For new grads (and the leaders hiring them), here’s how to succeed from day one
Graduation season is here! Thousands of new professionals are stepping into their first jobs. It’s an exciting time, but it can feel overwhelming, too.
When I think back to my own first job as a copywriter at a small ad agency, I had no idea where my career would take me. I sure as heck didn’t have some perfect five-year plan. But what I did have was a desire to learn and grow.
And that mindset made all the difference.
So whether you’re early in your career or mentoring someone who is, here are five insights I’ve learned along the way—lessons I wish someone had shared with me when I was just getting started.
Every job teaches you something—if you’re paying attention
Most first jobs aren’t glamorous. You might be answering phones, managing spreadsheets, or doing grunt work that feels far removed from your dream role. But don’t just grind through it.
Because every single job teaches you something—if you’re paying attention.
You can learn how business works, how teams operate, and what kind of environment brings out your best. You’ll see leadership styles that inspire you (and some that don’t). Plus, you’ll gain respect for frontline work that will shape how you lead down the road.
On a recent episode of How Leaders Lead, RBC President & CEO Dave McKay tells young people to “learn three jobs in every job.” In other words, understand your own job, your boss’s role, and the job of one of your peers.
That mindset can fast-track your development and help you think like a leader, even early in your career.
✅ Takeaway: There’s a lot more to learn from your first job than the job itself.
Your mindset matters more than your title
In any job, there’s going to be plenty you can’t control: a tough manager, a tedious assignment, an unexpected pivot.
But the one thing you always control is your mindset.
You choose how to show up each day. You choose how to treat others. You choose how to respond when tough stuff happens. And over time, those choices shape your reputation more than any job title ever could.
Your mindset is your biggest competitive advantage. Are you coachable? Curious? Thoughtful? Willing to put in the work and learn? Those qualities will set you apart and open doors faster than you think.
✅ Takeaway: If you want to manage others someday, start by managing your own mindset.
Build up your relationships, not just your resume
It’s easy to get tunnel vision on gaining all the right skills and accomplishing all the right tasks, especially when you’re eager to prove yourself in your first job.
But don’t forget: your first job is also your first network.
In fact, experts think that about 80% of jobs are filled through networks and connections. That means the relationships you build now could open doors for years to come.
Down the road, your new colleagues can become the people who refer you, vouch for you, and maybe even hire you later in your career.
So create margin in your day to invest in the people around you. Ask good questions. Look for ways to help, even when it’s not your job. When you show up generously now, you’re building the kind of reputation as the kind of person people trust and want to work with again.
✅ Don’t just focus on getting ahead. Focus on building real relationships.
Excellence in small things earns you trust in big things
In almost every episode of How Leaders Lead, I ask top executives what their biggest pet peeve is.
One of the most common responses is something along the lines of “when people don’t do what they say they’re going to do.”
In other words, a lack of follow-through can get you noticed—in a bad way.
But when leaders see someone who shows care, consistency, and attention to detail, they start thinking: I can count on this person.
And when people can count on you, bigger opportunities start coming your way.
So make sure you nail the basics! Be on time. Proofread your emails. Send thank-you notes. Keep your word.
Deliver on the little things, and you’ll stand out more than you realize.
✅ Takeaway: Consistency is your early-career superpower.
Know what makes you *you*
Early in your career, it’s tempting to try to fit the mold. To be what you think the company wants you to be. But the truth is, the most valuable thing you can bring to any job is what makes you unique.
What are your natural strengths? What kind of problems do you love to solve? What do people come to you for?
Start paying attention to those patterns. Lean into them. Because that’s how you start to build a reputation (and eventually, a career) around the real value you bring to the table.
✅ Takeaway: Your biggest advantage isn’t fitting in—it’s standing out.
If you’re stepping into your career with no idea of where it’s going, you’re in good company.
The leaders who go the distance aren’t the ones who had it all mapped out from day one. They’re the ones who stayed open, stayed hungry, and made the most of every opportunity along the way.
We love to talk about “career-defining moments.” And believe me, you will face some make-or break-situations.
But the truth is, most of your career is shaped by thousands of small choices: to show up, to choose kindness, to stay curious, to keep growing.
Follow this advice, and I know there will be great things ahead for you!
🎓 Know a new graduate stepping into the next chapter? Tag them below—and then drop a comment and share what YOU wish you’d known early in your career!
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