Kill those first job butterflies

Your first job is a time for celebration and cheer. But it's also a moment of truth as you enter alien territory. Here is a survival guide.

Here you are, let loose in the corporate jungle. Gone are the safe confines of home and academia. This is the moment of truth. A boss — who may not necessarily like you — has replaced the parent/ teacher. You are being paid, you are being watched. You have to make the right impact: "Well begun is half done," rings fresh in your ears. Basically, you are nervous, unsure and anxious. How do you go about it?

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Be a team player
Remember, the key to winning is the ability to adjust. Your ability to get along with others will determine the way you fit in. So be a team player from Day One. Work and play according to the rules.

Don't over-project
You obviously have views on many subjects, work-related and otherwise. But wait, do not start imposing them all at once. For instance, if you're a non-smoker, and a committed activist at that, don't badger every smoker around with your views. There'll be time enough for a lecture on smoking and cancer later.

Work hard and look around
Make adjustments in your personal life. A 9-to-5 scenario may initially be quite alien to you. Be prepared for hard work, long working hours, and let's be realistic, a bit of injustice as well. Some colleagues may view you as an invader; they may even resent you. Scout around for the helpful types (there are, thank God, always some in each organisation). They will make your first days easier.

Wait and watch
All offices are structured in a certain way. There is a system in place, however informal it may appear at first. As a fresher, and that too someone on his/her first job, don't expect to be given the opportunity to start dramatic upheavals and restructuring exercises right away.

If you find your confidence failing, repeat to yourself, "They have chosen me. Obviously, I am worth it. I will prove my abilities through hard work."

These three R's comprise your safety manual during the break-in period:

Respect — a newcomer cannot afford to disregard his colleagues

Results — yes, that's what people are paying you for

Raring to go — a non-enthusiastic fresher will not last

Now for the good news. First job blues don't afflict everyone. In fact, there are many of us who just glide along in our new jobs, settling in happily.

And if you do have a bout of first job blues, don't worry. There is an instant remedy, one that has never been known to fail: your first pay cheque!

Courtesy: JobsAhead.com