jumpstart career

How do I Succeed in My First Job? Asking for a Friend

by | Nov 1, 2024 | Asking For a Friend Featured, By Karin Hurt

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3 Practical Ways to Show Up Strong as You Start Your Career

You’re new to your career. Maybe this is even your very first job. You want to get it right and have smooth sailing from the start. Excellent. Let’s start with three practical tips that make your new career easier. Oh, yeah, and this advice works great for your second, third, and thirteenth job too 😉

jumpstart career

1. Start with this 6 word Powerful Phrase

This Powerful Phrase works wonders with your manager, your co-workers, your customers, and other key stakeholders.

I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t want to hear these words said sincerely, from someone with a reputation of following through.

“How can I be most helpful.” 

Whether this is your first job, or you’re looking to enhance your reputation in a role you’ve been in for a while, showing up genuinely supportive and ready to help is like a fast pass to a great reputation. (Of course, asking is the firstSidebar on What to Say If Your Boss is challenging and difficult to work with as shared in the book Powerful Phrases step. Next, you need to act on what you hear. Find a way to be helpful in the areas others care most about.

2. Ensure You Understand the “Why” Behind What You’re Doing

As you begin your first job, you want to show that you’re not just a hard worker, but someone who gets the big picture and spends time working on the most important things.

Of course, tone of voice matters.

“Why are we doing this,” said sarcastically won’t do your new career any favors.  But asking genuinely curious questions about the bigger picture, or checking for understanding about how the work you’re doing will be used, opens the door for you to share ideas and contribute at a deeper level.

3 Invest in building relationships through better communication

Our new book Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict: What to Say Next to De-Stress the Workday, Build Collaboration and Calm Difficult Customers gives you practical, tactical ways to do this well– starting with four dimensions of collaboration: connection, clarity, curiosity and commitment– and powerful phrases for when your new job starts to go sideways.

More Articles You Might Find Helpful As You Start Your New Job

Want More Influence at Work? Avoid These Communication Mistakes

How Your Great Boss Might Be Hurting Your Career

How to Give Your Boss Bad News

Fuel Your Career: 17 Critical Skills When You’re a Young Leader Hungry For Success

Want more human-centered leaders in the workplace? Share this today!

  Want more human-centered leaders in the workplace? Share this today!

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Karin Hurt

Karin Hurt helps human-centered leaders find clarity in uncertainty, drive innovation, and achieve breakthrough results.  She’s the founder and CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders, an international leadership development and training firm known for practical tools and leadership development programs that stick. She’s the award-winning author of four books including Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates and Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict, and a hosts the popular Asking For a Friend Vlog on LinkedIn. A former Verizon Wireless executive, Karin was named to Inc. Magazine’s list of great leadership speakers. Karin and her husband and business partner, David Dye, are committed to their philanthropic initiative, Winning Wells – building clean water wells for the people of Cambodia.

Be More Daring

BUILD CONFIDENCE, TRUST AND CONNECTION WITH CONSISTENT ACTS OF MANAGERIAL COURAGE

Get the free Courageous Cultures E-Book to learn how

7 Practical Ways to be a Bit More Daring

Be More Daring

BUILD CONFIDENCE, TRUST AND CONNECTION WITH CONSISTENT ACTS OF MANAGERIAL COURAGE

Get the FREE Courageous Cultures E-Book to learn how

7 Practical Ways to be a Bit More Daring

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