5 Tips for Professional Work Environments

As a career coach, I work with a lot of young professionals entering the workforce. After all the job searching, rounds of interviews, and finally landing the job, it may seem like the hard part is done, but maintaining a healthy work experience takes continuous effort. Working takes up a huge chunk of adult life, and it can become toxic fast. Having worked in both mega-corporations and startups, I’ve picked up tips to help get by. Check out my top five golden rules to keep in mind at your job.

Brush Up On Email Etiquette 

Maybe it’s because I’m a millennial and we were taught to letter-format emails, but having proper email etiquette has always worked in my favor. And now as the recipient of numerous cold emails from students and young professionals, those with email etiquette always stand out. Keep it short and sweet, but professional! 

Set Boundaries

Your job is not your life. At the end of the day, your health and wellbeing should always come first. The company was there before and they’ll be there after you. If it can wait and there is no pressing deadline with a dozen people waiting, do NOT feel obligated to answer every single message/email immediately, after work hours, or on the weekend. Don’t live to work. Work to live. With boundaries.

Be Open to Feedback

I can’t stress this one enough! Yes, you got there because you have the skill sets, ideas, and professionalism the company values, but it doesn’t stop there. You should continue growing and learning in any and all jobs from entry level to supervisor positions. The best way to do that is to keeping an open mindset and be open to feedback. I’m obviously not talking about degrading bosses who put you down, but general feedback and critique on your work is not a bad thing! 

There will definitely come a time when you put your heart and soul into a project, and then receive a ton of edits. That is the moment you get to decide to take it personally or as a learning opportunity. From personal experience, my colleagues who would take every edit to heart were always the ones hating life more and more. The ones who could set a proper boundary and differentiate personal and professional thrived. 

Don’t Gossip

This one is SO important. Even in work environments where your coworkers become some of your closest friends, do not ever gossip in the office or about anyone at the office. Indulging in professional gossip becomes a bad habit fast, and it will get to the person and/or higher ups. Let others talk and just quietly listen without giving input if possible. You’re there for your career, to make money, and do your job and you don’t need any bad karma or guilt following you home.

Grow Your Community 

Depending where you work, your coworkers and supervisors could end up becoming some of the best people you know. Keep in touch with them outside of work too. Suggest getting lunch together away from your desks or getting drinks after work. Get coffee with your supervisor or boss. Building professional friendships is an important part of maintaining a balanced and healthy work life. And as your career grows and you move onto different jobs, having a wide network will forever work in your favor. 

Enjoyed this post? Check out my tops tips for acing your job interview HERE!

XoXo,

Azadeh