Just Graduated and Hating Your First Job? It Doesn’t Matter

Let’s face it: landing an ideal jobs fresh out of university seems like a dream, but this is real life and real life sometimes throws curve balls.

Getting your first job is an achievement and is bound to fill you with  excitement and anticipation – will it live up to expectation? Will I manage? Will I pick it up quickly?

But what about when you get there and realise the job is not what you expected? and you end up clock watching and wishing you were somewhere else.

The good news is you are not alone – this is not uncommon. But if you play your cards right,  you’ll make the most of the opportunity and soon move on to bigger and better things.

Here are some ways to deal with a job you hate:

Make friends + career connections

As much as you may dread it, it is essential to attend industry conferences, meet-ups or even happy hours. Being social with those in your industry will not make work more enjoyable, but it will also increase the chances of finding somebody who might know of a job opening or similar. You never know who you’ll meet!

Plus, forming friendships at work makes the day far more bearable if you hate your job. Even if you know you won’t be there long, don’t forego opportunities to build relationships. Who knows, perhaps your colleagues have similar worries and as they say a problem shared is a problem halved.

Even making small talk in the lift or introducing yourself at conferences can help. Follow-up on introductions, be yourself and remember that a smile goes a long way. You don’t have to be an extrovert to slay the networking challenge!

Turn things around

Make a list of the main things you dislike about your job and be as specific as possible. When you’re done, try to identify ways in which these issues can be resolved. Maybe it’s just a simple solution, like moving your desk, taking up an extra task or taking a walk at lunch. You’d be surprised at home much we tend to overlook simple solutions.

On the flip-side, make a list of all the things that you are thankful that your job provides. Apart from a salary, maybe it’s the free coffee, or the nice route to work, etc. Studies have shown that listing everything you’re grateful for can help you feel more optimistic about your current circumstances.

Make a “perfect job” description. Are there any things from this “perfect job” that overlap with the one you have now? If yes, talk to your supervisor about making these tasks a bigger part of your day-to-day work. If not, then at least you know what your career goals are, and help you navigate your next steps.

Spice up your workplace

Give your desk a makeover. Get rid of clutter,  bring a new thermos, get a new planner, or decorate it with pictures of things and people you love. Make it your own so that it’s a familiar little sanctum, and not a cold, grey prison!

Research has shown that having a plant on your desk can reduce stress, increase productivity and reduce absence rates!

Any experience is good experience

Keep it in your mind that although you don’t love your job, the grass is not always greener. You are earning money, meeting people and gaining that all-important experience. Your CV will look better than it did before.

From learning how to deal with difficult clients to how to manage tasks in crunch time, whatever you are doing now will, without a doubt, help you better yourself.

“… although there may be some rude awakenings in the workplace, on-the-job learning is likely the fastest and most indelible way to acquire the values and skills and work ethic that will carry [you] to [your] ultimate goals.”

Inspiring Interns is a recruitment agency specialising in all the internships and graduate jobs London has to offer.
Xiomara Meyer is a drama and creative writing graduate with an interest in psychology and the slightly bizarre.