Overcoming Challenges Freshers Face in their First Job

Every recent graduate dreams of a great career journey and the world seem such a beautiful place till they land their first corporate job. Even though mentoring programs ensure graduates transition smoothly from the classroom to the workplace, nothing really prepares you for the real-life challenges that await you in your first job.

This article discusses the challenges most freshers face in their first job and the solutions that can be effectively used to overcome each challenge. 

Uncertain About Everything

When you start your career as a recent graduate, there is a chance that you'll have an identity dilemma. There will be times where you do not wish to be in a conversation or participate in a meeting. The decision to skip a meeting or back off from a conversation would have been much easier if you had been in college. However, this is not the case in the workplace. You are forced to voice your opinions and ideas on a topic being considered. If you back out, your peers may consider you rude. Another issue is the lack of direction. You may not fully understand the rules and protocols of your organization and could be in violation of certain rules that aren't explicitly stated such as talking loudly, not putting your phone in silent mode or leaving without the approval of your team leader or project manager.

Here is what you can do about it:

HR is in the right position to help you. It is not always possible to reach out to your colleagues so connect with your HR to fully understand your role and direction. If possible, ask HR for a ‘buddy’ to help orient you into the system.

Learning Opportunities

Organizations are always on the lookout for talented and experienced staff. After landing your first job, if you fail to meet the expectations of the company, you stand the chance of losing your job. As a fresher, you are seen as a student, contributing nothing much to the organization. When your training is over and you are able to meet the requirements of the organization, that is when expectations will rise.

Here is what you can do about it:

Freshers only learn the basic skills of work through training. Actual learning is gained by working on real projects. If your employer offers you a valuable learning opportunity, don't ignore it. Being a full-time employee is a real achievement. But the real success lies in learning as much as you can from your first job so you can create your own niche and emerge an expert in your field.

Friendships in the Workplace

Freshers tend to be worried about how they will be seen by their senior colleagues. They try their best to be polite to everyone, but ultimately end up creating their own "fresher" group. They work with others, attend classes together as well as eat and laugh with each other. 

Here is what you can do about it:

Freshers need to understand that their conduct and behavior will have an impact on the work they are given and will definitely affect their evaluation. You need to reach out to your seniors and seek their advice as well as mentorship. Their guidance will also help you understand the goals and vision of the company you are working for.

Long Hours to Impress

Another challenge recent graduates face in their first job is the desire to please and impress their reporting managers. They put in additional hours at work to impress the boss but soon realize that their work is consuming their personal time with family. When the manager begins to take notice, the fresher will be given more work to complete. This can have a heavy toll on the work-life balance of the fresher.

Here is what you can do about it:

Working smart does not mean working extra hours. It means completing your tasks within the stipulated time. Instead of working additional hours, you should try to accomplish your work more quickly. Be mindful of your time, because in a few years' time you will understand the value of work-life balance. 

Real Meaning of Teamwork

While in college, we often placed our responsibilities on our friends to complete our projects. This is not the case when you work as a team in the workplace. As a team member, you are held accountable to do your part in the project and complete it within the stipulated deadline. You can never pass on your task to a colleague and expect him/her to do your work. 

Here is what you can do about it:

You must contribute your part and not force others to do the same. Find ways to prioritize your tasks. If you are unsure regarding which tasks you should take up first, you should not hesitate to seek out clarity from your manager. All this may be challenging as a recent graduate working in the corporate world. But with an open mind and loads of enthusiasm to contribute to the goal of the company, you will be able to effectively work as a team player.

Expressing Your Opinion 

This is one of the most frequent issues that freshers confront. At times they may feel that their actions are incorrect or they think of better ways to get an assignment accomplished. Due to the lack of expertise in the field, they feel hesitant about expressing their opinion. 

Here is what you can do about it:

Not being able to express your opinion could be because you lack confidence. You may be worried about what could happen if you expressed how you felt about a project. What if your idea was wrong or ineffective? Sometimes, it is also possible that some companies do not encourage employees to speak up and share their ideas. Either way, if you wish to progress in life as a professional, you need to believe in your capabilities and express your opinion where it is relevant.

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