Today is my eight-year work anniversary (workiversary) at my job. The equivalent of high school and college combined. It’s kind of wild. So here are eight lessons from those years.
- Ask questions. I spent my first month there not knowing what an “ATS” was because I was too shy to ask about jargon. (It’s an Applicant Tracking System, literally the type of software the company makes.)
- If you can, write your own job description. It’s what got me into HR in the first place and opened up a lot of growth opportunities for me.
- Be the example of the company culture you want to create.
- Speak up even when your voice shakes. It’ll get steadier over time.
- You’ll be surprised at how fast you can become a subject matter expert at something with the right focus and learning.
- Impactful work isn’t performative. It doesn’t matter if you stay late every night just for the appearance of staying late. Work smart and then log off and enjoy your life.
- Saying yes to grilling on a Sunday or spending a Saturday redecorating the office with a coworker are good ways to make lifelong friends.
- When you can, add a picture of a unicorn on growth plans and make demo accounts with superhero names. Find little things to make you smile and make the world more interesting.
With Love,
Natalie