Starting a career is exciting, but it also comes with plenty of unknowns. As I reach the three-month mark in my first full-time role, working as a Communications and Marketing Executive at Inflect, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learnt so far.
Working in a small, fast-paced consultancy means getting involved in a lot of different projects quickly, which makes the learning curve steeper, but also more rewarding. Whether you’re starting your own career, or supporting someone who is; here are three early takeaways that have helped me feel more confident.
You have to get stuck in, you learn by doing
Moving from full-time study to full-time work is a big adjustment. One of the biggest adjustments has been the importance of learning through doing. So, whilst there have been many things that have taken time to get used to, whether it’s decoding acronyms, picking up sector-specific language, or getting to grips with new systems, I’ve found that working through new tasks, rather than overthinking them, makes it easier to learn and remember what to do next time. Learning as I go, with guidance and feedback from more experienced team members, has been key to making new tasks feel less daunting. That growing confidence has helped me try new things, suggest ideas, and settle into my role.
Understand the bigger picture
Being at the start of my career and working in a small team means that everything feels fast-paced and new. Adding in the need to manage variety, not just pace, has been a real challenge. Sometimes that variety is the best part of the role, it’s exciting to try new things, especially when I can complete something and feel it’s gone well. At other times, it’s overwhelming. One of the best ways to navigate this has been figuring out how each piece of work connects to the others. While it can sometimes feel as though there are a million things to do and no two tasks are the same, in reality each one contributes to a big picture. Getting clarification, not just on what I’m doing but why I’m doing it, helps me understand how everything I’m working on fits together. This makes it easier to plan my day and focus on what matters most.
Ask lots of questions. Be curious.
Curiosity has been one of the most important tools in helping me settle into my role. It can be daunting to admit when I don’t know something, but I’ve learned it’s always better to clarify early on. Whether it’s getting a few more details around expectations for an upcoming piece of work or guidance on a task that feels challenging, the best way to get clarity is simply to ask. With so much to learn and so much variety at the start of my career, asking questions and learning from others in the team has been essential to finding my footing. Curiosity isn’t just about speaking up, I’ve also learned a lot by watching how more experienced colleagues approach their work. Seeing how they approach tasks, structure their time, or present ideas has helped me shape my own approach in ways I might not have picked up otherwise. I’ve learned that asking questions and actively observing are two sides of the same coin, both help you learn faster, build confidence, and understand what “good” looks like in practice.
Looking back at these first few months, it’s clear that the main lessons have come from small, everyday moments and conversations that build up over time. Whether it’s learning something new by getting involved, or asking questions to deepen my understanding, each experience has helped me build confidence and develop a clearer sense of how I work best. I am still learning, but I recognise that’s part of the process, and I look forward to continuing to grow into my role in the months ahead.
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