How to Make the Most of Your Entry Level Job

How to Make the Most of Yur Entry Level JobIts no secret that an entry level job probably isnt the fulfilling job of your dreams, where you get to do something you love while you make bank. These jobs are, by necessity, an experience-building step so that you can make connections, get experience, and bulk up your resume for better opportunities. So while it may feel like a slog when you feel frustrated with menial tasks or with being the fruchtwein junior person in the office, its important to power through. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. Reasons Not to Waste Your Time2. How to Get the Most Out of an Underwhelming JobReasons Not to Waste Your Entry-Level TimeThough it may elend seem like youre doing Earth-shattering work in your role, you shouldnt be discouraged, or take the experience for granted as you put in your time in the trenches. Here are 5 reasons why you should be super-proactive during your time as an entry-level employee. 1. You dont want to get stuck.Whats that old saying about those who dont learn from history being doomed to repeat it? Its on you to push yourself to the next level(s) of your career. If you dont take your time as a lower-level employee seriously and abflug gathering the tools and resources you need to move on eventually, you could end up staying in this entry-level role for an uncomfortably long time. Years can have a way of sneakily passing on you, and you really dont want to get five years into your career and be in the same spot where you started. Even if you just started your entry-level job, start thinking about how it may relate to your next2. Your time is valuable.Even when it feels like youre just punching the clock or keeping a seat warm in case someone needs you for a task, its not free time. If you can take meaningful skills and experience from your role, its not a matter of just sitting through your days until you get to some magical time threshold. Your days should cou nt, which means your hours spent at work should count too, no matter what youre doing.3. Youre doing work that needs to get done.If your role werent necessary, wouldnt the company find other ways to get the work done? You were hired because you bring a certain level of skills and potential, and the company thought you were a good bet to do this work. Remember that, even when it feels suspiciously like youre doing things that a moderately-trained helper monkey could do. Youre doing tasks that free up others in the company to get their work doneand you shouldnt discount your importance as a part of that process, no matter how unglamorous that work might be. For example, writer Trent Hamm literally shoveled dirt all day long in his first job. Fun? Nope. A necessary evil for his companys bottom line? You betcha.4. Its not an internship.Youre there to learn, in the sense that youre just starting out, but youre also being paid to perform a function. This change in mindset can be a subtle one (especially if you were the intern a year ago), but its important to start thinking of yourself as being on your career path now, not just doing prep work anymore.5. Its not forever.The day feels long, sureespecially if the projects you enjoy doing are rare and secondary to more tedious tasks. But the beauty of the entry-level job is that at some point, you will have what you need to move on and seize other opportunities. It may take a year or several to build what you need for your next steps, but there is light at the end of that tunnel.Once you start thinking about your entry-level time as a transition period (albeit one without a specific expiration date), it helps you get into the right mindset for making the most of that time.How to Get the Most Out of an Underwhelming JobBut how does one do that, you ask? Its great to have the mindset of I need to take advantage of my time, but that can beunclear. Lets look at some strategies for seizing that work day.Be positive.If you w ake up every day and tell yourself how much the day is going to suck, guess what? Your day is going to suck. Instead of thinking about how boring your day will be, or how much youd rather be doing something (anything) else, come up with three things you want to accomplish at work that day. It doesnt have to be huge accomplishmentsmaybe its cleaning out a supply cabinet thats been driving you crazy. Or maybe its as simple as having a conversation with a colleague. If you have a set of purposes throughout the day, and you hit those mini-goals, youll end your day on a more satisfied note.RELATED10 Ways to Stay Positive About Your First Job Out of CollegeSeek out the perks.Does your company offer a discount, or free tickets to local events? Back when I welches an editorial assistant with a thankless set of tasks and even lousier pay, one saving grace was having access to my companys books for free. And even when I wasnt interested in the books themselves, it was great to have them as a resource (read gift/bribe) for friends and family who were. It was a nice perk to have, even when I despised my job some days. Even if its just free bagels once a week in the break room, or an employee discount at a store, take advantage. If your entry-level job is like most of ours, the salary isnt huge, so free/cheap stuff can go a long way. Perks can make it more bearable to go in day after day when youre not feeling totally engaged in your to-do list.Build your skills.The skills you already have are greatafter all, they got you hired in the first place. But will they get you to the next milestone in your career? The answer to that is probably not. No matter where we are in our careers, we can always pick up new skills or spiff up the ones we have. If youre trying to figure out which skills you should work on, do a little research into what people a little further along on your career path have, by looking at job listings.RELATED13 Skills You Need to Put on Your ResumeYou can sta rt building those skills in a very straightforward way talk to people Start conversations with colleagues you dont know well, especially if youre an introvert. Take opportunities to make presentations, or speak up in meetings. Learn as much as you can about what your company does, who does it, and whats involved in those jobs. If your goal is to move beyond your entry-level job at some point, then taking your soft skills to the next level will help you achieve that faster.Dont mess around.If you have a lot of down time during the day, dont spend that time messing around on Facebook or playing Yahtzee on your phone. Find little things to do, like organizing. Talk to your boss about other things you can do to flesh out your responsibilities. You dont want to go overboard to the point where youre feeling overwhelmed, but if you have time to check your personal email, you have time to do other things. Remember at this point in your career, youre still looking to establish yourself. Your boss and others at the company will notice if youre proactive in finding things to take on, rather than doing just the bare minimum required by your job description.Find a mentor.This might be your boss, or someone at the company who used to be in your role. You can ask this person for advice on how to handle challenges at work, or pick their brains on how to move forward in your field. Its a great way to build relationships and your network, but also those communication skills as well. Plus, it can make you feel less alone if youre feeling blah or unhappy about your job.Be punctual.That means no slipping through the door, slightly disheveled, at 930 instead of your expected 900 start time. That means making sure youre on time for meetings or scheduled time with coworkers. That means not blaming your commute four days out of five. Regularly showing up late is a very clear way to say I dont really care about this, and people do notice, even if you dont get in trouble for it. On the flip side, people also notice if youre in and ready to go at 900, and appreciate it that youre available when needed. Its one of those low effort, big return investments in your work day.You will move on eventually, to a different job or a different company when you figure out what your next career step is. But in the meantime, make sure youre getting everything you can out of this job. Its important careerwise, but also for your sanitywhats the point of going through all this if youre just going to be unhappy? Maximizing your entry-level job is also about maximizing your personal stake in it, and making it work for you.