By Chad Capellman
Managing Editor, Media Center at the American Press Institute
Published: Thursday, October 26, 2000
There's no way everything you need to know about how to thrive in the real
world can be taught in a few years of college. With that in mind, I wrote the
following random observations for a group of departing interns at a company
where I recently worked:
Start a notebook with a list of all the professional contacts you
make. Write down as much info about them as you can, including when and where
you met them. Then when you encounter them at a later date, even if it's a
couple years later, you can remind them of your previous meeting. Most everyone
wants to make an impression and be remembered. Showing someone you remember them
can pay off big time.
Don't be afraid to work. You are going to make mistakes. That's a
given. Most bosses - save the extremely unreasonable - will tolerate you making
your fair share of mistakes. More people get fired for their refusal to suck it
up and work when needed.
Get a free, web-based e-mail account, or some non-work e-mail
equivalent. Make that your primary e-mail address for your friends to reach you.
This is useful for two main reasons.
First, it can keep you from getting fired. Exchanging possibly offensive
e-mails through your work account is just DUMB. I've known people who have been
fired over work e-mails and it's not pretty. Plus it's a tough thing to explain
away in a job interview.
Second, it makes it easier for your friends to keep track of you when you
change jobs/cities, because your email address doesn't change.
Accept criticism gracefully. Only take to heart criticism that also
comes with a valid explanation. Remember the Eleanor Roosevelt line "No one can
make you feel inferior without your consent." Understand that life will always
be a learning process, and give people the opportunity to teach you something.
Praise in public, criticize in private. Always try to criticize in
private, no matter how mad you are at someone. When you praise someone working
under you, try to do it in public. This is a very effective and efficient way to
cultivate loyalty.
Don't be too married to anything you write. The legendary sports
writer Shirley Povich once said, "The story has never been written that couldn't
be written better." That's a great line to remember when you're editing as well
as when you're being edited.
Know AP style. No matter what form of the media you enter into,
become VERY familiar with the Associated Press style book. While the Internet is
changing the way much news is presented, AP style will remain the most widely
used way to convey stories, features and news releases in a clear, concise
manner.
Diversify. Even if you are working in a field you enjoy, do your best
to diversify your abilities. The economy is strong right now, but there are no
guarantees. The more skills on your resume, the better chance you'll have a
chair when the music stops.
Don't judge your co-workers prematurely. Sometimes the reasons they
have a certain job do not become apparent until viewed over the long term. While
the most brilliant workers can sometimes astound and impress, it's often the
most reliable workers who are able to consistently deliver results.
Be nice to the IT guys. No matter where you work, get to know and be
very nice to the IT guys. The alternative can make your life a living hell.
Bring your lunch. Especially early on, your first job(s) might not
pay that well. It's amazing how much money you can save by brown-bagging it.
Don't go on a spending spree after a raise. The result can make you
feel like you have less money than before the raise.
Stock Options. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS only look at stock options as
found money.
Be flexible. Try not to have rock-solid, definite career plans. In
the big scheme of things, you really don't have that much control over much of
your life. The key is to be able to adjust to what happens. By not staking out a
specific agenda, you can drastically reduce the possibility of being
disappointed.
Forward progress. Finally, when setbacks happen and you feel like
dirt, try to focus on what you can do to help the situation at that moment. For
instance, whenever I've been flat broke and started to get bummed about it, I
started cleaning my apartment. It didn't pay anything, but that wasn't the
point. The reason I did it was because it was something I could control.
Think of it as if you were a running back on a football team. If you can't
break off a particular rushing attempt for a long gain, at least keep pushing
for positive yardage. Many of the longest rushes in NFL history came because the
defense gave up before the running back did. Or, to site my favorite quote of
all time, from legendary UCLA men's basketball coach John Wooden, "Never let
what you can't do, interfere with what you can do."
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