A few weeks ago, Kari wrote a very thoughtful entry titled “Things I Wish I Had Known in My 20s“, which I linked to from this blog. Kenny left a comment on my blog that, as someone in his early twenties just entering the workforce, he had hoped there would be some career advice.
I’ve spent the past few weeks mulling over the lessons I’ve learned in twenty years of working and would like to share these things I wish I had known when I started working. Of course, I don’t claim that it is comprehensive. What things do you wish you had known when you started working?
Lessons About Myself
I am responsible for my own growth and development. My manager, the training organization and HR are all resources to help me, but ultimately I am the responsible party.
As such, I should always be learning. Learn from each situation: ask what went well and what could be done better next time and then apply the lessons.
Step up and volunteer for things. Timid and shy people who are afraid of new assignments and more work, are the ones who miss out on the opportunities.
Manage expectations. “Under-promise and over-deliver”, as they say. By setting realistic expectations with others, I avoid some of the the stress of trying to meet unrealistic deadlines. That doesn’t mean that I won’t have tough deadlines to meet, but at least they won’t be tough deadlines of my own making.
Lessons About Companies
Yes, it is my job and yes, I am paid to do that. My job is to help the company succeed and as long as I am not breaking any laws or violating company policies, then I’ll enjoy greater success by doing it, even if the task is outside my normal job description.
“Up” isn’t the only way to get ahead. Lateral moves and moves into other parts of the organization can sometimes be better for my long-term prospects than standard promotions. Consider alternate routes to get where I want.
Sometimes it is better to have to wait for a promotion. Each time I didn’t get a promotion, I took the opportunity to be much better prepared for it when it I did finally get it. As a result, I always performed very well in my new role. Had I been promoted before I was really ready, I would have struggled and possibly failed.
Lessons About Customers
Treat customers the way I want to be treated as a customer. I had a manager who was an expert at empathizing with customers. No matter how angry the customer, she won them over and made them feel that she was on their side. She did the by treating them with respect and caring and by truly listening to them.
Related to that, I wish I had known that I can’t “win” an argument with a customer. While there may be customers I choose not to do business with, feeling any sense of satisfaction after trouncing a customer in an argument is pointless. What have I won? I have lost their business and have sullied my company’s reputation.
Lessons About Managers
Offer solutions, not problems. If I notice a problem or opportunity, think of at least one possible solution before approaching my manager. That way, I am welcomed as someone who brings solutions rather than being someone my manager regrets seeing at her door.
Managing and doing aren’t the same thing. I was a great widget maker but when I became the manager of the widget makers, I discovered that it required a new set of skills. Remember this when criticizing a manager or “the big wigs in HQ”. Remember this also before gunning for a promotion to a management or supervisory position.
Make my manager look good. Even if my manager isn’t perfect or has major flaws, trying to make him look bad will only reflect poorly on me and my entire team. My first manager was a tremendous a**hole and I almost quit because of him. But I decided I wouldn’t leave on his account. Sure enough, a few months later he had been fired and I went on to enjoy a very good 15 years with the company.
Lessons About Coworkers and Vendors
Treat everyone as a customer. When I respond to people with a “How can I help you?” attitude, I don’t necessarily get any additional work, but I do get the appreciation of coworkers and vendors who feel like I am a nice person and someone who helps them rather than hinders them.
Related to that, success in business (and maybe life as a whole) is based on good relationships and strong networks. Treating people well – not bullying, intimidating, yelling, name-calling or back-stabbing them – paves the road to success. Because, sure enough, at some point in the future that “little person” I treated well will hold the key to a door through which I want to enter.
Lessons About Retirement
Start investing in my 401(k) or other retirement savings from day one. Even if I can only afford to invest a small amount – even $20 a month – it is better to get into the habit from the very beginning. The benefits of compound interest and time (forty or more years until retirement) can only accrue if I start saving. I’ve done well with this, but wish I had started much earlier.
Reviewing these, I feel like there are plenty more things I could share, but these are the most critical ones that, had I known them on March 17, 1987 when I entered the workforce, life would have been a whole lot easier and working a whole lot more enjoyable.
