Over my college summers, I typically found myself at a food service or customer-facing job. This summer, I began working at a law firm. Having grown fatigued of the late night bartending shifts and early morning barista shifts, I welcomed the change that I believed an office job would bring me. Shortly after beginning the position, though, I quickly realized how much of a change I was in for.
In past summers, I worked odd hours, often having full days to spend at the pool with shifts later at night or on weekends. It is safe to say, I did not spend many days at the pool. As we head into the school year, follow along for my guide to surviving your first office job as a college student.
Professional ≠perfection
My first piece of advice for adjusting to the office life is to keep in mind that professional does not mean perfection. Starting jobs in corporate settings can be intimidating, I know my experience definitely was, but you’re not expected to know everything on day one. You learn as you go!
Ask questions and pay attention to how people communicate in, dress and navigate the workplace. Don’t be afraid to speak up just because you’re the youngest person in the room, but remember that confidence can also look like admitting confusion. Don’t be intimidated by these steps you are taking, just be excited for the growth you will achieve!
Routine
While having a routine is helpful for anyone, it is especially helpful for those who have a repetitive work week. I emphasized staying in tune with my usual routine while adjusting to my new one and it has made the process easier. Continuing my habits, such as going to the gym and making home-cooked meals, makes me happy but also makes me feel put together.
Aside from productive habits, it is also important to stay in tune with the fun aspects of your routine! If you like to have weekly girls’ nights out, then keep doing them. Just because you start working a more time-consuming or serious job does not mean you are not a college student. Focus on your other obligations: whether it be classes, extracurricular activities, post-grad endeavors, or creative outlets. Being an individual outside of work is extremely important!
log off
A piece of advice that I, along with many other young people who work in corporate settings, need to work on is truly logging off when you are done with your workday. Sure, I leave the office no more than 15 minutes after we close, but I often keep an eye on my email inbox or communication updates. That being said, it is obvious that I am not entirely logging off from my workday. Not bringing work home with you, especially as a student who has other responsibilities and obligations to handle, is crucial to maintaining your well-being. I have begun implementing this by turning off notifications on my work email and leaving tasks and messages for the following day.
Being in college while starting your professional journey can be intimidating, but it is nowhere near impossible. I hope these tips for adjusting and maintaining your well-being are helpful in your own journey as they were in mine.