Asking for help

Have humility

You may have talked the talk to get in the door, but even if you have the right qualifications, you still face a learning curve. This is especially true if you're fresh out of school. When you start a new job, no one expects you to know everything, so don't walk in the door assuming you do know everything. Pretending that you have the same level of expertise and knowledge as the CEO will only backfire. That kind of attitude won't make you any friends and could get you kicked out the door. Instead, be humble and accept your flaws as well as your strengths. Remember that they hired you for a reason.

Those who ask for help get it

The only way to learn and grow in your career is by being inquisitive. Even CEOs ask questions. Your boss would rather you ask questions and get the project right the first time, instead of going into a task with uncertainty.

Ask questions intelligently

A key to asking questions at work is to ask the right ones in the right way. Don't ask questions that require a yes or no response. Instead, ask your boss what her expectations are so you are sure to meet them. This also gives you an opportunity to ask your manager if she has a preference on how the task is accomplished or when it's due.

Another approach is to come to your boss with ideas or suggestions and ask if they are in line with what she is thinking. By positioning your questions in this way, you'll get input on your own ideas instead of asking your boss what to do. She'll appreciate your initiative.

Get support from your peers

Hundreds of thousands of students engage in academic mobility every year in Europe. There is a huge community of your peers facing the same challenges as you at the same. They can be of great help and are eager to share their past or current experiences. Some of them may even be at the same region as you. Get in touch with them and share your experience.

Research