COMMON FIRST JOB MISTAKES - What young graduates do wrong at work (with McKinsey storytime)
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- Young graduates fresh out of university often struggle in the beginning of their career. There are common first job mistakes that these people are making, and they can be avoided. In this video I talk about what people do wrong in their first job and how to avoid mistakes at work. I talk about my experience as a former McKinsey project lead, having worked with and coached many young Business analysts and Associates. In this video you will learn what to avoid as young consultant, though it is relevant to investment banking or corporate as well. Avoid these common mistakes at your first job - I will share my personal top 3 mistakes that I frequently saw at McKinsey and now in corporate. This is what you need to succeed in your new job - whether it is your first job or not.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:31 First Mistake
04:42 Second Mistake
09:12 Third Mistake
12:33 Wrap-up
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*Common first job mistakes:*
1. Not fully understanding your task
2. Not thinking for yourself
3. Not taking the lead on your development
Thanks for the summary Kimberly! :) Best, Heinrich
I’m actually obsessed with how you say “consaaaallting”. Hahaha. Good quality videos. Learning a lot. 👍👍
;) Thanks for watching!! Best, Heinrich
Me too! And cruuuuucial
I thought I was the only one 😄😄😄, I really enjoy his videos.
100% agree with all these 3 tips! Awesome advice - especially taking the initiative to change things on how you think it works best with tip number 2.
Fully agree, appreciate it! Thanks for watching! Best, Heinrich
I just discovered your channel and found the content to be extremely relevant. Excellent advice there, can't wait to watch the rest of your videos.
Super happy to hear - thank you!! Best, Heinrich
Binge watching your vids and i am learning a lot! Thanks for your advices!
Hi Daniel, super happy to hear the videos are helpful. Thank YOU for watching! All the best man - Heinrich
Great content, amazing and clear delivery from you. I wish somebody had talk to me about this in the early years as an IT Professional.
Happy to hear that, thanks Xavier! Lots of success to you!! Best, H
Wow! Normally when I watch these kinds of videos, there are typically very surface-level mistakes that are pretty obvious. But this is exactly what I was looking for since I am just starting as an analyst. This was so helpful to get insights on the other side (from your perspective as a former project lead) of effective ways I can add value to my team and engagement....just subscribed, looking forward to more of your content!
Happy to hear :) Thank you! Best, Heinrich
Great overarching pointers for working in consulting. Thank you again for your clear-eyed view of things, Heinrich :)
My pleasure Brennan. Thanks for watching!! Best, Heinrich
I hope I watched this video before starting my internship and doing all those mistakes...
Thanks for sharing. There is always going to be a next internship / job to apply your learnings :) Best! Heinrich
Asking questions, *Asking right questions* is a most underrated skill and not limited only to work place. I myself have been in numerous situations where I felt like I should have asked better questions only later.It would be great if u make a video on this topic. BTW, all your videos are really awesome.
Hi Harish, thanks for sharing! Fully agree. Might pick that up in future videos. Best! Heinrich
@@FirmLearning please do 🙏
fresh graduates would be immensely thankful
Good point but don’t fall into the “my-questions-need-to-be-brilliant- fallacy. Clarifying questions don’t have to be amazing they just have to clarify sometimes.
Great video, Although I do agree with you on all the mistakes you have pointed but I do believe that the first thing anyone should do is getting to know your manager, Coworkers, and the environment you are working in. No two companies are the same, no two managers are the same so understanding your manager's working ethic is very important. I know that it is sometimes it is necessary to challenge your manager if you think there is a better way to work around a problem but if you just started it is good to follow what your manager is doing and take notes which part you think he is doing well and which part he should improve on. Some managers would take it the wrong way if you start challenging them so it is very important to understand what kind of manager you are dealing with. In any company, there is only teamwork and no I alone. It is always good to know what everyone does and how you can use those people to help you out. Also, when your manager gives you a task and you are new sometimes he just wants to see how you would react to the task. You should always tackle the task on your own first and if you are really stuck then you should start asking a question with your manager. I don't think is a good idea to straight off ask your manager how to approach the task because it shows that you are relying on him to help you out. Tackle the problem first then ask a question so you can show your manager that you care and willing to learn from your mistake. This is my opinion and it might not be the most popular but that is how I dealt with my first job.
Hi, thank you for sharing! These are some very relevant thoughts, appreciate it. Agree! Best, Heinrich
Great insights, thanks Heinrich! Really like your videos.
Thanks! :)
Thanks for this video! I just start my first job in Frankfurt as a graduate in banking. This is my first two weeks and I almost did all the mistakes you mentioned here. As the only foreigner and young employee in my department, I am also not confident on myself, after I made several mistakes. Thanks for this inspiring video.
Thank you for sharing. Lots of success to you in Frankfurt, cheering for you!! Best, Heinrich
Great video - thanks for sharing your insights!
Glad it was helpful, Mateo! Thanks for watching. Best, Heinrich
These are spot on! Grads need to see this.
