If you’re just about to start a work experience placement or a graduate role, chances are this is your first “real” office job. From working alongside people that may have been at that company for several decades, to understanding the unwritten rules of office life, here we break down the top life hacks for nailing office life for work experience and graduate roles.
Getting organised
From setting up your desk space so that everything you need it easy to find, to making sure you have the right to-do list system that works for you. It’s a lot easier to do your work when you have an understanding of what you’re supposed to be doing and when. This way you are also better prepared for any random questions, and avoid the pressure of trying to shift through tons of paper trying to find that really important post-it note which seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth!
Perceptions are your best friend, and worst enemy
Carrying on from the first point, if your desk looks chaotic people will presume you aren’t handling the workload, even if that isn’t the case. Whilst having a spotless desk is unrealistic, it’s a great example of how perceptions in the office can make a big difference. Office culture is a massive element of feeling comfortable on a daily basis, and finding the right role where you feel like the office culture matches your values is key.
Consider the office dress-code as well. Different offices have many different levels of formality. Try to see how others in the office are dressed and try to dress in a similar style to better fit in. Make sure you find that sweet spot where you are still able to showcase your personality as well!
Ask if you need help with anything
In any office, you’ll are part of a team, whether it’s just a few people or thousands in a multinational corporation. It’s the company’s priority to make sure everyone is getting the support they need. With small things like asking for login details for a particular software, the people in your immediate team are usually the best to help. Many companies have lots of options for HR and wellbeing support as well as personal growth development as well, so don’t hesitate to talk to them if you need support in these areas. Or equally, if there is a dream project you are keen to get involved in it’s worth asking to see if there is anyway you can be part of the team to deliver it.
So there you have it, our top life hacks of how to get started in an office environment for work experience or a graduate role. The big thing to remember is that it’s all work experience so take every new experience as a learning opportunity for your new career.
If you are doing work experience during your studies, you are usually still a full-time student and can rent student accommodation. Student.com lists accommodation options in over 400 cities worldwide, so chances are we already have your ideal home listed, especially if you are looking for student accommodation in London or another large city.