Entering the Workforce for New Computer Graduates

One of the worst mistakes made by college students is to leave school without any real world experience - i.e. no co-op, internship or else. If only they understood how crucial that is!

Luckily, some employers are willing to hire new graduates with little or no experience. With that "luck" come some disadvantages. The first disadvantage is salary. When you are hired with no experience, they usually pay you less. The second disadvantage is that you have to do more to prove yourself. In other words, you have to get up to speed very quickly during your probation period. It's worth pointing out that the salary disadvantage is less desirable. While you might be able to leave work late and work hard to master the environment, it'll be a hard battle to get a considerable raise after you've proven yourself. This is due to the fact that employers rarely give 5-digit raise. That is, you might get 3k, 4k, etc - but rarely 10k and up. It's rare, but it happens.

So here you are with your entry-level job, just out of school. It's definitely better than what you had before. You were probably making $8-10 an hour. And now, you're making 40k+ per year! That's something, ain'it? For a starter, that is. Well, it's great. But the pressure is now on you. The company is investing that much in your work, so it'd better be good. Don't panic, I'll tell you exactly how to make the work good. I've been there and done that.

The first thing you'll need to do is to have a schedule that's different from that of the other employees - the ones who got there before you. In other words, if the schedule is 9 - 6, you'll probably need to leave around 7 or so. Why is that? Well, it's a new environment. You have stuff to learn. If you try to pack everything in just the regular schedule, your progress will be slower. So you must be willing to spend the extra time after work or early in the morning to familiarize yourself with everything that you need to perform your work.

The second thing you'll need to do is to find one of the old employees and have him/her give you some good insights into the work environment. Look for someone who's been around long enough. You should ask about the process used to do things. You should ask the procedures used, the conventions used, and any documentation available. And remember to have a piece of paper and a pen with you during the conversation(s). Yes, you will need to take notes - even if you are great at memorizing. Trust me, you don't want to be asking the same questions every day/week.

The last thing you'll need to do is to make sure you use the available resources to help you complete your assignments. Whatever your field is, you'll find plenty of resources to help you perform your tasks. Remember that other people have been where you are. So they knew you'd need help. The Internet is your friend, use it. Search engines are there for you, use them. If you are a programmer, don't be afraid to research how to do a certain programming task - google it! When you're away from work and you have a chance to practice something that'll help your work, do it.

Here's the golden rule: if you get hired, don't get fired because you couldn't do the job! You were hired to do the job, and you're smart enough - so why not prove yourself?

Pay attention to details, use common sense, and be smart.

Now go apply these tips and start preparing yourself for a 5-digit raise. Yes, you can. Whatever it is, it can only be as complex as your brain.