So you just donned your shiny new shoes and you are ready to kick-start your career after the gruelling years of university. Let's go through a few things you'll need to keep in mind.

Interaction is key

When you join a new company, your objective should be to make as many meaningful relationships with your co-workers as possible, especially your important stakeholders. The best way to go about this is to engage with your immediate team members and ask them questions about their regular day-to-day activities in between your own work. Don't restrict your conversations to just work topics, though. Find common grounds to build a proper rapport with them. This goes for other people in your organisation as well. Chances are, you'll be working with multiple departments for your own work, so knowing someone on a deeper level can allow you access to seeking help from them whenever you need it without having to go through an awkward formal process. Ask questions all the time, even "stupid" ones. It's better to admit that you don't know something rather than facing the embarrassment of being put on the spot.

A lot of us shy away from small talk or simply dismiss it as "unproductive". Remember, no one likes a person who only talks about work. We're social beings and genuine interactions are key to building proper connections with your co-workers.

If you manage to stumble upon an Excel wizard, become their apprentice. Their magical formulas and quick macros will end up saving your life more often than not.

Set a weekly catch-up session with your manager

Your immediate environment will always nudge you towards a vicious cycle of avoiding your manager as if it's the right thing to do. It is absolutely NOT the right thing to do. Rather, your manager should have a complete view of your activities and what you are doing.

This is why you should approach your manager and ask them for weekly catch-up sessions.

When you first interact with them, make sure you properly outline your expectations and development plan. If you're working in a Marketing role, maybe you want to slowly get to grips with how the company develops brand guidelines and initiates processes for marketing content to be created before you move on to actually managing a sub-brand of the company. Keep open lines of communication and express these interests and wishes to your manager.

Something that many people don't do is that they don't ask their manager what they expect from them. They sit idly by waiting for orders. Your approach to your career and job description should always be proactive. Figure out what they want from you in terms of your work and impact, then align your goals to reach a middle ground. This will ensure a healthy dynamic between you two and allow minimal room for misunderstandings.

During subsequent catch-ups, outline your activities for the week and what you will do in the following week. Ask for feedback and guidance all the time.

Learn to establish boundaries

What I'm about to say is bound to furl some eyebrows but it is for your own good. You should always set boundaries regarding your work. You will have to tactfully allocate your time and effort towards the myriad activities you will be engaged in.  

A lot of us are taught to be submissive and follow orders. This can lead to extremely unhealthy habits in your work. Contrary to popular belief, a non-existent work-life balance is not a flex. It can literally cripple your career before you even start running.

Burnout is not a myth. You will lose your intrinsic motivation, your energy levels will be down, and your creativity will fizzle as you enter the world of stress and depression. Obviously, this will have severe ramifications in your work quality and if you are an ambitious person, this will perpetuate your frustration with yourself.

Address problematic concerns and be stringent about maintaining a balance. Many trainers/coaches will tell you to keep taking up work until you can't anymore. Don't give in to ruining what should be a rewarding and mutually beneficial experience between you and your employer. This is why keeping open lines of communication with your manager is so important. If they understand what you are going through, they will be more willing to address your concerns.

Of course, there will be days when you'll have to stay late or work on weekends but make sure they are for projects that are worth it, which brings me to my next point.

Become future-oriented

Being in a company, especially a successful one, nets you access to one of the richest learning opportunities you will ever get. When you start off, make yearly goals for yourself to serve as loose guidelines to navigate yourself through the rungs of the corporate ladder.

Always ask yourself if a big project is worth your time and if it's sellable when you transition to a new or upgraded role. I've seen so many people taking up irrelevant projects that added no value to their growth within the organisation, it's not even funny. However, if you do actively search for them, opportunities will present themselves. It will then be up to you to capitalise on it. If you find a good project that is relevant for you, make sure you soak everything up like a sponge. Do not just do the bare minimum, go beyond to truly understand and pick up new skills along the way.

Find skills that are needed in your desired future roles and ask the company to teach you those skills. Good organisations have employee learning opportunities just waiting to be availed. Don't skip out on these as they will truly increase your value as an employee in the future. 

A new career can be a daunting prospect, but it really does not have to be. If your work is aligned with your goals and you create a healthy environment for yourself, you will be able to excel and maintain a proper balance.

Shahrukh Ikhtear is a Product Manager at Grameenphone who roams the mystical plains of adulthood searching for his higher purpose. You can reach out to him at shahrukh.ikhtear@gmail.com