Thanks!! Thanks for watching. Best, Heinrich
Third one is so right. I work at a global market research firm as a Business Consultant, specialized in brand/campaign research and consumer behaviour. They don't offer that great many trainings. I asked several senior people in the firm to give me and my more junior/medior colleagues various expert/training sessions, also i read so much content which is relevant for me about new developments and methodology. I also follow a lot of Webinars or go to events on my own initiative. This helped me a lot with getting ahead and develop myself to a medior. Even got offered several senior job roles at the competition firms.
Hi, thanks for your comment and watching. Yes agree, getting trainings is indeed crucial. Thanks for sharing! Best, Heinrich
This is really great advice! Thank you for the video
Thank you Christine, much appreciated! :) Best, Heinrich
Thank you for the great insights, your video has been very helpful especially regarding the excel and powerpoint. Although its too bad I've done the 1st mistake you talk about for the last 6 months >< as i was really shy and ended up misunderstanding most of my task.
Super happy to hear that! Thanks for sharing! Best, H
Just got my first job. This was super helpful!
This video is what we must see.
Perfectly explained 👌🏻
I am glad that you enjoyed the video Avaneesh!
Really insightful again! Great job
Thanks!! Best, H
Amazing advice!!! SO TRUE!
Hi Manal, thanks for your comment. Great to hear the video is helpful :) Best, Heinrich
I did all the stated mistakes in my first student job 😂
Thankfully, I made them already there and mybe that's why I made a really good impression at my first full time job :D
Hey man, thanks for sharing :) Great to hear that you had the opportunity to learn early on! Best, Heinrich
Heinrich, your observations are spot on. Ownership is a virtue that is missing within many. The end result are obvious - uninformed decisions, poor execution and zero or negative growth of the practice, organization and individual career. I am sure you have been involved in hiring situations where you have to evaluate candidates based on their sense of ownership beyond all the table stakes skill set they bring in. Agreed McKinsey will attract the best talent, having said that work ethics are something that goes beyond Ivy school degrees and extraordinary academics. Would love to see if you can make a video on how to identify if a candidate has a long term, day zero, rolling up your sleeves kind of mindset.
Glad that you found the video helpful! Thanks for you input! I will consider making a video on this in the future :)
Thanks for this video 👍🏻
Thank YOU for watching! Best, H
Great advice! This actually applies to any level of work and especially so to the consulting type of tasks. Smash the like button!
Thank you Matthew! Best, Heinrich
This was actually super helpful!
Hi, thanks for your kind comment! Super happy to hear the videos are helpful. Appreciate it, all the best to you! Heinrich
Great insights! How do we keep a lookout for opportunities for personal growth and clearly understand tasks at hand in the virtual work environment? We (young grads) are often cut off from observing and learning from peers and haven't even seen experienced peers at work to learn from them.
Hi Rushali, this is indeed an important point and frankly no good answers to that. This is why I personally believe that many companies will go back to at least a couple of days in-person every week. Lets see how this will unfold! Best, Heinrich
Your first point reminds me of a situation I found myself in at work whilst myself and my two other colleagues in the same role are not recent joiners to our employer. We were each given tasks to do that none of us knew what we were supposed to be doing by one of the managers. I was the only one who said in Micosoft Teams chat I don't understand the instructions that you have emailed for the task you would like me to me to complete. My colleagues didn't understand either but they didn't say anything. As a result of me saying that we each had individual meetings where the manger explained and showed by using the share screen facility in Microsoft Teams the tasks . I'm repected for saying this . In order for you get promoted you need to be able to do the other two points and explain this as part of your application.
Thanks for sharing this story!
Totally agree with you
Thanks for watching! :) Best, H
Great video! I've made all those mistakes during my first internship... Man, how that made me work so much more and give a lot less value to the project! When I changed my behavior, everything got so much better.
You content is amazing, keep doing it!
Thank you for sharing - appreciate it. Best, Heinrich
Interested to know more about what concrete changes did you make?
0:15 should just be avoided at all costs.
1:25 3 tips with stories.
Common first job mistakes:
1. Not fully understanding your task
not 100% know what is expected from us.
2:10 don't want be seemed stupid. but be better to ask some extra questions to create great end-product than several hours for a task but not done well.
3:10 excel sheet to specific analysis for specific number. ...
4:30 too afriad and too shy to ask a clarifying question
2. Not thinking for yourself - ownership
young and seasoned professional.
5:30 the main value added is when employee thinks critically about these things. if the way asked is the best to reach the result the clients and project lead want.
since most time, it is you to do the details: excel and interviews. than your project lead.
8:30 when you get task, you should think critically and make alternations to reach the team's need.
9:10 the other party will be super open for the suggestion, the ownership, the perspective.
3. Not taking the lead on your development
even in company as MBB, this should not be expected.
this is just for grab.
10:30 new work stream on the project. and its working capital: inventory, account receivable/ payable.
Great video!
