I spoke to Arlene Harris from the Irish Times on how graduates can stand out in their first role and how important  it is to be strategic in the first step of your career. Read the full article here.

‘Listen more than you speak’: How to make a good first impression in your first job

As thousands of students across the country embark on their journey through third-level education, many graduates will be embarking on their first “proper job” after closing their schoolbooks recently for the last time.

Life will undoubtedly be different for them – and while the prospect of earning a living and forging ahead in a new career will be exciting, making the transition from academia to the world of work can also be daunting.

Sinéad Nolan can attest to this as when she began working after finishing her degree in accounting, she found it very difficult to settle into a new way of living. “I was very excited to get my first job after leaving college and couldn’t wait to get started,” she says. “But it was very different to what I expected and I found it quite hard to adjust.

“Firstly, the hours are a shock – everyone knows nine-to-five is a thing, but the reality of being in the office all day long on top of the journey to and from home, was really hard.

“I struggled a lot with that in the beginning, and still do a bit to be honest. But at the start, I was so tired and was prone to tears if anything upset me. I was getting myself into a state every Sunday evening at the thought of starting again on Monday. Also, I was a bit daunted by the workload because there just seemed to be so much to get through and it never seemed to end.”

“I spoke to one of my colleagues about it and she just told me that I needed to toughen up, which at the time seemed really harsh, but I think she was right as I had to either suck it up or quit – and I wasn’t prepared to do that, so I made a few changes like getting to bed earlier, eating properly and reducing screen-time.”

Six months into her new role, the Dublin woman is doing well, but says there has been a lot to learn, not only about the job itself, but also how to deal with office politics.

[ How do you find a job and career that makes you happy?Opens in new window ]

Workplace veterans are well used to the routine – when to speak up and when to keep your head down, who to approach and who to avoid and how to work towards promotion.

With this in mind, we asked career experts for some advice for graduates who are embarking on the first leg of the career ladder.

Laura Griffin of griffincareerconsultancy.ie says new recruits should do their utmost to learn from their colleagues and fit into their new environment.

“The key to making a good first impression is to be an active learner, not a know-it-all,” she says. “You’ll make a more lasting impression by being receptive and engaged – so listen and observe. Your first few days are about taking everything in. Pay close attention to team dynamics, office culture and day-to-day processes, and focus on learning names, understanding who does what and where to find information.

Also, be proactively helpful. While you shouldn’t try to solve every problem on day one, look for small, easy opportunities to show initiative. This could be anything from helping a colleague with a minor task to offering to take notes in a meeting. Be friendly and approachable to everyone, regardless of their role.”

Griffin says that as the months go by, “to become a truly valued team member, you need to understand how your work fits into the bigger picture”.

“The most valuable employees are those who solve problems for their manager and contribute to the company’s bottom line,” she says. “Avoid being a ‘busy fool’ who is constantly working but not on tasks that matter. Instead, ask your manager about their priorities and align your work with those goals. This ensures your efforts are focused where they’ll have the biggest impact.

“Also, don’t wait to be asked for an update. By regularly keeping your manager informed of your progress and any roadblocks, you demonstrate reliability and ownership. This consistent visibility ensures your hard work is seen and valued, which is crucial when it comes to being considered for promotions.”

The Dublin-based expert says it is crucial for people to be “strategic” about their career, especially in their first role.

“Many people take the first job out of college and simply follow that path for years without considering if it’s truly the right one,” she says. “It’s so easy to get comfortable and look up 10 years later, realising you’ve simply been following a path without asking if it aligns with what you truly want.

“To avoid this, take the time to set out where you want to be in five years. Think about your ideal salary, your desired work-life balance, and what you want to achieve in your career. Once you have a clear goal, you can work backward to create a plan to get you on the right path.”

[ When to start thinking about work-life balanceOpens in new window ]