The workplace is a complex entity; behind the glamorous facade of power and influence, there must be hardships unknown to others. This is actually quite fair. Effort may not always be rewarded, but without effort, there will certainly be no reward. If you are willing to change, perhaps next time the envious glances will be directed at you.
That said, for those friends who want to change themselves, it is still necessary to see some things clearly, and I would like to share some experiences with you. As a fellow professional, I also have my own experiences and feelings. During my 3 years of employment, I received 7 pay raises (among employees who joined at the same time, many received no more than 2 raises), smoothly rising from an employee to a director, making me the fastest-growing employee in the company. I am sure that among those who read this article, there must be people better than me. But for those friends who are more eager for help, I still hope to write down my experiences and share them with you.
1. Be Clear About Your Future Goals
Many people imagine the workplace to be too beautiful, but it is not. If you do not plan well, you will inevitably encounter various problems: unhappy work; lack of motivation; the job is not as good as you imagined; your talents cannot be utilized; seeing how well your former classmates are treated, you are stimulated and eager to change jobs; the job you found for survival is simply not suitable for you...
These are problems that almost all newcomers to the workplace face. And these problems usually become most apparent within 1-3 years of entering the workplace (after 3 years, they are not as obvious because you have been tortured by reality for too long and have been assimilated by various inequalities, so you get used to them. Your former ambitions are crushed by reality, and you suddenly transform from a young person with lofty aspirations into an ordinary worker who is mediocre, content with mediocrity, and busy making a living).
If you do not solve these problems early, you will waste these 3 years (some may take longer), and for a newcomer, these 3 years are crucial—they are the golden 3 years for developing abilities and accumulating capital! Once missed, you will need to spend more time starting over and making up for it! Worse, some may never be able to make up for it! This is not an exaggeration! Therefore, if your workplace age is less than 3 years, congratulations, you still have the chance to change your destiny. But once it exceeds 3 years, every change you make will come at a huge cost!
Why be clear about your goals? Because with goals, you have a guide for action. Knowing what you want to do and what you like is the ultimate driving force for your progress. The root cause of unhappy work, lack of motivation, and blind job-hopping is unclear career goals. Without goals, there is no pursuit, so all actions are just to earn a meal. You have never considered what kind of rice bowl you should hold in the future.
Perhaps before the age of 30, you still have the capital to squander, because you are young, and you are not afraid of anything. Even advertisements say, "Before 30, what is there to fear?!" But once you pass 30, every step you take must be cautious, because: you need to get married, support your wife and children, pay the mortgage, support your aging parents, children grow up and need schooling, parents age and need care... and so on. All these responsibilities fall on you. Without planning, once problems arise, you can only panic.
The career development of life is like brand building, except your product is yourself. Your development goals are your life's brand goals. With goals, you must consider how to proceed. Every step should bring you closer to the goal, not further away. So, when you make a decision, you should measure whether it is correct. The only standard is: does it help you get closer to the goal? If not, stop immediately, because the path you are taking deviates from your goal! If you continue, you will only go further astray!
Regarding life goals, this involves career planning. This is an old topic; many people think they understand it well, but in reality, they do not. You can read some related books, but in China, the biggest problem with such books is that they are too didactic and not practical at all! Many people are still confused after reading, not knowing what to do, and become even more confused. My opinion is that it is best to consult some specialized institutions.
Note: It is consultation, not assessment. The difference is that consultation aims to "provide clients with applicable solutions," while assessment is limited to "helping you understand yourself." As for how to act and how to get closer to your goals, you do not know! Because the assessors are experts, and domestic experts are researchers without practical experience, and they may not even understand how promotion works in the workplace. How can they guide you in practical planning? I suggest you do a career plan. If you do not solve it now, you may waste the next 3 years, and it may even ruin your life!
Remember: with a plan, you may not succeed; but without a plan, you will certainly not succeed!
2. Ability Is Important, But It Does Not Represent Everything
Here, ability refers to professional skills. When you enter the workplace, you will find that ability is not as important as you imagined; it is not the only capital for promotion. You will find that a person with less ability becomes your boss just because he has worked in the company for 10 years—this shows that "seniority" is your capital for promotion (this phenomenon is particularly obvious in state-owned enterprises and government agencies, so friends and comrades working in state-owned enterprises should pay attention); sometimes you will find that people with not very strong ability but good relationships with the boss are often promoted—this shows that "relationships" are also capital. In my former company, there were two particularly obvious examples.