Thank you - glad it is helpful! Best, Heinrich
thanks
Thank you Heinrich for the insightful video :) one feedback for the video is I wish the ads were placed in between each main points instead of in the middle of you talking as it disrupts the flow of the video
Hi Maria, thanks will look into it! Thank you for watching! Best, Heinrich
Such great content!
Thank you for watching Nicolas!! Best, Heinrich
Good info and your accent is lovely.👌
Too kind, thank you for watching :) Best! Heinrich
I love the content but I love his voice even more
Thank you Uri, much appreciated! ;) Best, Heinrich
Awesome video
Thank you!!
I feel like for point 2 and 3, that could be "okay" to do in industry because job security is more there and sometimes industry has more employees operating as "taking orders" in the workplace. But you're right, in consulting, points 2 and 3 are very highly unacceptable and is an easy way to get laid off and replaced with a new hire that is going to add value to the team instead of just taking orders.
Thanks for sharing your perspective and experiences! Indeed, there are some roles in industry where your individual contribution is not that much valued. Best! Heinrich
Thanks for that. But from the side of the managerial they should have also very clear instructions anticipating any questions one may have as a graduate....Not all the mistakes are from the graduate end managers should have very clear and in detail what they want to achieve and in many times they do not know so.
Thank you
Thank YOU for watching! Best, Heinrich
Hello Heinrich! Very instructive as always. With the last mistakes you mentioned in mind - are there some Finance or specifically Finance Modeling Trainings you can recommend? Something that helped you a lot? Best M
Can for sure recommend the McKinsey classic "Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies". Regarding Financial Modeling, do not really have a training in mind I can recommend. But will create more videos on that topic myself in the future, stay tuned! :) Best, Heinrich
FMVA from CFI 👍🏻
Hey man i love your channel i want to start my career from consulting too >>> :)
Lots of success to you Sarthak!! Hope it works out well! Best, Heinrich
Hi, I often face difficulty in writing official emails. I get anxious while writing emails to my supervisors or other senior members of the firm. Can you share some light on how to write effectively and in a concise manner with the appropriate tone?
Hi Rahul, yes agree, writing e-mails can be a difficult task sometimes. I believe the lessons from my recent video on "top down communication" are highly relevant to writing e-mails as well, maybe have a look whether this is helpful. But actually planning to do a distinct video on written communication at some point in the future, so stay tuned!! Best, Heinrich
@@FirmLearning Thank you so much for your valuable response. I will eagerly await for that Video
Take a look at Strunk & White. I recommend this little book for all my staff as it contains a number of excellent ‘rules’ for preparing documents.
But surely some outputs like the ghost deck are only designed to be approximate and unfinished so it would be a bad use of time to make these polished. It’s important to know what needs to be polished and what can be tough.
Sure thing, thanks for sharing Alistair!! :) Best, Heinrich
" Do not think for yourself " - I would, but I'm not allowed.
Really great piece of advice. I am in my first job in Consulting and I tend to come under pressure really quickly and my superiors also have great expectations from me to learn quickly.this kills me more. Could you really advice what I should do. Would really mean a lot.
Best
Vaishali
Hi Vaishali, thanks for your comment, great to hear you found this helpful! Have made a video on dealing with stress and anxiety on the job some months ago. Trust this might provide some insights into what you are looking for. Best! Heinrich
@@FirmLearning sure will give it a watch. Many Thanks
Same comment.. very long intros before you dive to the topic.. The topic is goodd!
Thanks! Have shortened the intro in my latest video (released right now :) - Best! Heinrich
I wish you can make video about Data analysis
Hi Batool, what aspect exactly would interest you? Best! Heinrich
I completely understand point 1. I also agree. However in other fields sometimes it is maybe not the same than consulting. For instance I can really tell you than in investment banks, if you start working in a Trading room as an intern for example, if you are sitting next to a Trader and you keep bombing him with questions to understand exactly what needs to be done, or to understand the business very well, or if you ask same questions again and again, you will be seen as a parasite, you can get extremely agressive reaction, and yes people will think you are stupid and will never continue with you offer you a permanent position for example. In some jobs it is maybe better to brainstorm with people on the same level than you and to try to understand things together rather than bombing your supervisor with questions.
Hi, thanks for your comment and providing this perspective and context! Trust that it is indeed important to have the Do's and Don't's of your industry in mind. Appreciate it! Best, Heinrich
Consaalting is cruuucial
Thank you for watching! :)
You sound like Arnold swartchnegger 😂😂😂😭😭
;) Thanks for watching! Best, Heinrich
The topics discussed are very nice. But most of the time I felt like he is speaking in some Nordic language. And find it difficult to listen.😅
Checking with the young associate AT 8 p.m. to make sure what he's doing is ok to be sent later in that very day.
Wow, I smell rat-race workaholism.
Nice exemple to youths.
Hi Raffaele, not sure I fully understand your comment. Agree though that I also might have had an opportunity to better manage the situation. Best, Heinrich