Dear,
Today is your first day at your office and your first
step into the world as a professional. I as a father feel I must
tell you certain home truths and things that will help you take on the
uncertain water and navigate in the new world filled with unknown people and
their unknown interests.
Leap not with romantic hopes but with practical understanding.
A Job is an opportunity:
It’s not a job, it’s also not a trophy you have bagged.
It’s a responsibility that you have agreed to take. Be thankful that you got
this opportunity to show your talent, give back to your organization and learn
from others. Evaluate the opportunity in terms of the quality of responsibility
the organization gives you. Responsibility is not a burden; it’s a silent
acknowledgment of your capability and the trust that the organization reposes
in you. It's invaluable for your growth and learning and much bigger than the
CTC. Make the best of it.
Gratitude:
Only some get this opportunity. A hundred factors
have coincided to bring you where you are today. Remain in gratitude for your
upbringing, grace, good wishes, and blessings of many known and unknown to you.
You are just not a packaged skill:
Remember in the initial days you will be evaluated based
on your attitude towards work, learning, and people, not on your skill sets.
The organization will evaluate you on how well you deal with people, how
committed you are to your responsibilities, and how open you are to exploring
and learning new things and delivering them at work.
Let your conduct speak:
Build your professional reputation by being punctual,
being attentive during a discussion, showing sincerity by seeking clarification
and help, and demonstrating commitment by delivering things on time. A reminder
is a negative score you earn.
Respect and Command Respect:
Respect is not demonstrated through obsequity, it is
communicated through activities and behavior. Be respectful towards others and
be watchful of your boundaries; guard them against being breached.
Pleasantness:
Everyone loves a pleasing personality. Differentiate
between friendliness and pleasantness. Exude pleasantness, positivity, energy,
smartness, and team spirit. You communicate a lot through how you dress and
groomed and how you deal with people who are lower to you in order.
Shun Negativities:
The organization will not treat you the way you want it
to treat you. You will encounter unfairness and bias. Don’t jump to a
conclusion. You won’t see the total picture when you are a party. The
organization could be having its compulsions and reasons. Control your envy,
jealousy, and the urge to pull others down when you feel side-lined. Don't
discuss anything negative about your friends, relatives, colleagues, or
organization. Never express your disappointment in public. Never!
Opportunities to learn:
The opportunity will make you realize how little you know
and how much is out there to be learned. The time you have in hand should be
spent learning newer things and acquiring newer skills to be a smart problem
solver. Self-improvement is key to long-term success. Better your best.
A job is the best fit:
Remember that organizations will hire you when they need
you for solving a specific problem they are facing then. The old models of
organizations are fast disappearing. Organizations are becoming lean and
changing quickly because they have come to realize that they only can survive when
they change fast with the changing time. See your job as the best fit for
demand at that time and your ability to supply the same. Evaluate how much did
you contribute to the revenue side of the organization. You will be important
if there is a need for it. A job is not a personal relationship or a life-long
commitment. They are not obliged to help and support you achieve your personal
goals and your career dreams.
It's a very important day in your life as from today you
are going to wear your own identity. You will be identified and recognized for
your work and not as my daughter anymore. You will create your relevance in the
organization and over the next few years discover how successful you have
become. All these can happen with your effort and at your own cost. The world
will take you through your paces. It will be a testing time for our years of
upbringing, education, skill, and attitude all combined.
Wish you Godspeed!
