will not be worse off than if you don’t follow these rules.

(Quick Editor’s Note: Sarah went to South Carolina. Since Oregon is out of the NCAA Baseball hunt, I shall be rooting for them. Also, if you’re a 20-Something, don’t be afraid to ask Sarah a question. -^z1)


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  • by AWSC
  • posted at 2:26 pm
  • June 12, 2012

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