My First Week In A New Job: What To Expect From A Graduate Position

Before recently, I’d never had a professional job. Sure, I’d worked in temporary part-time roles, as a waitress, as a nursery assistant, and as a freelance writer, but I’d never experienced a graduate role before. 
 
A couple of weeks ago I was offered a marketing internship, working to put together an event, which I decided to accept. But having never worked in an office before I wasn’t sure what to expect. 
 
Now that I’ve successfully completed a whole week in my new role, here’s a bit more about what my first week was like, and what you can expect from a graduate role. 
 
Attending an induction
 
A few days before I started, I received an email saying that before I started work, I needed to meet with the HR manager to complete an induction. 
 
Most inductions are similar, and a lot of jobs will require you to complete an induction before starting work. They normally just involve a bit of information about the company, the premises, your contract and the health and safety procedures. 
 
I’ll admit, it’s not the most interesting part of starting a new job, but it is useful. As well as the normal contract information and health and safety brief, I was told all about the perks of working with the company, where I could go for lunch, and who I could go to if I needed any help with anything. I was also given my staff login information, and door access codes, as well as a map of the building so I didn’t get lost. 
 
Meeting the team
 
After my induction I was introduced to the team I would be working in. I’m lucky in that my team are all really friendly and approachable, but that didn’t stop me from being nervous when meeting them. 
 
One thing I’ve learnt over the last week is that it’s best to become well-acquainted with your team early on. On my first day we all sat together for lunch, and chatted about anything and everything – apart from work! Sitting down to lunch with a group of people I hardly knew was a little out of my comfort zone, but it meant that we quickly got to know each other. 
 
Getting creative in my role
 
I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that in my other part time roles, there hasn’t really been any room for creativity. It’s been more about just getting the job done. 
 
But in my graduate role as a marketing intern, there are no strict guidelines on how to complete tasks, so I’m able to let my creative side flourish, and inject a little of my personality into my work. 
 
I’ve been able to write blog articles, and use Adobe software to create and design things like event signage and bar banners. 
 
Seeing real results
 
The main difference I’ve found between my new graduate role, and my previous roles is that I’m working towards goals and even though it’s only been a week, I’m seeing real results. 
 
I’m starting to see my work on certain projects come together, and I’m starting to feel quite proud of the impact that my work is having. 
 
It might not sound like a particularly important detail, but you’d be surprised how motivating it can be to see your work making a difference. 
 
An insight into the business
 
Even during this first week, I’ve found that each task I complete involves and requires a little insight into the business as a whole. I need to know the goals and messages of the company as a whole, and consider other departments and colleagues. 
 
Having studied English Literature, I can’t say I’ve had much experience with business before, but I’m starting to get a much deeper understanding of the business world, and how even minor tasks can affect the bigger picture. 
 
The nerves quickly fade
 
I thought it would take me a lot longer to settle into my new role than it has. It’s fast paced and exciting, and even after the working day has ended, I find myself jotting down the occasional idea for the next working day. The excitement meant that after just a few days, my nerves had vanished almost completely.