OPINION: Knowing what your manager wants and how to do a good job will reduce anxiety
Recent college grads starting their new jobs are anxious about work – but they do not need to be.
A new survey from Intelligent.com found that 83 percent of recent college grads feel anxious at least once per week at work.
This number includes 16 percent who feel anxious every day while another 27 percent feel anxious “three to four days per week.”
A majority also check in with their manager more than once per day, the report found.
Intelligent.com theorizes it is because recent grads need structure as they “navigate an unfamiliar environment.” They “may be accustomed to instant feedback and responses,” Huy Nguyen, the company’s career development advisor, said.
As someone who trains college grads and gives them advice on succeeding at an internship, I have some guidance on how to reduce anxiety and thrive at work.
Presumably, the problem comes down to a. Doing something wrong and b. Getting in trouble for it and as a result c. Getting fired and ending up destitute.
But there are antidotes for this fear.
First, see if your company has standard operating procedures and other guides. News outlets have style guides, for example, which allow reporters to double check on questions about grammar, phrasing, and capitalization.
Over time, you can also develop your own guide from feedback given on your work. So, if your boss always bolds the title of a report, assume that is what you should do. In addition to working off a writing handbook, I ask my writers to develop their own checklist based on feedback I give them with each article.
Second, keep an ongoing list of both regular responsibilities and specific projects. For example, “turn in expense report every Friday by noon” can go on a weekly list and on a calendar. “Write a three-page marketing plan for a new product,” would be a specific project.
Sometimes managers don’t keep track or do not think about the various assignments given and the time needed. (For the record, this is not a problem at The College Fix). As a result, employees can feel overwhelmed and afraid to say anything.
But it can help to write out everything on your plate and ask what to prioritize. That way you can get on the same page with your manager and know how to prioritize time.
Finally, it can help when turning in products to not just consult formal and informal guides, but also to get input from co-workers. (I can’t recommend “The Memo” by Catholic University of America Professor Jack Yoest enough).
Based on my experience, managers want to spend minimal time reviewing work before implementation. So it can help when they know you have edited the product based on guides and standard operating procedures and have gotten feedback from other co-workers.
Here is how a short note accompanying a marketing plan for a new product would sound that would make a manager confident in what you did (and make their life easier):
This is the final marketing plan for approval. I consulted with the graphic design team and the sales team to ensure they had the manpower and money to make this happen. The sales team gave me three examples of similar marketing plans that had succeeded so I drew from those for inspiration. Because the cost of billboard rental can fluctuate, I called three of our vendors and secured confirmation of what their rates would be for the next three months. Finally, I read through this twice and used a grammar checker to ensure everything is clearly written for our executive team.
It is reasonable to have some anxiety at work and to care about doing a good job.
But by staying organized, writing final versions, and maintaining communications, you, the young college grad, can do just fine.
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IMAGE: Fizkes/Getty Images
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