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Come to closure with hanging leads. Contact any employers
who are still considering you and tell them you've found a job; thank them for their interest. Regardless of the profession you choose, you can be certain that it is a tight network. You may want to work for one of those other employers later, or keep in contact with them in your current position.Learn to listen. Effective listening is not an easy skill to master and apply. Pick up on others' priorities, hidden agendas, and unstated attitudes.
Learn the background of your area The history of the people and recent changes in the department can help give you indicators about the "rules"—written and unwritten—in the area, and what changes to expect in the future.
Learn the informal power network Bear in mind that power is often outside the formal structure. Who is respected and who is not? Who has the most influence and on what topics? Who has lunch with whom, or who stops for drinks after work? Whose OPINION of you is going to matter more than anything you do? Hard work alone is not necessarily the road to success . . .
Make time for the people as well as the task. An eager new graduate might easily focus too narrowly on doing a good job and ignore paying enough attention to developing good relationships with others at work. Both are important. Be sensitive to your place within the hierarchy. Although you may often see an easier or better way to do something, your employer will become frustrated if you appear more concerned with changing things than with learning how and why things are as they are. Focus on improving things AITER you fully understand them.
Be sensitive to processes. What may seem slow or inefficient might serve a valuable purpose that is not initially apparent. Similarly, the ideas you have may not be as important as the way you present them. There is a right time, method and place for all communication. Learn proper timing through observing others who are effective in the workplace.
Keep the right attitude and perspective. Be appreciative of the opportunity after you are hired. Being the newest, youngest, and least experienced will probably mean you will be asked to do projects and take responsibilities that may be below your abilities, or may not correspond to your interests. Try to treat each assignment as a learning experience and keep your ego out of the job.
Use your resources to their fullest potential. Take advantage of all the options available to you to learn in your current environment. In-house training, task forces, committees, and special projects might all be available to you —if you show you are interested. Learn all you can, as soon as you can, since you never know how long you will be there.
