Given the competitive dynamics in an organisation and that most opinions are derived from superficial experiences, 2nd or 3rd hand gossip at best or just a figment of someone’s insecurities; taking everybody’s feedback on board is a sure fire way to stress leave and long therapy sessions!
You may have noticed a contradiction in some of this with the previous post. How can everybody matter, yet I recommend that you don’t act on everybody’s opinion?
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Posted in Graduate Experience on Mar 28th, 2009
It is generally in the nature of a graduate to be driven with ambition. After all, this is a key selection criterion for Graduate Programs. In the process of getting noticed to fulfil this ambition, it is easy to make the mistake of narrowing your focus on those who are able to give you [...]
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Posted in Graduate Experience on Mar 19th, 2009
Starting on the Graduate Program in your first job after college, you will sometimes encounter a feeling of helplessness about the level of influence you can have on the working environment.
That may not be a problem for some, but soon enough your colleagues will begin to form their views about you. Regardless of how informed these views may be, your colleagues will share them with others, thus creating a profile on your behalf and perpetuating these perceptions about you.
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Posted in Graduate Experience on Mar 14th, 2009
It seems there are quite a few NYT readers visiting! A BIG welcome to you and I hope you enjoy the articles on how to get onto the Career Fast Track!
First of all, you might be interested to know why I started this site
If you enjoy the articles, make sure you don’t miss out on [...]
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Posted in Graduate Experience on Mar 10th, 2009
When you start your new job on the Graduate Program, it is easy to be lulled into a false sense of equality with your manager, especially once you get indoctrinated with the growing organisational trends like 360 degree feedback, staff empowerment speeches and open plan offices. Unlike the other organisations like the military or police force, where you are left in no doubt about whom your superior is, we go through all sorts of charades in the corporate office to disguise the power structure of a workplace.
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Posted in Graduate Experience on Mar 6th, 2009
Relationships are everything in business. Fortunately for you, Graduate Programs provide a great way to establish relationships across the entire organisation, starting with your fellow graduates to managers who are guest speakers/participants in the program’s activities. Despite having little influence, graduate positions are generally high profile.
One relationship is more important than all of the others. Aside from your good self, there is nobody more important to your development, progression and general job satisfaction in your organisation than your manager.
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Posted in Graduate Experience on Mar 3rd, 2009
IT is easy to be swept up in the excitement of starting your job in the Graduate Program and begin devising your climb up the ladder. However before you can move anywhere, take some time to address the most pressing objectives.
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Posted in Graduate Experience on Mar 1st, 2009
Resistance
Resistance to you will come about largely as a result of the perceived threat that you present. However, envy is also a major source of resentment that manifests itself in resistance towards you. At a fundamental level, this also relates to the perception of you threatening one’s prospects.
Some members of the organisation will resent missing out on opportunities and exposure that you will get in your graduate program. They see you being given high profile assignments while they are…..
Support
For the most part, senior managers and executives are highly supportive of graduates. It is this group whose support will be critical for your progress in the organisation, but don’t make the incorrect assumption that the game of influence begins and ends with them…..
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Posted in Graduate Experience on Feb 26th, 2009
Your colleagues will be thinking about whether you threaten their prospects, social status and whether you are of any use to them.
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Posted in Graduate Experience on Feb 24th, 2009
Making the transition to your graduate job, you will find that for most of your day will be spent either at your desk or in a meeting for hours on end. Spending all that time seated (and probably hunched over a keyboard) is not really good for your circulation, posture or anything other than working!
Most graduates will find themselves gaining weight when they begin their careers as their lifestyles undergo significant change. It doesn’t help that many will acquire the habit of munching on junk snacks at their desks through the day and often late into the night.
You can counteract this change in your lifestyle. If you didn’t like the other three suggestions, then I am guessing you are definitely not going to enjoy this one. Exercise. There are so many benefits to you from exercise it would take me forever to list them.
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