A man with rich work experience jumped to the company, and his ability was particularly strong, but he could not handle relationships with colleagues well. He thought he was very good, liked to act as others' "mentor," and often pointed fingers at others' work. His immediate superior hated him; at the same time, another woman who joined the company was not particularly capable, but she was very steady, diligent, got along well with other colleagues, and could consider the overall situation. At the end of the probation period, the woman was recognized by the company, while the man received a dismissal notice.
In the workplace, you must have a clear understanding of the workplace. Do not live in dreams, do not be too idealistic, do not be unconventional, do not be arrogant, and do not think that with ability you can conquer the world. Professional skills are important, but career development depends on a person's overall quality. People with high overall quality are the "potential stocks" of career development. These overall qualities include communication skills, interpersonal skills, teamwork, management skills, work attitude, and professionalism—all kinds of "soft power."
For some friends, they may disdain these "soft powers." Many people will say, if the boss likes people who flatter him, do I have to wrong myself and learn to flatter? Unfortunately, I will tell you, the answer is yes, you must learn to flatter, otherwise you will suffer. But I want to clarify that I am not teaching you to be cunning. There is a Chinese idiom, "外圆内方" (external roundness, internal squareness), which in interpersonal communication means you should learn to handle various relationships properly, but you must not lose your inner principles, otherwise you will change for the worse. Especially in China, which emphasizes personal connections, you must practice this interpersonal skill well.
If you have time, read "Thick Black Theory" to understand reality, but be careful not to lose yourself.
3. Have Enough Capital to "Show Your Sword"
Some college students often tell me, "After graduation, I must find a job with a monthly salary of so much, and strive for such a position." At this time, I always patiently listen to their "grand blueprint," and then ask: "What makes you think you can achieve your goals? What is your capital?" Then he is speechless.
I believe that those who read this article will also have great ambitions like this college student, but after four years of college, have you thought about what capital you have to achieve these goals? For friends already in the workplace, what is your capital for promotion?
In the process of life development, many times you need to show your strength to others without hesitation. You must dare to show and be good at showing, which is "showing the sword." Because these days, even good wine fears deep alleys, and gold may not necessarily shine. On the contrary, what shines are broken glass and rotten bottles. China lacks everything except people. In the vast sea of humanity, if you are always humble and unknown, then you are greatly mistaken.
Since you have the awareness of "showing the sword," the next step is to consider what sword to show: what capital do I have to show others? For friends in the workplace, where is your capital for "showing the sword"? Have your performance improved? Have your abilities improved? How many books beneficial to your career have you read in a year? How many training sessions have you attended to recharge yourself? If not, why should the boss give you a raise? By complaining? You will definitely be eliminated from the workplace early!
4. Treat Your First Job with Caution
This viewpoint is more meaningful for college students. Now the whole society, media, experts, and various units have been advocating "employment first, then career selection." This argument has existed not just this year but for many years, and it appears repeatedly, endlessly. I believe that when we graduated from college, many people believed this, right? Whatever, find a job first to earn money and fill your stomach!
But based on my own experience and the reality of career development, I absolutely do not agree with this statement. I believe that many friends who are not developing well in the workplace now are also related to their first job, right? As the saying goes, "Men fear entering the wrong industry, women fear marrying the wrong husband." If the first step is wrong, you will often make mistakes later. As the saying goes, one wrong step leads to wrong steps everywhere.
Why is the first job so important? There are three reasons:
1. The influence of first impressions
Specifically, what you hear first or the first impression often dominates in your mind, and when you encounter different opinions later, it is not easy to accept them. The simplest example: in your mind, Nokia is already synonymous with mobile phones. If one day Nokia produces a "Nokia brand computer," how would you feel? Very wrong, right? This is the first impression phenomenon.
