Starting to work after finishing school is probably one of the most memorable moments in our lives. Projects, dreams, ambitions and expectations are enormous, especially if the years of learning and training were long, involved great effort and the best results were obtained. At school or university, it is possible to be the best student, the most popular, the most focused and even the most ambitious for a long time. But is it possible to be equal in a completely different environment like the job market? Before starting a professional career, it is unlikely that anyone imagines what they will find. Therefore, properly dealing with expectations can be the main challenge at this moment. Should I always show maximum confidence? Should I ask if I have questions? Should I make myself available to do all types of tasks? Should I talk a lot about myself? Should I be picky? Should I be discreet and humble? There are always many doubts, and the answers are not obvious. And the job market is increasingly competitive and demanding. Knowing how to properly manage all these expectations can avoid unnecessary anguish, fears, frustrations and conflicts. And it helps guide the beginning of this new phase of life so that it is more peaceful, adjusted and effective. What can help? There is a set of basic skills – often referred to as soft skills – that are useful to keep in mind and be able to develop at key moments in life. Entering a work environment for the first time can be one of those moments when it is important to put into practice the skills necessary to answer all the psychological, sociological, socio-psychological and economic questions that will be asked. The first step is to know yourself and prepare to adapt each of these skills to the appropriate moment. But not only. 1. Adaptability It is very important to be flexible, open to new things, available to learn and do different things. During school and academic life, you learn a lot. But the work environment must be seen as a permanent challenge, where it is possible to learn something new every day. Knowing how to adapt is knowing how to develop new capabilities. And these help to strengthen the social structures in the workplace and in the job market, in general. 2. Commitment and time management Being organized at a time when everything around us is new and different can be a challenge. To be able to maintain an efficient organization of your new job, learn to prioritize tasks, keep your workspace tidy and try to appear calm, attentive and capable of listening to others. Know how to ask whenever questions arise. And learning from the answer given, showing that you are capable of adjusting your activity to what you learned and even proposing ideas or improvements - these are characteristics that all employers look for in their new employees. They are a sign of commitment, of ability to question and learn and proactivity. 3. Responsibility Dedicating time and being available to work for the new roles you committed to in your first job, are basic skills to start in the world of work. With time and dedication, you gain the ability to understand even the smallest details of new tasks and get to know better the teams you are involved in. Knowing how to deal with the small challenges of everyday life and the individual differences of everyone you meet can be decisive for maintaining or progressing in a given position. 4. Resilience It won't be easy. But everyone can do it. With greater or lesser success. What is needed is to be able to resist adversity and keep an open mind to change. Having the resilience to deal with frustrations and patience to resolve them demonstrates maturity and emotional intelligence. And you must be demanding. First of all, with yourself: recognize mistakes, correct mistakes, focus on continuous improvement. And then with others, namely, with your team and even with your boss: to show yourself available to learn and to do it again. 5. Teamwork Current work models are based and rely largely on teamwork. It is likely that, as it is a first job, the role of the team where you are integrated will therefore have a decisive importance in the integration of the new member without experience and without the knowledge of those who are already there. Integration into the world of work must, above all, be seen as an opportunity to meet new people, different individual experiences and gain new worlds. But not only. It is essential, at the beginning of the profession, to be open to help from superiors and other co-workers, thus showing an open mind and avoiding unnecessary conflicts. On the other hand, respect for the team you are part of, and the creation of mutual help bonds contribute to a richer and more productive environment and to the creation of a network of contacts and these are essential tools for the success of a professional career. Learning and adapting to new environments is a continuous process, with ups and downs and moments of greater or lesser joy. No one knows everything in the first place. It is not necessary to live in the eagerness to meet all expectations at all times – these are often only imagined by oneself. Being curious, committed, responsible, well-educated, organized and knowing yourself, your limits and your capabilities will be essential to knowing how to manage expectations in the face of each new professional challenge. Author: Carolina Pinheiro Meet the psychology clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
