Friday, June 06, 2014

Value-able tips for graduates

For some time, I've been meaning to pay it forward a little by offering recent graduates some advice as they start their careers. I mean pay it forward in the sense that I want to help them avoid some of the same mistakes I made. Not so much what I did as what I didn't do.
   I've come to learn over the years that the most important task you have when beginning your career is creating and projecting as much value to a company as you can. 
  Employers obviously want to know what you can bring to the table. This means getting as involved in college as you can. Make yourself a problem-solver and working on projecting that image to potential employers as part of your professional brand. 
   College should be as much about learning to solve problems and offer solutions as it is to getting the best grades you can. Always think in terms of your "Here's what I can offer you" answer. Developing that mindset as soon as possible will help you out immensely.
   Once you've landed the first job, don't just show up every day. Anybody can do that. Absorb as much knowledge as you can, as questions and learn how you can be part of the solution to the company's challenges. 
  I'd always thought of myself as a "What do you need?" guy. Willing to take on any task that had to be done. Even better, especially these days, are employees who learn to predict what the employer will need before he or she even knows it.
   As you learn more about the job, develop a vision of where you see things going, and collaboratively share that with co-workers and managers. Not all of your ideas may be implemented, so be flexible and don't take that personally. Learn from the answers you get. Again, it's making you more valuable as an employee.
   Don't forget to keep track of that value, as well. Your future employers are going to want to know what you ACCOMPLISHED at your previous job, not just what you DID. Develop the mindset of being able to answer the question "How is the company better because of me?" Don't fall into the trap of coming in every day, doing your assigned tasks and collecting your paycheck. Regularly evaluate what you are actually accomplishing on the job, and if that inventory is found wanting, figure out ways to improve it.      Volunteer to take the lead on a project, for example, and keep track of your contributions. You'll need that later when writing resumes and cover letters for any future employers.
Always be thinking in terms of "Someday, somebody is going to ask me what I accomplished here and how I made this a better company." You'll be glad you did when you are competing against a bunch of achievers for a position somewhere else one day. Your goal should be to be the go-to employee for the job you do. Think of your boss telling others, "There's nobody I'd rather have doing this."
 If all this is revelation to just me, that's fine, but have a read. It might be a good refresher or might spark some inspiration. Good luck!