Do you still remember the day you moved onto campus? Your first Fox Day? Your first English paper? Your first visit to the campus center?

It is amazing how quickly the years have gone. You are a senior now; soon you will be a Rollins alum. The "real world" awaits. Feelings of excitement, relief, anxiety, and confusion all seem to blur into one as you contemplate your new role as a working member of society.

You have worked diligently to get to this point in your life. Your Rollins education has prepared you to address the many challenges that you will face. Right now, you may be concerned with finding the right apartment, but soon the challenges will become more complex. As you begin this new phase in your life, rest assured that everyone has questions, fears, and doubts. Did I make the right career choice? Am I really qualified for my new job? Will I be able to make new friends in my new city? What happens if I don’t like my supervisor?

Starting your career should be an exciting climax to your educational achievements. Although responsibilities will vary between graduates, you will have an important role to fulfill. It is up to you to accept the challenges of your new role and work to ensure your professional success.

Expect a period of adjustment during your first few weeks of employment. You may have held a significant leadership position with decision-making power while at Rollins, but now you may find yourself working on details rather than developing the master plan. You must be willing to take the time to prove yourself as a responsible professional. Many new professionals become frustrated after the first few weeks, feeling that their work is routine or boring. You should willingly accept all responsibilities, regardless of how insignificant, and perform to your best ability. Soon you will be recognized for your worth and more meaningful projects will be assigned to you. The following suggestions are proven ways of establishing yourself as a respected professional.

Practice Good Work Habits
As a student, you may have taken advantage of sleeping in on a rainy morning or skipping a class to enjoy a sunny day. Two-day weekends sometimes stretched to three or four day road trips. You will find that these innocent practices are not well accepted in your new environment. Good work habits are just as important as the skills and abilities that you will bring to your job. If you would like to establish yourself as an employee with great promise for success, follow these suggestions:

Taking a Casual Approach
"Office casual" is becoming the accepted mode of dress at more and more companies.  However, the rules for casual attire are subject to tremendous company specific variance.  At some work places, "casual day" is a Friday-only observance, where the dress code is slightly relaxed--a sports coat and slacks for men and slacks and a sweater for women.  At others, especially entrepreneurial computer companies, it's shorts and sandals every day.  The safest fashion rule for new employees to follow is to dress about the same as your most conservatively attired coworker.  As a new hire, don't try to push the boundaries of casual attire.

Accept Responsibility
Whenever your current workload allows, seek and accept additional responsibilities. Make sure that you have performed all current responsibilities to the best of your abilities before inquiring about additional work. Your willingness to take on additional responsibilities will help you to build a reputation as a dedicated, hard-working employee. It may also help you develop additional skills that you will need for advancement.

If your employer approaches you about accepting additional responsibilities, do not accept without considering other projects to which you may be assigned. Express interest but be sure to inquire about deadlines. Review the proposed project with your supervisor, taking detailed notes on expectations. If you feel that you can manage the project in light of other daily responsibilities, accept the project.

Discipline yourself to "deliver on your promises". Contribute the needed time to produce high quality work while meeting deadlines.

Accept Criticism
As hard as it may be to accept, we all have areas in our professional lives that could use improvement. If your supervisor criticizes your work, try not to take it too personally. There may be a difference in opinion on the best way to accomplish the task. Listen closely to the feedback from your supervisor; try not to get defensive. As you become more familiar with the expectations and style of your supervisor, you will be in a better position to work together. Be very careful not to place blame on another employee if the work was assigned to you. When appropriate, thank the employer for the feedback and incorporate his/her suggestions.

Establish Yourself as a Team Player
Organizations value cooperation in and among work groups. Demonstrate your willingness to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. Contribute your ideas and effort to group projects. Whenever possible, share the credit for success with your boss or other colleagues; this strategy will help you to develop good working relationships. Also, take part in organized social events (company softball team, organizational picnics, etc.).

Identify a Mentor
Generally, your supervisor will provide ongoing support and feedback to assist you in your professional development. To start, make sure you have a detailed job description. Review this description with your supervisor asking for clarification when necessary. Also, be sure to inquire about expectations and goals. Let your supervisor know that you are willing to work hard to achieve success for the department. If you feel that you are not getting the feedback necessary for your own growth, be sure to ask for a periodic review.

If your direct supervisor does not seem to take interest in your professional growth, it is important to identify another mentor. Study other professionals in the organization to identify someone whom you feel reflects success. Try to get to know that individual by asking for suggestions on your work and strategies for professional success. Always be cognizant of the time you spend talking to others about your own professional development; your first priority is to complete your work.

Continue to be a Student
Throughout your career, you will have opportunities to learn new methods of performing your job. Do not become content with "just getting by". Always try to incorporate new developments into your work. Read professional journals and participate in professional associations and training programs.

Periodically Review Your Own Progress
Take an active role in managing your own career development. You must evaluate your work and decide if you are professionally satisfied. Most recent graduates are ready to take on additional responsibilities within a couple of years. You may find that after two or three productive years, you are eligible for a promotion. You may also decide after this time that you would like to seek challenges outside of the organization. Continually review your career goals, making modifications as you progress.