What additional advice would you give Kenny?
christao408 
Here’s one, although it’s kind of an obvious one, especially because I don’t have the experience to work off of.
Make sure you love what you do. No one would be in the NFL if they didn’t like to play, and no one should work as an engineer if they don’t like to work with wires or do math. Personally, I’d like to teach English. There are too many people who don’t speak it correctly.
Thanks for this.
Smiles are good. People like working with people who don’t look suicidal I guess.
I do a lot of shit I’m not supposed to at work. Used to work for Human Resources at an amusement park. During lunch I went into the park and walked through the waterfun zone. Walked back into the office with my collared shirt and khakis soaked and started working. Currently work at a car manufacturing plant. Me and some other guys like shooting these giant rubberbands (excess packaging) at eachother. Tried shooting a friend who was on an open moving vehicle with a rubberband, but shot some 50-something-year old guy in the back instead. whoops. There’s more. Crazy I’ve never been fired. Ahhhh.So if you’re gonna play at work, keep it stealthy and don’t let it affect your job responsibilities.
I may possibly have my first job soon, and this is the kind of stuff that I want to read. I like to learn from people who have plenty of experience, because you don’t necessarily have to learn from personal experience to become wise. Therefore, I appreciate all the information I can get. Thankfully, because of my personality, I will have no problem dealing with customers (if I land the job I’m trying to get…part-time of course). I will take your advice and use it.
Never compromise your morals for a job.
+1 on this advice!
I like what you wrote about companies. 🙂
@Duyen_the_Great – @Neeka1 – @Xetronic – @VersaGratis – Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the entry. Thanks for stopping by. You’re welcome back anytime.
@black_lie – I hope they are helpful for you.
@Sirius_Fan_Girl – Thanks for that really good addition to the list. I think loving what you do has two halves: the first is finding something that you care about and the second is deciding to really care about what you do. The second half won’t entirely make up for the first, if you don’t care for what you do, but it will make a big difference.
@Zombies_Ate_My_Neighbors – Sounds like you have a lot of fun at work. That’s great. Certainly, we should take our work seriously but that doesn’t mean we have to take ourselves so seriously. Fun and laughter in the workplace make it a lot more enjoyable.
@brandon32490 – Brandon, I hope your first job is a great experience for you and if any of the tips on this entry – or those left in any of the comments – are able to help you, then so much the better. Best wishes!
@methodElevated – Thanks for adding that very good point. Your morals and ethics are sacrosanct and one you’ve compromised them, you can never really repair the damage. I appreciate your comment.
Good job sir! I have now been working a year in my chosen profession, and you mostly hit everything. I would emphasize what someone mentioned earlier here though. Always take responsibility for your work. If you can’t make a deadline, work extra (sometimes even if it means not getting paid). If you still can’t make the deadline, give your client as much warning as possible–let them know you might need extra time as early as you can. Always communicate with your managers, so if they are the ones who have to break the news, they don’t get bent out of shape. If you make a mistake, own up to it, and then do what it takes to fix it. Nobody is perfect, and most of us are pretty forgiving about it as long as things get fixed.Another point–take advantage of all the older, wiser, people you work with. If there is someone in the office whose work you admire, figure out what it is that makes them so exceptional and learn from what they do and say. Ask them for help, especially if there are finer details to your task that they can help you learn. Always try on your own first though, so you don’t waste their time and have good questions to ask. I have learned that one or two well-thought-out questions may take half an hour to answer, but they can save hours (or days) of work in the end by bringing to your attention problems that you might not have noticed until much later.
Lessons about coworkers. I like this one. I just went on run-in with one of my coworkers today. He pissed me off as he was lecturing me about the whole schedule for the teachers, i am currently working as a scheduling manager at an English school in Medan, Indonesia. So anyway, the problem didn’t only finish when i left the school, it went on again when i got home. My phone rang, and he just drew me up the wall. I’ve had enough. What will you do when you can’t change something because it’s not the right time yet? I wonder why this person can’t wait till next month for him to get his new schedule. It’s gonna be students’ test week in a week time. OMG!! What have i done wrong with this person??