I had a colleague who once worked at Haier. She used a Haier mobile phone, and its functions were quite good, but she always said she wanted to change her phone. I asked her why, and she said, "Carrying a Haier phone in my pocket feels like carrying a big refrigerator, very uncomfortable." Why? First impression! Do not underestimate this phenomenon; it has a great impact on people's subconscious. Haier's mobile phones and computers and other IT products sell poorly, largely because of first impressions: everyone generally thinks Haier is synonymous with home appliances, not IT.
For college students seeking jobs, this concept also affects your future development. Your first job will affect your future work. When you change jobs, your new employer will judge whether you are competent for the job based on your first job experience. There was a college student who wanted to be a planner after graduation, so she found a job at an advertising agency. When she first joined, because her writing was good, she was assigned to the copywriting position. Another person who joined at the same time, precisely because his writing was not good, was assigned to the planning position. Later, she tried many times to switch to planning, but because of the influence of her previous work experience, she never got the chance to switch.
2. The workplace does not allow starting over
If a company recruits an old employee with several years of work experience, it must require "relevant experience"! This is crucial! Because such employees generally do not need training, can start work directly, and will quickly bring maximum benefits to the company. If you are a candidate who has worked for several years and then plans to change careers, you will generally not be valued. First, you will not directly bring benefits to the company; second, training you is also difficult because your thinking is already fixed. Rather than that, it is better to recruit a fresh graduate, a blank sheet of paper, with strong plasticity and greater development potential.
So, once you have work experience, it is quite difficult to change careers and start over. Unless you know the senior leaders of the company and can get a chance, otherwise, it is very difficult.
3. Time cost does not allow it
The first three years after entering the workplace are the most important and critical period for a person's career growth. If you still focus on changing careers while working, you will waste your most precious youth, and your growth will be slower than others, and many promotion opportunities will be lost.
Therefore, treat your first job with caution. Finding a job is like getting married; it is better not to marry than to marry randomly. If you have just entered the workplace for less than 3 years, I advise you to make a career plan as soon as possible. It is never too late to mend. Once you get married and buy a house, it will be too late to make up for it!
5. Maintain an "Empty Cup Mentality"
Let me tell you a story. In ancient times, there was a person with deep Buddhist knowledge. He heard that there was a highly respected old Zen master in a temple, so he went to visit. When the old Zen master's disciple received him, he was arrogant, thinking: I am a person with deep Buddhist knowledge; who are you? Later, the old Zen master received him very respectfully and made tea for him. But when pouring water, the cup was already full, but the old Zen master kept pouring. He asked puzzled, "Master, why pour more when the cup is already full?" The master said, "Yes, since it is already full, why pour more?"
The Zen master meant that since you are already very learned, why come to me for advice? This is the story's philosophy of the "empty cup mentality." Its most direct meaning is that a cup full of water is difficult to accept new things. You must empty the "cup" in your heart, completely clear away the many things you value and care about, as well as your glorious past, from your mentality. Only when you empty your heart can you let go externally and achieve greater success. This is the most important mentality that everyone who wants to develop in the workplace must have. It tells us a truth: the prerequisite for doing things is to have a good attitude. If you want to learn more knowledge, first imagine yourself as "an empty cup," not be proud and complacent.
I have seen many college graduates who, when they first join a company, often brag everywhere, saying how good they were in school, that they could have found a better job, and that they came here only because they had no choice, and so on, as if the company has wronged them. Here, I want to remind those college students about to enter the workplace: this mentality is absolutely not allowed! Do not think you are very good. Still that saying you do not like to hear: China lacks everything except people! On the other hand, if you are so good, why not, like Bill Gates, Dell, or Jobs, drop out of college before graduating and start a world-class enterprise? Trains are not pushed, and bragging is not blowing. If you have the ability, prove it with facts, not by complaining all day!
For friends in the workplace, this mentality is equally important. There is a Chinese word, "虚怀若谷" (modest as a valley). We all know that excellent people have high cultivation, even modesty, and they have a mind that can tolerate everything. With such a mind, you will gain respect in the workplace and more development opportunities. Similar words include "大智若愚" (great wisdom appears foolish) and "大巧若拙" (great skill appears clumsy), etc. I will not say more; experience it yourself.
