How to adjust to the world of work

Starting your first office job can be a culture shock. We spoke to early-career employees about what to expect.

Every workplace has its own culture, expectations and ways of working, and when you first start it can be hard to fit in.

Savannah Daley, Account Assistant at High Clarity Accountants and AAT Level 3 student, says “Starting work was a significant adjustment, as I had never been in paid employment before aside from volunteering with older people. However, I had some early exposure to professional settings because my dad used to take me to conferences when I was younger”.

Anthony Morgan, Accounts Assistant at Stevenhill Partnership and AAT Level 3 student, found his school’s expectations of independence and high standards set him up for the workplace. “The only real change that I experienced the environment I was in”.

Of course, not everyone working for a company will be in the same physical location. Working remotely can make it harder to gauge your company’s culture, and to reach out and ask for help.

Emma-Louise Waple AATQB, Bookkeeper and Practice Manager at Expand Accounts says, “You don’t have someone sitting next to you to ask questions, so communication is really important. I think one of the biggest things when starting a new job is accepting that you won’t know everything straight away”.

Onboarding and adapting to the culture

Most companies set out expecations clearly during onboarding. Anthony is only a few days into a new role, and in this time has signed contracts, met the team, got set up on computer systems, earned a Xero certification and been assigned his first pieces of work.

You’ll pick up lots of implicit information too. “I pay attention to how others communicate and behave so I can understand the environment better and represent myself well”, says Savannah. “I learned how to present myself professionally through experience, particularly by dealing with emails and phone calls and communicating with different people at work”.

“One thing that surprised me was how relaxed workplace conversations can be and how people from very different backgrounds can come together and share their experiences”.

Learning on the job

Anthony began work as an apprentice. He says “My ex-employer taught me a lot about the work place. I learned the fundamentals of accounting such as how to use software, and do bookkeeping, accounts and payroll. They taught me how to speak to clients and HMRC, problem-solving and general accounting duties.

“I’m grateful for the opportunities my ex-employer gave me, and experiencing a different side of corporate was a great asset. It removed all my naivety and helped me grow up quicker mentally. In addition, I became aware of the red flags to look out for”.

Growing in the workplace

It can be nerve-wracking to take on a new job and hit your stride it only to be given more stretching tasks, but it’s also really good for your development.

At his previous job, Anthony says “As an apprentice, I was encouraged a lot to step outside my comfort zone. I initially was eased into tasks but over time, I was slowly pushed into taking on more challenging jobs which helped with my accounting development.”

Emma-Louise’s work with accountants goes beyond her employment. “Outside of work, I run the AAT Bookkeeping/Accounting Study Group on Facebook, which now has over 3,600 members. It’s something I’m incredibly proud of, and I’ve seen first-hand how important support and encouragement can be”.

Advice for new starters

“Be diligent, work hard and put learning as much as you can as a high priority,” says Anthony. “Mistakes will happen, so as long as you ask questions and try your best, don’t let them bring you down”.

Emma-Louise says, “My advice to anyone starting out would be to believe in yourself and ask questions. You’re there to learn, and nobody expects you to know everything from day one”.

“My advice would be to be yourself and focus on building experience. Entry-level pay can sometimes be challenging, but the experience you gain can open doors later. I’ve also learned that employers may be willing to support further qualifications when you already have relevant experience”, says Savannah.

And for employers

Patience and kindness are key for Anthony. Also, “having a standard SOP checklist that can be referred to would be great for ensuring information can be learned or recapped outside of working hours”.

Emma-Louise says, “I think clear expectations, regular check-ins and knowing who to turn to for help are especially important when working remotely.

“Ultimately, finding that first opportunity can be the hardest part. I’m grateful I was given mine, and I think employers should look beyond someone’s experience on paper and give people the chance to prove themselves. You never know what someone is capable of until you give them that chance!”

Cat Hall is Content Specialist at AAT.