Be the Lighthouse: What To Do At A New Job

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

Landing a great job can seem impossible at times. Perk up young padawan - there are plenty of jobs out there and I will be breaking down great ways to network, draft resumes and cover letters soon enough. This time however I will be focusing on what do AFTER you have landed the job.

Opportunity is a MASSIVE part in playing your luck and it doesn't stop after you have already landed the job. Now that you're in, you have simply went from walking to taking the horizontal escalator (moving walkway as I have just learned they are called.). Now you can either go in the direction the machine is helping you go or you can back peddle and literally go nowhere.

Something I've noticed everytime I start a new job is the immediate drama of said position. Its very tragic. The last thing you want to hear as a new hire to a new company is everything people hate about it. It only makes you get over that honeymoon period of having a new job that much faster. AHA! BUT not for you padawan -you see the opportunity they have just provided you. However, for those of you who don't see it, allow me to break it down:


*AHEM*


1. People that complain are people that feel complacent. It is not ENTIRELY their fault. Getting stuck in a bad mindset is A) Toxic (take your medicine) and B) Contagious (Put on your surgical masks). They are simply misguided and have strayed from the awesome path you have recently discovered; or in other words They are merely walking the opposite direction of the moving walkway. Do not immediately think that they are bad employees. They could have a number of reasons for being this way, anything from personal troubles to disagreeing with the way things are done. AND THAT'S okay that they feel this way. But how you handle those situations will define how great of an employee you are. Which leads me to...

2. Attitude. Always Always Always remember that feeling when you got the call that you got the job. It is the single greatest humbling thing you can feel. Try to be that way. Try to be the way you are on day one of new jobs. You are always smiling, saying hi to everyone and eager to learn and dive in headfirst. CARRY THAT ATTITUDE AT ALL TIMES. Especially the days that feel like the worst days of your career. 

The best lesson I learned during my time working at Disneyland was when the popular guy of the office was transferring to another department....in Hawaii. There was a reason everyone loved him. I was bummed because he was by far the best supervisor to work for. Anytime he walked into work everyone was happy to see him and the air in the room seemed lighter, all was good when Allan was there. It wasn't until my manager said something, that I got out of my funk. It is (quite possibly) the greatest piece of advice I heard (I'm paraphrasing because I've heard similar quotes over the years and it tainted my memory of exactly what he said): 

If that lighthouse for you is no longer there, why don't YOU be that lighthouse for someone else.

He told me I should strive to now be that guy everyone looked forward to seeing at work. I was looking at the situation all wrong. Instead of being upset about the big hole left in our team - I decided I was going to try to fill that hole. Which leads me to...

3. Be pleasant to be around. Be the person others want to hang out with, especially coworkers. Be like Allen. Attitude essentially covers this but it also requires peace of mind. When people get negative you should be the one who pipes up and tells them (politely of course - HR would be so proud of me) that kind of outlook is not necessary - or better yet ask them if something is wrong and if you can help.When it is crunchtime people are naturally stressed... but not you. No for you, my padawan, understand there is nothing to worry about. You still come in with a smile on your face and greet everyone cordially. You will be an asset to your team, because they will follow your positive lead. It is very easy to be negative and crude - it is hard to be happy and smile but remember you do it for yourself as well as your team. They will pay it back. Which leads me to...

4. Step up for EVERYTHING. The big clues negative people give are the things THEY HATE doing. When they start ranting about what they hate about their jobs, jump in and offer to take that arduous task off their hands. A) You won't have to listen to them complain (nor will your neighbors) B) Your teammates will be eternally grateful C) You will start to become irreplaceable. D) You will become a reliable asset to your team. 

The thing you will notice at a new job is when people will say no outright to a certain task. If you are always saying yes to doing new things, your supervisor and teammates will notice. And they will be grateful. Especially if you learn to master the 'hardest' task or the one everyone hates. BE AN EXPERT AT IT. WHATEVER IT IS.Which leads me to...



5. When you start a new job - search for the thing everyone hates to do or the task that has been labelled the hardest thing to do. If you master that you will have concreted yourself into the team and in the middle of the path everyone has to cross. Your name will go far and wide, and people will speak highly of you.

 Make it a goal of yours to tackle that problem and make it yours. Everything else compared to that will seem so much easier, you DEFINITELY will have learned something new by then and I cannot say it enough - you will be invaluable. They will come to you, even though you may be the newest guy, with their problems because they TRUST YOU most. If that happens...



CONGRATULATIONS! If you do all those things above, you will have opened DOZENS of doors of opportunity. The people you work with may one day go elsewhere and they may be the ones who help you land that one job you want/need down the line. 

They love that you take on the hardest tasks. They love that you ALWAYS help them out when they need it. They love that you do it all with a smile. They love to be around you -- And they trust you.

Go to work and, no matter what, be happy - you didn't sacrifice all that you did to settle into a job you will hate. Don't let that negativity encase you. Be the change you want to see in the world. [Insert another cliche here]. Jokes aside padawan, I think you get my point; These sayings do hold great value.

So next time you hear someone complain just know that opportunity is there. But remember the opportunity isn't just for you to get ahead and solidify your spot on the team - there is an opportunity to turn someone's point of view around. That is a great thing you can do for them. Give them a reason to change their mentality for the better. Be their lighthouse. 


You never know how badly they may be needing one.