6. Know Some Common Sense About Conducting Oneself
The workplace is like a big melting pot. In the workplace, it is not only about earning a meal, but more importantly, learning the principles of life. If you do not even understand the most basic principles, you will not only fail to gain respect but also lose more development opportunities. Because in China, interpersonal relationships are also productivity. There is an ancient saying: "A just cause gains great support, an unjust one gains little."
I have seen many people who have worked for years but do not understand even the most basic common sense about conducting themselves. There are countless principles of life, but the most important are the following three:
1. Be strict with yourself and lenient with others
The workplace is different from life. Although the relationships between colleagues in the workplace may seem good on the surface, you always feel something is missing. One obvious point is that everyone is using each other, and it is inevitable that conflicts arise due to interests. At this time, if you are petty, it will inevitably cause unpleasantness among colleagues.
In this situation, to avoid disputes and win respect, you should learn to be generous and tolerant. When problems arise, first think about whether you have a problem, rather than blaming others (if you do this for a long time, your mentality will become unbalanced, and it will be difficult to tolerate others).
Being strict with yourself and lenient with others is very necessary. Over time, you will accumulate many connections and gain everyone's respect; and when you need help, everyone will be willing to lend a hand.
2. Learn to listen
No matter when, listening shows a person's professional quality. When talking with others, always remember to wait until the other person finishes before expressing your opinion, and never interrupt or cut off others. In this way, everyone will be willing to interact with you, and it will also help establish your image in everyone's mind.
3. Be honest and trustworthy
Although the workplace is full of mutual use and interest-first phenomena, honesty and trustworthiness are still traditional virtues. Integrity can also bring benefits. As long as you are honest and trustworthy, over time, everyone will form a good impression of you and be willing to interact with you. Those who are two-faced and say one thing behind your back and another to your face may gain small advantages, but if you want to achieve great things, the basic principle of honesty and trustworthiness must never be abandoned.
7. Learn to Follow the Rules of the Game
Why did I remind "angry youth" or "quasi-angry youth" not to read this article at the beginning?
Because they are mostly unruly and do not follow the rules of the game! Many people feel that developing in the workplace is not only constrained by various rules but also full of unfair phenomena. For example, if you are late, the boss deducts your salary, but when you work overtime, you never get overtime pay. This is the most common phenomenon, and other unfair phenomena are everywhere. I will not go into detail here; everyone has experienced it.
In this world, do not expect fairness. That is just a utopian ideal, never existing in reality.
The relationship between employees and bosses is like a game. If it is a game, there must be rules, otherwise, the game cannot continue. But who sets the rules? Of course, the boss, and various interests also favor the boss! As a newcomer, it is normal to find this phenomenon unacceptable at first, because you are new to the workplace and essentially still pure.
But you must learn to gradually accept these rules. Do not try to change them, because in front of the boss, you do not have much say. To put it bluntly, you are just a worker, earning a living. If you are given food, it is good enough; do not complain that the food is cold? If you do not want to do it, you can leave. Still that saying: China lacks everything except people.
Remember this sentence: "If you are not the rule-maker, you have only two choices: either submit or leave!"
8. Opportunities Only Favor Those Who Are Prepared
No matter how much you complain or how unhappy you are, you still have to eat, sleep, and work. Future things always belong only to yourself. Whether buying a house or getting married, the pressure is only on you; the boss will not worry about you. Instead of spending time complaining, it is better to calm down, improve your basic skills, and prove your abilities with facts, so that others will look at you with new eyes. Do not become a "angry youth" who ruins his own future because of bookishness.
Of course, your preparation is multifaceted. In addition to professional skills, other auxiliary skills are also necessary, such as communication skills, interpersonal skills, management skills, etc. More importantly, you should make a plan for your future, clearly know what your goals are, and how to work hard to achieve them. At appropriate times, you should also recharge yourself. Do not begrudge half a month's salary; this is also an investment in your future. Why be reluctant? If you do not learn to "give" now, you will never "receive" in the future.
Sometimes, the reason you do not develop well is not because there are no opportunities, but because you are not prepared, causing opportunities to pass you by. This is how it is. No matter how unreasonable or unfair, development opportunities are always present; it just depends on whether you are prepared. If you really develop skills that make people look at you with new eyes, maybe tomorrow someone will invite you to be the president of a Fortune 500 company.
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