My first job out of college was at a software company where I was a Marketing Associate. I started in this position literally one day after graduating college, so to say I was green is almost an understatement. Sure, I had completed plenty of internships while in college, but even though I worked really hard at those internships at most they were a 20 hour a week job and I had specific tasks assigned to me.

At this new job I had a short list of core responsibilities, and I would complete my daily tasks by lunch time each day. I would spend the rest of the day bored and I would often ask for more responsibility or more things to do.

I ultimately left this job because I wanted a position that would allow me to be more creative and that would offer more responsibility. Looking back I realize it wasn’t the company that needed to change it was me. Instead of sitting around waiting for more work, I would have been more successful creating my own projects. In fact, as I move along in my career I find that the best jobs out there offer this kind of opportunity.  Unless you are a heart surgeon or some sort of stock broker there will be times in any job that you find yourself without a lot on your plate. Use this time as an opportunity to develop project that you find interesting and that will benefit the company in some way. Not only will you be more satisfied in your career, you’ll be seen someone with initiative and drive.

Some of my best ideas have come to me when I am sitting around at work with not much to do. Instead of checking Facebook surfing other sites, I try to “create work” for myself. I can honestly say it works, and it does impress your boss when you knock on their office door and say “I have an idea”. Of course you can’t just have the beginnings of an idea, you have to have a well thought out project with goals, objectives, benefits and a plan on how you will execute the project.  Try creating work for yourself when you have little or nothing to do, and watch your career bloom. I’m also willing to bet that if your organization needs to “down size” at some point they are less likely to cut the person who comes up with creative and beneficial projects on their own.

What are your experiences with creating work for yourself?

Related Posts:

• June 18, 2009 -- How old ARE you? (1)
• November 3, 2009 -- The Fun Theory (2)
• August 24, 2009 -- Printex knows more than one way to skin the cat (3)
• July 22, 2009 -- What Revolutionary Road Taught Me about Work and Life (3)

-          While working as a part time marketing assistant my senior year of college I was asked to sit at the front desk and answer the phones.  As a marketing assistant this is expected and I didn’t mind at all. While sitting there an employee who I hadn’t had a chance to interact with in the past (the company had well over 500 people in it), came up to the desk to give what they must of thought was a friendly greeting.  “Are you here with your mom today?” the co-worker asked. I was mortified. Here I am 22 years old, trying to make a good professional impression and this person thinks I’m a high schooler at best! My indignation shined through when I responded with a curt “No, I work here.” The co-worked just laughed and said, “Oh sorry, you look so young. You’ll appreciate that when you are older.”

-          At a new position, several years out of college and trying to be as confident as possible a much older co-worker continually asked me to do his administrative work. He would ask me to make copies, or ask about my boss’s schedule and if she was available for meetings. Finally, in the nicest way possible I informed him I was not an assistant, nor was I an intern. Once he realized I had an actually position in the company and I was his peer he never did it again. But he must have looked at me and thought I was a kid. Either that or he was trying to be a bully.

-          The countless times I’ve told people that I am married and was met by a shocked look.

-          Oh and then there is the time I was meeting with a potential vendor along with the rest of my department. Towards the end of the meeting the room broke out into casual conversation.  One of the sales reps then asked me “what do you want to do when you get out of college?”

Again, I don’t believe it is my behavior that invites these remarks. I dress professionally, often times nicer than my co-workers, and I behave as a professional. My next post will give some tips and techniques for being taken more seriously when you are a young professional and look young to boot.

I’d love to hear your tales of people treating you like an intern or not taking you seriously because of your age. So please post comments with your stories.

Related Posts:

• July 2, 2009 -- Creating Work (3)