Rhythm - the Online Magazine to HKVP Radio

by Anni Lam

August 19, 2003 | Browse Work

The Curse of Being Young: Why Many Young Professionals Can't Wait to Grow Up

Young professionals are the fresh graduates, the interns and the new hires in any company. Sometimes, they look like a kid in adult's clothing. Some of them look fierce but intimidated, pleasant but resentful. These types of young professionals are bright and eager, but they are also known to drive themselves to insanity during their first full time job because they hate being young. Are you one of them?

The mistake many young professionals make is that they assume inexperience and being young are bad. When these young professionals work full time for the first time, they quickly become miserable and discouraged. They take on as many projects and responsibilities as they can, sometimes doing others' work for them and almost always being the last to lock up the office every night - all to prove that they aren't unproven and youthful. They are so conscious on the fact that they are the youngest and most inexperienced on the team that they feel they have a tremendous disadvantage. They are so keen on being the star producer and the one who can fix everything, that they lose sight of their long term career goals - if they even had any.

Young professionals, you can't do it all, and you certainly cannot earn your stripes overnight. You should embrace the fact that you're inexperienced and young, and turn what you call shortcomings into advantages. Being young is a great time to learn and discover. Instead of being the one everyone goes to to fix things, be the one everyone goes to for a great idea or valuable insight. Take on projects that you believe will help you learn valuable skills while doing - not just taking on projects for the sake of being busy. And most importantly - never feel you "have to." Many young professionals kill themselves the first year, feeling they "have to" out-do, out-smart and out-perform everyone else in order to earn respect and recognition. I'm not saying you shouldn't kill yourself the first year - you probably should - but kill yourself because it is furthering you in your steps to your long term goal. The greatest of employers look for people who can add indispensable value to an organization. Working hard and fast aren't indispensable values.

Young professionals - don't just do, but ask questions! Experts are flattered by inquisitive, inexperienced people because it gives them opportunities to demonstrate the breadth and depth of knowledge they've acquired for years. Talk to these experts and even find a good mentor. If you're feeling a loss of control, purpose or direction with your job, a good mentor can uplift you - and this mentor could even be your boss. Don't ask your friends for advice - they are likely to be going through the same thing you're going through. Don't ask your parents for advice - because they will either tell you to suck it up or to quit. And, never ask your coworkers for advice. You never want to give away your mental position with someone close to your level, because they are competition and because you never know how that information could be used against you.

When in doubt, have a heart-to heart-conversation with your boss. As much as you think your boss should be a mind reader and should "notice" your hard work and frustrations, not surprisingly many don't. Your boss has his or her own concerns and agenda, and some people just aren't sensitively in-tune with the feelings of their staff members. Many young professionals hold it all in, thinking that a conversation like this would be perceived as a complaint, which they think would offend their bosses and jeopardize their new job. They also think "this is the way it is because it's my first year". Have that heart-to-heart talk with your boss. This will show him or her that you're a true professional who is ready, able and willing to work through tough situations. To lessen the fact that you are complaining, come up with possible solutions and present them to your boss. This will show them you recognize a problem and know how to fix it. Be gutsy.

Must you have to like your job? Absolutely. And why don't people like their jobs? Most of the time, it's because it doesn't fit their personality and that it's not challenging. Are you a Creative at heart who's punching in computer code day in and day out? Are you chained to your desk and computer while you want to be outdoors and interfacing with people? Some people put off finding jobs they really want because they say it's unrealistic. But being chained to a job you hate is equally as unrealistic because you're not going to wake up one morning loving it, the problem certainly won't go away and numbing yourself by feeding encouraging tiny voices in your head isn't going to work. Who's being unrealistic here?

And when is it time to quit? When you're no longer learning or being challenged. For some jobs, it might take years, or it could be as quickly as days or weeks. Once there are few or irrelevant opportunities to learn, gain exposure or pick up skills, it is time to move on. Endurance - seeing how long you can make it until you absolutely cannot stand it anymore - is not skill. While you are suffering miserably away at your desk, a herd of smarter young professionals are advancing you. Think of how much time you're wasting.

Finally, here is one last piece of advice for new college graduates who have just earned their Bachelor's or even their MBAs: No matter how smart you are, there are always people smarter than you - even those without MBAs. It is a mistake to parade around your first job with your nose in the air - even if you are the only one on your team with that MBA. If you're the kind that looks down on others, then the only company that would be the right fit for you is a dysfunctional one.

And if you're an associate at a huge law firm or in the entertainment business, none of this applies - really.

Happy productive (not busy) working.