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  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
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    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
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    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
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    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
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    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
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    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
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    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
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    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
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    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
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- Wise Words -
A Millennial Reflection.  
​Two Years in the Workplace

by megan mostoller

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I am writing this column on the second anniversary of my hasty, transformative, yet much anticipated start of my career.  
 
My first two years in the workforce has been a combination of quick-pace learning, transition from the fabulous college life to a so-so apartment in New Jersey with a commute for my “9-to-5” while also trusting in my own knowledge and ability. Although it feels like yesterday (time flies when you’re working I guess!) now is a good time to reflect on what I have learned.  
 
Much of what I’ve picked up on were foretold by peers, professors, or family members.  That said there’s nothing like application and stumbling into situations first hand to make all the advice come to life!
 
Lifelong Learning.
The workplace, unfortunately, is almost nothing like school.  While the tools we’ve used and mastered in college are what got us to this point, applying it in a business setting is a whole new ball game.
 
To get me through the bumps of this transition I have been lucky to have colleagues and managers to guide me.  Based on my experience my advice is to listen to fellow co-workers, ask to sit in on calls, and don’t think twice about attending an optional meeting. All these things will help you learn the tips and tricks that more veteran team members have picked up along the way.
 
I remember my first week at my new company where my manager held a training session on how to speak to a client while remaining collected when you cannot answer the question. At the time, I barely had a grasp on the tools I would be using, let alone how to explain to a client how they work. Regardless, I wrote down every word she said, and still reference the notes two years later. Early on in your career, every day is an opportunity to learn something.
 
I’ve noticed that many of my friends from college envy the mentorship I have had with my managers.  It is a two-way partnership. In the work place I have found that collaboration, cooperation and connection are the new normal.  The want to learn should not end on graduation day so keep at it!
 
Don’t Forget Your Voice.
Being an Early Stage Professional does not mean your opinion should not be heard.  Each team member brings their own unique perspective to a problem.  Everyone’s input matters. 
 
In fact, voicing your opinion shows your understanding of the business as well as showing you want to help your company.  Even if your idea has previously been discussed or trialed, your peers will be able to provide insight on why it won’t work and this furthers your understanding and challenging you to look at the problem in a different light.
 
Asking questions may also lead to a unique solution or new approach. Whatever way you get to the answer, your manager will be glad you have given your ideas and opinion.  It shows that you are interested and collaborative.
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Find the “Teachers”
There are two things I learned quickly while starting as an Early Stage Professional. The first being the wonderful world of internal tools.
 
There’s nothing quite like starting the first week of a new job and being hit with the expected learning curve for internal tools. Every business has its processes, and every process has its tool.
 
Luckily the second half of this realization is, there are people in this world who make great teachers. You’ve likely met these people throughout your whole life – the lifeguard who is great at teaching swimming, the math tutor that knows exactly what to say to get a problem to click for you, and there are plenty of people who hold this quality in your office. These are the mentors that will push you to make your own mistakes, but will be there to explain where you went wrong and encourage you to try again.
 
I was fortunate enough to have a great team who were patient, understanding, and let me fail all with the goal of me gaining a full grasp of the tools I was using. Once the initial learning curve came to a plateau, it was my responsibility to become more independent and rely less on the teachers of my team. At the end of my first six months I was asking less “how to?” and more “what if?”.  It was a great transition to have made.
           
“Can I help?”
Asking if you can help may seem obvious, but is easy to overlook. Whether you are 6 months into the job, or 25 years in, I think this simple question has so many benefits to your own personal growth, the confidence your colleagues have in you, and inevitably the success of the business.
 
By asking this simple question you are creating and engaging in a team environment while acknowledging to your colleagues that you are prepared and willing to take on a bigger workload. More often than not, your peers will have a harder time letting go of their work than letting you jump in but putting this initiative out there shows you are a team player. The times that work does get passed to you, is a great opportunity to be exposed to higher level work or run through a routine that is foreign to you. Once you do this, it is likely more work will be passed your way, building the steps to get you further in your career.
 