Anyway, not to elaborate my story further, being nice with coworkers even when you’re upset is not easy, but sometimes you have to do so.
good stuff
this is a great post, i’ll be keeping these pointers in mind.
thanks for the tips..definitely very helpful gain a more positive working situation, especially for yourself.
Wonderful post!-M
Great advice. Its not often I read something on xanga that I can actually learn something from.
thanks 🙂 im starting work soon and its great to read something like this!
hmm… i definitely quit working as a stock associate at EXPRESS partly because i couldn’t stand the stock manager, but she was fired shortly after i left. interesting. but it was definitely not somewhere that i planned on staying long anyway, nor can i imagine making a career there.
I agree in general, but the customer service aspect is a little saccharin sweet at best. i don’t have any problem throwing out a “customer” who is confrontational, rude, and would only spend a small amount of money on a transaction. Frankly, since we are all responsible for ourselves, arguments for the collective group via customer service at any cost are disingenuous.
People are equals and should be treated as such. but customers aren’t equal. the ten dollar guy isn’t worth the salt of the thousand dollar guy (unless you have 100 ten dollar guys). that’s simply economic. we can all be hospitable to any person, but it’s naive to think we give the same preference to the drop in the bucket when the rest of the bucket is readily available.
We have to pick our battles, and most times keeping our heads down does wonders. But there is a collective contigent of people who skate by being scum and profiting simply because they know how to beg, moan and scream. If they are allowed to win an inch, they will take a mile, and ultimately, only those who know how to work the system or cry the most will win. And I think the first battles are fought at the customer service desk. We should have not one iota of guilt for throwing out terrible people from our services. Sullied reputations be damned. The really sullying is that of our personal selves, for taking such an affront from someone else lying down.
This reminds me of how I need to “step up” and out of my timidness sometimes. Haha I wish I had known before I finished my first job.
I just wanted to comment on the retirement issue, what do you think would appeal the younger workforce to invest more in their 401(k) instead of using their savings and buying PS3s and iPods and other technological goodies. Compound interest is so powerful, but how can we appeal to the younger masses who seems more interested in the present and avoiding the future issues at hand?
don’t mess with the 401K stuff- buy gold.
Shelby Stone….The Gelding by Mystic Moon press 8/18/08
@methodElevated – you got it sister– don’t compromise your morals for a job. Shelby Stone…The Gelding by MysticMoon press 8/18/08
@shamannebula – Excellent additional suggestions! Thank you for adding them. Certainly, learning from others in our workplace, especially those who have more experience, is a great technique.
@cindymaysunshine – Oh, that sounds like a messy coworker to deal with! Definitely a good idea to remain nice to coworkers but it sounds like this one is pushing you to the edge of your wits.
@phonz786 – @lovesporks – @luvtiramizu – @Mandrake – @tenshii_rage – Thank you for the kind words; glad you liked the post.
@suuperstar – Good luck as you enter the workforce!
@anjilprincesa – Thanks for your comment. Certainly, there are those jobs where we realize it isn’t where we want to be so it is best to get out. Interesting that the stock manager was fired not long after you left, though. Guess it proves that she wasn’t a good manager.
@ectofunky – Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I agree that a customer who is rude should be thrown out. My advice was more geared towards the experiences I had where I would get into an argument with a customer because I wanted to be right or prove a point, as if the customer would eventually sheepishly admit his mistake and then would apologize, pay his money, and go merrily on his way.
Unfortunately, in situations like that, you can’t win. The customer will feel pissed off or embarrassed and won’t to do business with you.
Thanks again for your comments.
@dRaGonz3k – Thanks for your comment and questions. One tool that I eventually created to share with my employees was a little model that showed the difference between someone who contributed a higher amount, but started later in life, versus someone who contributed a smaller amount, but started earlier in life. Over the course of time, assuming the same interest rates, the person who started earlier even with smaller contributions, would end up with a whole lot more money down the road.
