Modus Operandi: 10 Mistakes Not To Make At Your First Job

So you went and got yourself a shiny, new job! Congratulations! Depending on your personality type you either immediately started researching the best team/practice area for yourself or installed yourself at the closest drinking hole for the next 72 hours. It doesn’t really matter which path you took because nothing’s really going to be able to prepare you for the joys of employment..Of course, each person, work place and career is distinct but this list is a distilling of years of working in, watching and talking to people engaged in the practice and pursuit of law. If at any time it seems condescending, it isn’t meant to be. Most of my advice is based on the mistakes I made, am making or anticipate making in my own career as a corporate lawyer..You might as well read this, you’re going to need all the help you can get. In increasing order of importance:.10. All That Glitters.Much like your mother, my first piece of advice is going to be to be cautious. About everything. You’re the youngest and least experienced member of an organization made up of many people with many different perspectives. In fact the only thing you definitely know you have in common with your colleagues is your work place and frankly that’s not much. Be wary of anyone trying to align you towards a team, a person or a group because you cannot win a game that you don’t yet know the rules of. For a little while, it might be best to keep your head down and nose clean. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty of time to swim in the morass of office politics..9. When in Rome.Every office has its own quirks. Some insist the phone be answered in a particular way and others want you to save files in accordance with some awful, inconvenient format. Basically they’ve got a system that works for them and no matter how petty or moronic it seems, the faster you learn it, the less angst you’ll face. Your seniors will appreciate the effort you put into figuring out your firm’s formatting rules and time recording policy so they don’t have to the explain the same mundanities to a fresh set of blank faces and can focus on teaching you something more important. Also, at least in a law firm when you figure out formatting word documents, you’ve triumphed a majority of work place challenges..8. A Matter of Perspective.So you didn’t get the team, seat, boss, practice area or whatever it is your young heart had settled on. Tough luck. I’m not being insensitive but the next time you take something at the work place personally you might not have enough perspective. The people who make these decisions have a hundred things on their mind apart from you and nobody gets everything when they want it. If you’re going to have a stroke every time your stapler goes missing, you’re not going to last very long. Relax, your career is not one stapler, one boss, one deal or probably even one job. With time and experience, life will fall into place, even if, right now, it only looks like it’s falling apart..7. Do your Job.Your job entails that you finish a certain number of tasks, in an assigned time, in a manner satisfactory to your supervisors. Sometimes you’ll have too much to do and not enough time or you’ll be looking at something completely unfamiliar. This will be difficult but that’s your job and you’re going to have to do it. Unfortunately, your work place is not just a place to work and people and circumstances can often by uncooperative. However it’s still your job and you’re still going to have to do it..On the other hand, dealing with sexual harassment, vicious bullying, or unpardonably rude behavior is not your job. It’s your bosses’. When faced with a situation you realize you can’t handle at your position or experience you must report it to a senior who can. At the bottom of the food chain you can expect to be kicked around but you’re never a doormat to be stepped on..6. Prioritize Ruthlessly.It’s easy to become paralyzed in the face of an inbox threatening to overflow, a phone that won’t stop ringing, a boss who won’t stop yelling instructions and the prospect of a cumulative of 2 hours sleep in a week. This is without taking into account relationships, nagging mothers and friends who want to skype at strange hours. One day you’ll realize you’re not going to be able to do it all. At lunch time your senior associate will confirm your fears and shares nightmarish stories of missing doctor’s appointments, sleep, family events, friends and pretty much everything enjoyable about life..Before you start wondering why you voluntarily sold yourself to what appears to be a slave ship, I recommend you ignore the cynics. They are right, of course, there will be things you miss but if you look carefully you’ll find that quietly, inconspicuously, while complaining about their work load the whole time, lawyers are up to a lot of good. People are learning languages, music, dance, balancing charity, social lives and family with work. Organization is key – make lists, use post its, reminders, filofaxes or whatever works for you but don’t tell yourself you can’t do it. Decide what’s important and make time for it. Nobody else will..5. Just a Breath of Fresh Air.Going to work is great but getting out is even better. It won’t hit you immediately but over a period of time, the stress and discomfort of long hours cooped up, staring at a screen will have a psychological and physiological impact on you, that you shouldn’t underestimate. Ligament tears, slip discs, hypertension, obesity and hormonal imbalances are only a few of the ailments my peers are already struggling with. In addition, there’s the more minor but nagging, back pain, exhaustion, dark circles, irritability, depression and tendency towards substance abuse. Welcome to the reality of a demanding career..Don’t try to make partner in 3 and a half hours if that means that you’ll be drafting agreements in hospital bed. Take breaks, holidays, walks and whatever else you need to keep yourself sane and healthy..4. Remember Where You’re From.You’ve just started on this crazy, shiny new part of your life and all you want to do is throw yourself into it. Don’t. Your old school friends, college friends and family are the people who will stay with you irrespective of which job you’re in and the people you should turn to for personal advice and support. Offices are boring places and people often cultivate friendships for entertainment or gossip. They might not have bad intentions but they don’t have the best either. At the end of the day take your bundle of insecurities, fears, paranoia and crazy to someone who really cares and not someone with your boss on speed dial..3. Rock the Boat Baby.This might seem in contradiction to my follow the Romans sermon but it’s really not. Formatting, time entry and formal clothes have a place and learning to deal with them early will save you time for bigger, better things later. But when it comes to the rest, speak up! Life is boring, law often more so, come up with new ideas, taken on new challenges or just put up bunting at your desk, if that what makes you happy. It makes a world of difference when you’re excited about your work and you can’t be excited in an environment which makes you uncomfortable or scared..2. Your Money, Honey.Lawyers are famously bad with their money. Maybe, because they apply their imagination to other people’s wealth all day. Most of my peers have insubstantial savings or financial security after years of working. Life is uncertain and you never know when you need a safety net. Hire a financial advisor, set a budget, make sure some money goes into savings each month and don’t throw away your hard earned cash. I would never suggest anyone be stingy but try to spend on things that make you happier instead of mindlessly wasting what you work so hard for. Grow up, pay your taxes, manage your finances, invest a little because a fool and his money… well you know..1. Be Calm, You’re Employed.You’re going to start off like the Energizer bunny but nothing is more difficult than routine. After 6 months, you’re going to start remembering how fun college was even if you were desperate to get out by 4th year. After 8 months, you’ll be killing yourself with envy over your friends with the Arts Majors who are working with publishers or backpacking through Europe. In about a year, you’re going to be convinced you’ve made a terrible mistake and that your calling is selling beaded jewelry in Goa. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, just know that every job is difficult. Sometimes it feels like everyone is having more fun than you (they probably are) and if you want to leave, you’ll be part of an overwhelming majority but if you don’t absolutely hate it, the law has its perks. Stick around and see..Yashasvini Kumar graduated from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad and is currently working at a law firm in Delhi. In her spare time she is often cooking or writing about food at “For the Reluctant Chef“. You can read her previous column here.