Be curious and build initiative.
One of the best things an Early Stage Professional can do to further their career, is to become a well-rounded employee. Outside of internal tools, the first few months are a huge opportunity to learn about the business you are in. 
​

If you are lucky and are at a good company you will be placed in onboarding training sessions where you will learn the entire business. Through these you will meet co-workers you may not work with day to day, and beyond meeting and engaging with these peers.  Be honest in your curiosity to learn more about something you are not familiar with. If you are listening to an interesting presentation, ask the speaker out for coffee to get a deeper dive. Creating a connection like this with a fellow co-worker is extremely valuable, while building knowledge for you!

Back to it... 

While I still have a lot to learn on my career journey, these building blocks have helped me be a reliable and engaged team player and employee. I continue to look to my managers and colleagues to learn and grow within my industry. Being an early stage professional can often be confusing and complicated, but by maintaining your career goals and looking to role models within your workplace, getting ahead is possible and achievable. Best of luck!


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Megan Mostoller is a User Experience Designer at The Tradedesk, based in New York City.  
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Prior to joining The Tradedesk, Megan worked at Criteo and Sigma in digital design and production. She holds a BA in Design from Seton Hall University.


More Wise Words

Achieve: Focus on Results
​
Achieve: Leading from the Start
Achieve: Small is BIG
Achieve: Take Action
Career Management: Annual Review. A "How To"
Career Management: Annual Review. As Career Plan
Career Management: Choosing a Mentor
Career Management: Careers Happen
Career Management: Career Journey
Career Management: Mentorship Explained
​
Career Management: Post Graduate Degrees
Career Management: Promotion Frustration 
Career Management: Moving up by moving out
Career Management: Selecting Your Company
Career Management: Understand Yourself
Finances: Retirement Saving (1)
Finances: Retirement Saving (2)
Hindsight: Balance the short- with the long-term
​Hindsight: Embrace learning and your manager
Hindsight: Focus at Work
Hindsight: Millennial Reflections
Hindsight: Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
​Hindsight: Take Advice Sparingly
Hindsight: Take a Career Mulligan
​
Hindsight: Transition from College
Hindsight: Winning Nicely
Hindsight: Work hard, network, be honest. Have fun too!
Managing Up: Manage Up to Move Up
Managing Up: Manager As Partner
Managing Up: New Manager
Managing Up: Questions for your manager
Managing Up: Secret Skills for Managing Up
​
People & Teamwork: Be A Giver
​
People & Teamwork: LinkedIn As Networking
People & Teamwork: Networking Hacks
People & Teamwork: Networking as a Relationship
People & Teamwork: Networking Simplified
People & Teamwork: Teamwork As Leadership
Speedbumps: Chutes & Ladders
​
Speedbumps: Laid Off? Take A Breath
Speedbumps: Layoffs. The Afterlife
Speedbumps: Owning Mistakes
Work Life: Work Culture. America vs. UK
Work Life: Ask Why
Work Life: Be Yourself. Be Genuine
​
Work Life: Browned Out?
Work Life: Business Travel Guide
Work Life: Calendar Management
Work Life: Difficult Situations
Work Life: Focus on Fiyah!
​Work Life: Ghosting
​
Work Life: Help the Early Stage Professionals
Work Life: International Remote Working
Work Life: Pre-Vacation Checklist
Work Life: Smartphones & The Office
​Work Life: Start-Up Glamor
Work Life: Stress Management
Work Life: Take a Walk
​
Work Life: They Quit
Work Life: Unlimited Vacation
Work Life: Welcome the Newbies
Work Life: "Work" from Home

Crushing It @ Work

What Time Should I Start? 
What If I am Running Late? 
Taking Vacation
Sick Days 
Working Outside Office Hours
​
How to prepare for One/Ones
Making Meetings on Time 
Business Presentations 
Social Media, Personal Email and Hanging Out on the Web
Give it Six to Nine Months to Feel @Home
Be Your-professional-self
Staying Positive

Money Talk

The Basics
Retirement Savings Guide

Job Search Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?
Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​Responding to Recruiters
The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week
You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

USA Today Columns by Fergus Mellon

How to get started on LinkedIn: Do this, not that
Warning: Avoid smartphone shame at work.  Keep them out of sight
To succeed, be a Giver in the workplace, not a Taker
4 ghoulish personality pitfalls to steer clear of at the office
​
How to coach today's not so entitled Millennials as they join the rat race

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - Collaboration is Power
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management