There’s a certain degree to which young people are more now-focused than older people because retirement seems further away. But illustrations like these that put things in real dollar terms, can be helpful, especially if it isn’t about retirement in particular but savings in general.
Thanks again for your participation in the discussion!
@yakky – Thanks for your comment. Hope you find the suggestions helpful.
@Shelby_Stone – Nice suggestion. Thanks for adding it. I suppose the one advantage of the 401(k) is the ease of accessibility for a new employee, but I see your point about the long-term value of gold.
Wonderful post. I had been a manager for several years before I started working from home two years ago. I work long distance now with my old company and have found my communication skills have increased ten fold. If anyone has ever tried to explain how to draw floor plans via the phone to a new draftsperson then you know you’ve developed your communication skills when everything turns out how you explained it. Just the need to describe and orientate people without a visual backdrop as a go by is a wonderful tool. I would suggest anyone who can to work from home for a month to do in order to build these skills. Helps tremendously with the written word as well so you learn exactly how each word will be taken by the individual at the other end. Well, back to work. Thanks again.
thank you thank you….great advice…
So sorry I forgot to leave a message here when I read it the first time! I actually browsed through it quickly and missed my name at the beginning. :o) Thank you for responding. You have such great advice! I wish I had the experience to actually review what had come to pass. I only find myself constantly re-evaluating my worth to the company through the quality of work I do, the amicable and always willing to help attitude (which I hope is noticeable) and through my conversations with my boss. I really do try to impress him any way I can. I’m also learning about financing my retirement through my co-workers that are more saavy with their portfolios. I will definitely try to contribute as much as I can (as little as it may be…). I do have to work on my hunger for material goods, however. My heart just falls in love with too many things set behind a storefront. Damn convincing marketing.
Don’t be a ass…I mean yes, be responsible. Even if you get caught “bending the rules!! Or be an ass when you don’t get the raise you thought….
Hehe, I said ass!
Seriously though, very concise and well thought out post. Thanx for sharing.
thanks for the awesome advice! =) i just graduated recently (june) and i’m currently looking for a full-time position so when i start working… i’ll be reading back on your blog again =)
@Chamais – Thank you for that very insightful addition to the discussion. I had never thought about it (which is funny because I’ve worked remotely for most of the past eight years) but yes, it does force you to tighten up your communication skills. I appreciate your contribution!
@DreamyAngel81 – Glad you enjoyed the advice. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
@Oroborous – Thanks for your comment. The censors will let that one slide… =)
@kenpcho – Sorry I had to poke you; just didn’t want you not to get the full impact of an entry written for you. Regarding investment savvy, at your young age the most important thing is that you invest and don’t take it out. You can certainly try to “invest wisely” as they say, but a lot of the advice you’ll get is about chasing trends rather than sound investing. Just get the money into tax-free savings and start compounding interest.
As for buying things or being lured by the marketing, don’t feel bad. I spent the first decade after I graduated under the weight of financial difficulties, brought on mostly by living a lifestyle that my income didn’t really support. It is a tough lesson to learn, even if you “know” better.
One technique is to figure out your per hour wage (if you work a salaried job): divide your salary + value of benefits (about 35% of your salary if you have health, insurance, etc.) by 2,080 hours a year. That gives you your hourly wage. Then, when you’re considering buying something, just ask yourself whether that $200 iPhone is worth X hours of your time, with the earnings of those hours going to nothing else but the iPhone. I’ve found it helps me gain some perspective on potential purchases.
Cheers!
@LiLxGiZmO27 – Thanks for the comment and stopping by the blog. Good luck on your job search!
Don’t whine! Nobody wants to work with a whiner.
If you’ve been somewhere for a while, you’ve given it your best shot but feel like you’re not going to get any further or if you’ve been somewhere for a while and you’re unhappy but have grown complacent, do something about it! Find another job, give your two weeks and leave. I wish I would’ve done that sooner. Life is so much easier when you don’t dread going to work.
I actually follow these at my work place. =]
This is great advice! Bravo.
fantastic post! so happy to see you featured! you know i’ve been a christao fan for a long time.
Awesome advice! My old manager should totally this advice.