Got over the first thrill of stepping into your first job after years of study? You may have high expectations from your new job, which may or may not be met. But it's up to you to ensure that the job has a personal impact on you, which can help shape the rest of your career. Here is how you can optimize your first-job experience. Figure out how things work: Observe all areas of the company and how it works. Getting a glimpse into different types of jobs in the company will tell you if your aptitude lies elsewhere. Do a personal study of all job descriptions of roles you see around you, including the skills and qualities needed to fulfill each role. You will soon need a clear vision of what you are doing in the organization, and where you see yourself a few years from now. Understand the organization: Observe the work styles and patterns of people to find out what values and habits matter in the company. Be sensitive to office politics. Learn about the hierarchy system and how it works. Talk to colleagues about what ticks in the company. Identify your skills: Do as much as you can in terms of variety of work. Try to pinpoint the activities you are good at, and the ones you need to work on. Spotting your strengths and skills will help you figure out where you fit in best. While making a job switch may not be easy or necessary, you could slowly end up taking on different responsibilities in the area of your dominant skills. Learn from criticism: If anyone criticizes your work for any reason, don't get peeved. Analyse the issue seriously later on and think about how you can make changes to your way of working. There is always room for improvement, and feedback from others is important to help you fix your faults. Welcome criticism and ask for feedback from others. Put in extra time: Be willing to go the extra mile to do work that is not expected of you or volunteer to help someone else with their work, even if you are doing an insignificant part of it. Remember, this is your learning ground, and the more you learn, the better. If your energy and enthusiasm is genuine, it will ultimately help you get more responsibilities. Do some networking: Every individual in your office has something useful to tell you. Get to know as many people as you can. Don't stick with your own team. Use opportunities like off-sites and workshops to mingle with people from different departments. Stay cool: You might have entered your workplace with lofty expectations, only to find yourself saddled down with dull worksheets during your first month. Don't get bogged down by that. And don't turn your nose up at boring or routine work. The work may not be terribly exciting but others are watching your attitude. Put in your best, and you will find yourself with more rewarding work soon. Your managers can't hand over huge responsibilities to you right away, but as you prove yourself in smaller tasks, they gradually will. Just be patient, and if you are still frustrated after several weeks, you can speak to your manager and express your concerns and discuss other possibilities. Thank your colleagues: Voice your appreciation when people help you out as a newcomer, and you will find them more willing to help you with tips and insights into the office culture. It will also help you build good relationships that will make your job a pleasure. Source: http://education.in.msn.com/careers/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3849248