Lessons from a Recent Grad

Hi! My name is Sabrina, and I’m the new Assistant Director of the Alumni Personal & Career Development Center. I recently graduated from Wake Forest’s MSM program (woohoo!) and am here to share with you some lessons I’ve learned from my first month in my first full-time role. These span both personal and professional, and hopefully some will come in handy for you and other young Deacs out there!

• Professional
  • Arrive 15 minutes early to work to give yourself time to settle in, stop sweating, and chit chat with your colleagues to build rapport. I love to gab with people, and if I can get that out of my system early, it makes it easier for me to get into work mode. The bonus here is that you get to know the people you work with!
  • Wait until you’ve sussed out office culture and expectations to build your work wardrobe out (i.e. do not spend $1000 on an eggplant colored 3 pc suit before determining if that is the vibe of your office). That said, especially as a younger office member, it is better to err on the side of professional dress than casual dress if you’re not sure what people will wear, and definitely dress professionally if you have meetings or events. 
  • A smile and an enthusiastic “yes, and” mentality will get you far, especially when you’re new and learning about your role within the organization! People love to know you’re going to be a good member of the team, and you can show that through how you show up and tackle new tasks and projects.  
  • If you’re unsure about doing a work-related task, especially for the first time, it is okay to ask your manager or coworkers to show you how to do it or run it by them! People would 100% rather you ask first and not mess it up than do it wrong and come to them with an issue. Most of the time they will be happy that you are being conscientious and care about the work! 
  • Try to get up every once in a while and take a walk around the office, especially in the afternoons. A power walk always helps me get my energy back, especially when the afternoon “sleepy time” hits. It also helps to leave your office for lunch, even if it means just walking to the break area or sitting outside for your meal. I find it helps give perspective on things I am working on, and sometimes I get ideas just because I’ve given myself a change of scenery. 
• Personal
  • Set a reasonable budget but allow room for fun, emergencies, and essentials (yes, it’s okay to spend part of your first paycheck on getting a bedframe/a piece of art that makes your totally empty apartment feel like home).
  • Say yes to meeting up with people and leave your house even if it disrupts your routine sometimes (two hours wasted at a friend making event is better than two hours wasted binge watching Bones). 
  • Create a routine that puts you in the path of other people (i.e. a fitness class or take a walk in a park around other people). If you live alone or in a new city, this can help ease feelings of loneliness during this transition period of your life.
  • Keep a running list of balanced meals that you can cook easily so that your exhausted brain can go on autopilot to keep you fed and healthy. My go-to meal is a sheet pan bake with chicken, veggies, and potatoes. It’s so easy and gives me some time while it is cooking to face other Herculean house chores, like emptying the dishwasher. 
  • Utilize your new free time to make wellness and hobbies work for you! I love having my 5-9 PM routine, especially after long days. If you don’t have a wellness routine or hobby, return to what your childhood version of yourself did! For example, I take walks around the neighborhood to pet the outdoor cats and go on a weekly adventure to the library. 

I sincerely hope that these lessons help you as you take your first few steps into the professional world!