Things I’ve Learned in The First Year of My Career

photo by Jane Ko

I am one of those truly lucky individuals who genuinely loves her job, and I haven’t been quiet on the subject. In fact, I’ve already written about what makes my role so unique and such a perfect fit for me.

As I come up on my first workiversary, I’ve started to reflect on the last 300something days in a more general way. Entering the professional world has granted me so many opportunities to learn and grow. In this post, I want to document some of what I’ve extracted along the way.

Feel free to jump in and let me know what I’ve missed or what I have to look forward to learning in the next year!

1. Take initiative.
2. Know when to ask for permission, and when to beg for forgiveness.
3. Know when and how to ask for help.
4. Check, double check, and triple check emails! Both what you’ve written and who you’re sending them to.
5. Reply all is a privilege.
6. Know when to tune out and turn off. Time at and away from work should be respected.
7. Set boundaries. (This can and should be interpreted a number of ways…)
8. Don’t let your paycheck be your only barometer for success.
9. If you want something done right, do it yourself.
10. Coffee helps.
11. Take walks during conference calls as often as you can.
12. Maintain grace under pressure.
13. It’ll get done.
14. Confidence is everything.
15. Remove the emotions. Level with yourself if you find that you’re taking things at work too personally. Business is business.
16. Strive for efficiency.
17. Don’t muddle your professional and personal life.
18. Working smart ≥ working hard
19. Don’t dwell on criticism; use it to your advantage.
20. Be honest.
21. Use temptation bundling! Pair something you don’t want to do with something you love, like writing reports while listening to a new album from your favorite artist.
22. Stress and anxiety are not productive.
23. Don’t dwell on the negative; amplify the positive.
24. Share your strengths and utilize them.
25. Track your progress and achievements.
26. Everyone is busy.
27. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind.
28. Don’t complain unless you’re willing to create change.
29. Have a yummy lunch.
30. Dietitians don’t need to begin their careers in the clinical world.
31. Multitask*
32. *Multitask if you can do it well.
33. Keep a Tide To Go stain stick, a hair tie, bobby pins, and gum/mints at your desk and in your purse!

Want to learn more about being a dietitian for Snap Kitchen? Ask away in the comments below!