If you had asked me this question four years ago, I would have said:
"Your first job isn't that important, it's just trying things out, and it doesn't matter if you follow your interests."
But now, I would tell you: "Your first job really is very important!"
Why is it Important?
Think back quietly to your first job—what factors did you think were important?
If you haven't entered the workforce yet or haven't changed jobs, what was your "imagination" of your first job at that time?
For myself, looking back, I believe that your first job will reshape your personal values, establish your mindset about the "workplace" environment, your way of dealing with people, and work behaviors and habits. In such a subtle atmosphere, salary is absolutely not the key factor.
Rather, it's the people, affairs, and communication styles within the company, the overall atmosphere, and organizational scale that are interconnected factors. The importance of these factors will influence how you view certain things, your trust in certain people, and may even leave lasting wounds.
The main focus of this first part revolves around the insights my first job gave me. The second part will then summarize why it's important.
For Me, My First Job Made Me "See the Truth"
1. The workplace is not school
This concept may seem clear and obvious, but what exactly is the difference? First, there's the shift in identity. When you're still a student, there are no conflicts of interest between you and your classmates. But once you enter the workplace, everyone suddenly has conflicting interests. This could be superior to subordinate, senior to junior, or different departments with completely opposing positions.
The workplace is unlike school, where people are constantly teaching you.
When you first join a company, there's a probation period. During this time, if you meet good mentors, they will teach you and guide you step by step. At that point, you should be grateful.
Because no one has an obligation to mentor a newcomer. If a senior colleague takes the initiative to notice your situation, that's a good thing. But most of the time, seniors don't have the time or know what your problems are. If you naively assume that just because you're new, people will come teach you, then that's the wrong mindset.
(Further reading: Asking seniors for advice—sometimes it's not about "not understanding" but about "showing attitude"—analyzing 5 types of newcomer attitudes)
2. Don't treat coworkers as friends
You might think that opportunistic colleagues at work can be treated as friends, but actually that's not the case.
Building on the previous point, there are conflicts of interest between company colleagues. While not everyone necessarily cares about these interests, if even one such coworker exists, they could harm you significantly.
I've encountered coworkers who are very concerned with "salary," "performance," and "bonuses"—their own rewards. They become envious if the returns from your hard work aren't equal to theirs. Maybe they won't say it out loud, but they will "pretend to be kind."
For example, they might approach you with concern, help you with mistakes, guide you, and once you let your guard down, they'll "exchange salary slips" with you, pretending to be generous and willing to share. They'll say things like "I'm treating you as a friend," "I'm only telling this to you," and once you share your secrets with them, the next moment they'll turn around and "privately publicize" it, letting you taste what betrayal is like.
Until you've fully sized up a person's true nature, never confide your innermost thoughts to coworkers. You won't know who they're truly friendly with among other colleagues, or whether they use the same "concerned" manipulation tactics on every new person who joins.
(Further reading: Workplace rhetoric "for reference only"—when it comes from a coworker's mouth, is it really just "for reference?")
Insight Two: Company Atmosphere Shapes Your Understanding of Work
1. Coworker communication patterns establish work habits
When I talk about communication patterns here, I'm referring to both surface and deeper levels.
On the surface level, there's things like "face-to-face communication," "written communication," "instant messaging," "phone calls." On a deeper level, there's whether coworkers can "speak their true minds," "embrace diversity and openness," "interact freely between departments." All of these will influence your work behavior and habits.
For example, when you first join a company, you might not have figured out everyone's usual communication style. Suppose you join a company where everyone uses "messaging" but you love standing up and walking over to someone for "face-to-face communication"—it's easy to give everyone a "weird" first impression.
Maybe you don't see anything wrong with it, but "the environment is like a dye vat," leaving you confused and unable to adapt. Maybe to make yourself work more smoothly, you'll gradually change, forced to change. Therefore, what communication method your first job uses becomes very important. Because once you get used to a certain way, when you move to another company, you may have already become set in your ways and be unable to change.
Especially with your first job, if everyone uses messaging to communicate, then at your next job, you might become accustomed to being silent at work and preferring to reply via messaging, but new coworkers might all prefer face-to-face communication. That wouldn't be good. Therefore, each job change means adjusting your mindset and habits, which is very important.
2. Coworker communication atmosphere influences personality
This description might sound exaggerated, but building on the previous point, coworker communication patterns can be broken down into "whether people can speak their true minds," "diversity and openness," "freedom in inter-departmental interaction."
If the workplace environment you're in has colleagues who can "focus on the matter, not the person" and directly offer candid suggestions—strict but not using foul language—allowing everyone to improve, that's a good thing.
On the other hand, if it's always "expressed indirectly," with the belief that saying the wrong thing will hurt people, or even "focus on the person, not the matter" and talk about A while bringing up B, the overall environment might gradually develop a vicious cycle of mutual criticism and suspicion. You're bound to get hurt in the process and carry lasting wounds.
Also, observe whether the overall company atmosphere is diverse and open, whether it can accept suggestions from newcomers without seeing it as overstepping, or whether issues can be handled through "discussion." Are departments equal, not treating anyone as bigger or smaller? Is there a lot of freedom and interaction without too many unspoken rules? All of this leans toward a healthy workplace environment.
Working in such a company allows you to gradually develop a healthy mindset and pursue excellence in your work, rather than getting trapped in power struggles between people, which over time sickens your mind and weighs you down with stress.
【Work Insight Series—Next Part with Five Articles】
First Job Key Insights (Part 2-1): Not only choose the right company, but also choose the right boss
First Job Key Insights (Part 2-2): Focus on the facts, don't let emotions guide you
First Job Key Insights (Part 2-3): Doing your job well is basic, being a good person matters more
First Job Key Insights (Part 2-4): You're not omnipotent, don't take everything on
First Job Key Insights (Part 2-5): Cultivate a mature work attitude: learn to express your position
