A milestone work anniversary is not met with any fanfare unless you happen to have served in the same organization, in which case, a long service celebration commemorates the special occasion. I was recently reminded of my momentous 20-year work anniversary during a 25th birthday celebration for a colleague; the festivities evoked memories of my younger self as I struggled to internalize that my own career journey began at her age decades ago.
Back in 1999, I was a louder version of Hawa, working for an alcoholic beverage manufacturer in the Marketing department. My personality and the job requirements, which primarily consisted of product launches, weekly promotions, sponsorships and special events were well matched. Reflecting on that time, the early days were particularly challenging having to navigate corporate dynamics as a bright eyed 25-year-old amongst older and more experienced colleagues.
Two decades ago, Tanzania was just beginning to find its footing with a burgeoning private sector. My peers were scattered across organizations ranging from financial institutions to advisory services and we shared in the loneliness that comes from not fitting in or being accepted by older colleagues. In those days, MSN Messenger was our solace, providing virtual encouragement to each other. Nowadays, employees in the same office prefer to communicate behind the screen through Whatsapp or social media channels — fueling stereotypes of being lazy, aloof, and uncommitted.
The 20th anniversary of my professional life reminds me that at the beginning of my career, Gen Xers were misunderstood, a position similar to millennials. Noting that Gen Z have started entering the workforce, it is incumbent upon us to do away with the generational typecasts and embrace a more inclusive workplace.
In the words of Picasso, ‘youth has no age’ but as we all know, experience is a teacher. Travel down memory lane with me as I share my 20 lessons over two decades in a 2-part series.
The over-used cliché ‘go the extra mile’ has its merits when it comes to doing more than is required. At a minimum, you will score well on your performance appraisal and the speed learning will give you an added advantage over your peers.
Don’t wait for your employer to fulfill your training wish list — invest in yourself.
It is normal to feel out of your depth especially early on in your career when everyone around you is more experienced; speak up anyway — your opinion matters.
Things are not always as obvious as people make them out to be so don’t assume everyone knows what you know.
Step out of your comfort zone and network with management; a 5-minute encounter with your CEO can outweigh the sum of your experiences with your peers.
Some of us are born activists however in the corporate setting, you have to pick your battles, not every issue requires a protest.
People often stumble into their careers, think of a medical student turned CFO (true story), don’t allow yourself to be boxed in; expand the vision for your life.
Someone is always watching, be consistent with your words and deeds.
You can’t outrun a bad boss or challenging situation, what you run away from will eventually catch up to you — don’t flee from a difficult circumstance, address it, there is growth in confronting tough situations.
Check your ego at the door, many careers have experienced inertia as a result of an exaggerated sense of self-importance.
