3 keys to make a good impression at your co-op or first job

Posted on Wednesday, August 17th, 2016

15726294164_68d1c96dee_bStarting your first professional job (i.e. In the field you would like to have a career in) can be daunting. You might not have any prior professional experience or know what to expect when you get there. These 3 tips will help you make a good first impression, and allow you to excel in the workplace.

Be prepared

Getting your co-op placement is just the first step. Once you know where you’ll be working, don’t just sit back and wait for your start date to roll around.

Start researching everything you can about the company you’ll be working for, the industry you’ll be working in, and the roles and responsibilities of the job that you’ll be doing.

If you have been in contact with your superiors at the company, ask them if there’s anything you can do prior to starting that would benefit the company

They’ll be thrilled that you’re showing initiative so early.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Yes, you are there to make an impact and to do quality work the organization, but no one expects you to know everything right off the bat.

Don’t be hesitant to ask your boss or co-workers if you have questions about any tasks, industry norms, or anything else that you’ve encountered so far.

Asking questions shows your employer that you are engaged in your work and interested in learning more.

Put in the extra work

When transitioning from the classroom to the workplace, you might feel a bit overwhelmed with the tasks and responsibilities that are given to you; but this should be seen as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.

Co-op terms are just a few short months, and you need to take advantage of every minute that you spend there. While you might not start off doing the most glorious or exciting tasks, if you show that you can do those tasks well, you will be given more responsibility and trust from your boss which leads to more exciting and important work.

Try and bring something new to the table that you think could benefit your team or organization. Be an engaging member of your organization and your peers and supervisors will take notice.

If you think that you might be interested in learning more about the co-op program, please visit our website at https://www.algonquincollege.com/coop/, connect with us at coop@algonquincollege.com or call us at 613-727-4723 Ext.7623


Comments

Comments are closed.