Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job (49 page)

So now that that’s settled, what are you going to do about it? Probably the thing you least want to do. Assuming the mistake isn’t easily fixable or inconsequential, go straight to your boss and explain what happened. Apologize and wait to hear what he has to say. He may offer a solution and tell you how to fix the situation, or he may offer to take care of it himself. If he does neither, offer a suggestion as to how you might fix it, and ask if he concurs. And yes, he might berate you. But generally, people are much more forgiving of mistakes than you’d think. (What bosses don’t forgive is employees making the same mistakes over and over, making lots of mistakes all over the place, or making mistakes and covering them up.)

Over time, you will develop a sense of when you can dig yourself out of a hole and when you need help and from whom. Everyone makes mistakes—the best thing to learn early on is not to flagellate yourself, but to ask, “What do I need to do to fix the problem right now, to whom should I apologize, what could I have done differently to avoid this situation, and what will I do better next time?”

Q. I was so proactive about taking things on that I’ve overdone it. Now I’m afraid I’m going to miss a deadline on an important project. What do I do?

A.
The first time I had to write a grant report, I blew it. I had no idea what to do, didn’t want to do it, and went into denial about it, hoping that the unpleasant and hard thing would somehow evaporate and disappear. Needless to say, it didn’t go away. I didn’t seek help until the end of the day before it was due, putting myself and my boss in a difficult situation. I was embarrassed, she was put on the spot—and the worst part was that it could have been easily avoided with some better communication and forethought.

Don’t wait until the very last minute, when it becomes impossible to do anything about it—that’s how you create a crisis. As soon as you get an inkling that you’re in over your head, tell your supervisor that you’re working as hard as you can but are worried about meeting the upcoming deadline: “I’m afraid I’ve misjudged how long this would take and I need your advice about how to manage the situation.” Often things take longer than we think they will. Ask
about priorities and whether other projects can wait. Sometimes a supervisor can get extra help or redistribute some of the workload, but understand that you may need to work late and come in early to finish up.

BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Don’t let all your good work vanish into the stratosphere. As you go along, collect a portfolio of sorts, a record of the quality of your work and the range of tasks you’ve performed.

Keep copies of reports, press releases, pitch letters, letters to clients, spreadsheets, catalogs and templates you’ve designed, ads you’ve created, and so on. If your job doesn’t generate an extensive paper trail, get in the weekly habit of reviewing and jotting down your duties and accomplishments. Include any letters or e-mails you receive in praise of your work—if you work for a large company in which HR conducts or participates in performance reviews, have copies placed in your personnel file.

This record will come in handy no matter what your plans for the future. Should you want to move on, it will make it easier for you to update your résumé or craft your cover letter; you’ll be better able to ease the way for the person taking over for you; and you’ll have something to show prospective employers. If you are staying put and need to argue the case for a promotion or raise, the documentation will support your argument.

Another unlikely but good rationale: If your company is bought or you are fired, you may be given as little as twenty minutes to clear out your personal items and leave the premises. While the odds are slim, better to be safe than sorry.

Do be cautious about what kind of information you’re taking home: Some documents and realms of information are considered proprietary to the company. Showing them to outsiders could be considered a breach of privacy. Steer clear of anything mentioning company earnings, unannounced future initiatives, or deals in the making.

CULTIVATE IN-HOUSE MENTORS

Wouldn’t it be great if we could all have jobs in which every moment of every day was filled with new challenges and exciting breakthroughs? Dream on. Every job involves a certain amount of tedium—that’s why they pay you, whereas you pay for things like movies, restaurant meals, and vacations!

That’s not to say that you should settle for a plateau in which you learn everything you can in the first year and then keep repeating the same tasks. At a certain point, it becomes
your
responsibility to educate yourself.

Use the resources available to you. Is there part-time education or training that’s relevant to your current job or the position you might be promoted to? There are many options—business or other advanced
degrees, software and database training, language courses, industry certifications, public speaking courses. Will your company pay for all or part of a program? You need to make the case for how the training would increase your productivity, and you may have to promise you’ll stick around for a certain length of time—but it could be worth it.

If the company won’t finance your training or if what you want to pursue isn’t directly related to your current job, find out if you can enroll in a program part-time. Assuming you’re managing your workload, might you be able to leave early or come in late a few days a week if you make up the time? If you’re financing professional education yourself, see if you’re eligible for grants or scholarships from the institution or from foundations, government agencies, or local social groups like Rotary Clubs or the YMCA.

If you’re thinking of moving on from your current job, professional education might be especially relevant to you—don’t just assume that you’ve learned everything there is to learn and it’s time to bail. Consider what experience you may need for another job or to enter a new company at a higher level, and actively seek ways to get it. That way you won’t move to a new job and start all over again at the bottom of the totem pole.

But most of all, seek informal ways to educate yourself. Gain as much exposure to every aspect of your company as you can. Ask your boss if you can sit in on important meetings. Go on informational interviews—on the inside. Talk to people in other departments and find out what they do. If you think you might be interested in a horizontal move into another area of the company, see if you can get a sneak peek by shadowing someone for a day. The more you know about your company and your industry, even if the information appears to lie outside your direct job, the better.

A
“review” is what they call a report card at work. Though it’s not the only form of feedback you’ll get, it is likely the basis for raises, bonuses, promotions, and contract renewals. In other words, it should be taken very seriously.

Though you should have discussed the review process during one of your interviews, make sure you understand who’s reviewing you, how, and when. Some reviews involve written evaluations, self-evaluations, and checklists;
some are informal conversations. You’ll have reviews throughout your career, generally once a year, but your first review will probably occur within three to six months after your start date. If your supervisor doesn’t initiate the process for the first review at the agreed-upon time, gently encourage him to schedule a meeting—though reviews may be scary at first, they’re valuable.

Take notes. Accept criticism calmly, even if you feel it’s off-base. If you feel you need to speak up, provide concrete evidence in your favor:
“I’m sorry you see it that way. I feel I’ve shown initiative in the following ways …”
There’s nothing wrong with saying, “I agree, I could have handled that situation better.” Nobody’s perfect. Ask for suggestions for improvement and a timetable in which you are expected to accomplish goals or changes. If you’re asked for a self-evaluation, be positive, but make sure also to note areas for improvement.