Financial Blog

Graduation season is over. All of a sudden, life is no longer about exams and homework (or saving your weekly allowance to buy a pair of Roshe’s). In an instant, it becomes a constant struggle of selling yourself to hiring managers and praying for callbacks. And then it happened—you got in, you say goodbye to unemployed life… you have a job.

First jobs are so critical that whatever choices you make in your first few months may define the rest of your career. And trust us when we tell you that things don’t always go as planned. Here’s five of the most common first job problems and how you can overcome them.

You finish orientation, you get introduced to the team and to your new favorite place—your desk. Some thoughts may come to mind “Is this where I’ll spend the next few years?” “I wonder if my boss is nice?” or some more pressing concerns like “How do I talk to anyone?” You’re too shy and afraid that you’ll set a bad first impression. The anxiety is real.

Tip: A new job means a new environment, new faces and new rules. As a newbie, you need to accept the fact that you’re at the lowest step of the corporate ladder. You will be told what to do and might even be bossed around, one way or the other–and that’s not always a bad thing. Get to know them, their expectations of you, and listen carefully to their advice because it will come handy later.

Keep in mind that every single person you’ll meet at work can teach you something valuable. In fact, your workmates can also be your barkada. And who knows, you might find your work BFF! So always be ready to extend a helping hand to your workmates and don’t get too emotional if they disagree with you. Sweat it off! “Trabaho lang, walang personalan.” (“It’s just a job, nothing personal”)

So you spent the last few weeks sitting in your cubicle, earphones at max volume while hacking away at your spreadsheets and documents. You start to drink a lot more coffee and start asking yourself “Why am I even here?” You check social media to lighten up only to see selfies of your batch mates having so much fun in their new jobs.

Tip: Everyone has a dream job—a job that won’t feel like a job because they’re doing what they do best. However, for most fresh graduates, this is not usually the case. You take what you get. The good news is that it’s completely normal to feel that way. We’ve all been there and overcoming it is a test in maturity.

The secret is to not let that get in the way of the quality of your work. Remember to focus on the task at hand, stop overthinking things, and try to approach every challenge with enthusiasm. Doing well in your tasks will give you more opportunities down the road. Remember, everything pays off eventually.

After getting your first paycheck, you feel elated knowing that you deserve the money that you earned. That is until you realize that you’re out and ask your parents for money, only to have reality slap you in the face. “Mas mayaman pa ako nung nagaaral pa ako” (“I was richer when I was a student!”). You start to ardently count down the days to your next paycheck, struggling to meet ends in the days in between.

Tip: Earning money is hard and budgeting it is even harder. It’s a total reversal after all—from getting allowance from your parents to giving money back to them. Setting aside money for your basic needs must be given top priority. Yes, it’s nice to celebrate with your hard-earned money but don’t overdo it!

Out of college, you thought that you’d have all the time in the world without homework, projects, and exams to think about. Finally you can go out with friends more, you can pursue your passion projects, you can spend more time with your special someone, or so you thought. You may no longer have assignments and professors to worry about, but now you have deadlines and bosses to deal with.

Tip: To avoid extra stress when you get home, make sure you finish your work during your 9 hours in the office. This will increase your productivity by a lot. Avoid, unless necessary, bringing your work at home because doing so will just burn you out. Make sure to make the most out of your weekends to fully take your mind off things from work so that you’ll be fresh for another 5-day grind. Take these words to heart: Work-life Balance.

Adulting—a word coined by millennials to denote doing grown up things such as having a job, paying bills, and pretty much anything that they don’t want to do, yet. Having your first job is always an eye-opener, whether it’s to the harsh realities of adult life or the complexity of the corporate world. To put it simply, adulting is hard, and it’s even harder if you’re in denial.

Tip: You first need to accept the fact that you’re already an adult. You could say that you became one when you first set off in the office. Being an adult means knowing how to prioritize and to be practical. It all comes down to a shifting in mindset—from just enjoying the present to actually preparing for your future.

It’s always useful to find yourself a mentor like your parents, friends, or anyone who has been in your situation, who can help you adjust and make decisions. Lastly, create short-term and long-term goals to give your life and career a sense of direction. However, don’t feel bound by these goals as unexpected changes may happen. Always keep an open mind and an open heart.

There will always be challenges that will come your way whenever you reach a new chapter in your life. But always remember the saying that “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor”. Take your job seriously and do the best that you can but never forget yourself in the process. Relax, have fun, and approach your work with the right positive attitude. In the end, your first job is just that, a first job so make the most out of it.