Looking for a job? Does the ‘real world’ scare you?
Hi I’m Mable.
This month – our Sunday featured videos are about “Entering the Real World”
The Real World can be a scary place for many people joining the workforce after college.
It was certainly intimidating for me on my first job on many levels –
a) No.1 – it’s New York
b) No 2 – it’s TV news
c) Finally – I was the only Asian in the TV newsroom born not only outside of New York, but outside of America.
At the beginning – I felt like – a tourist on the outside looking in.
But this sort of tourist/outsider mindset faded quickly.
Why? I was into my work.
My work as a news assistant required gathering information for a news story, talking with people, asking questions, communicating to my team.
And I think that’s the first key.
Get into your work – Happiness starts with your mindset
I changed my mindset from an outsider to an insider, I got into my work.
Of course, getting into your work is a lot easier if your work is your passion, what you love to do.
But a big part of entering the real world after college – is about getting into your company as well.
Tune into your company – What matters to your boss & your team
See your work through the eyes of the company, your boss, your team.
What is the brand of your company? What does your company stand for? What kind of boss do you have? What are his or her priorities? What’s your team culture? How can you be proactive rather than reactive?
I remember my first job at this TV station was all about breaking news to our audience – being first, fast and accurate. My boss’s priorities are exactly that – plus humor. He always finds a way to crack jokes when we were running and gunning to gather news, on the phone, or in the car –
I remember one time when I was in the car with my TV reporter, we were on the way to a 5 alarm fire in an apartment building. we were told there may be women and children inside. Our boss got on the phone, talking with us, giving us direction where to go, gong us orders what to do. we got there, we got the story, got the interviews, got back into the car. And we asked him, so now, what’s next? He goes – ok now go get me a piece of Steak and a beer! My reporter and I both looked at each other – what? What is he talking about? My boss started cracking up, that was just a joke.
That shows his human side. How he handles stress with humor.
That’s great lesson for me – I tried to find humor through stress. It worked every time, no matter how silly the jokes – Once we’re able to laugh together under stress – we see the fun side of our business, we see the lighter side of life, we build rapport, we build team spirit.
Finally –
Keep in mind Your Future – Build Relationships
Your future, believe it or not, is affected by your ability to form relationships.
How you act, react, interact with your team, your boss, and everyone in the company above and below you– will paint a picture about your brand –
Are you competent, are you friendly, are you kind? Are you nice? Are you positive? are you funny?
Often your performance and your personality go hand in hand in determining if your boss, your peers will endorse you or recommend you for a promotion, that next job to the next level that you want.
So in a nutshell –
Get into your work Happiness starts with your attitude
Tune into your company What matters to your boss & your team
Keep in mind your future Build Relationships, Win Recommendations
Until next time, be well, be involved. Let us know what’s going on – in your world!