Trading a student schedule for your first office job can mean a change to routine. One week you balance a few classes with late-night study sessions and the next you figure out how to stay focused at your workspace for eight straight hours.
Our Logitech interns recently stepped into this exact routine. They brought a fresh perspective to each project they worked on while adapting to corporate life. I sat down with a few of our interns to learn about their top habits and advice to make the first job transition smooth.
1. Have a good system to take notes
The first few days of any new role means soaking up massive amounts of information. Onboarding decks, team introductions and project overviews pile up fast. Kat Fadrilan, Legal Intern at Logitech agrees that digital notetaking is the best way to keep track of everything you learn.
“During my first week, I started a notebook on Google Docs and organized my notes into tabs based on general company-wide information, project specific information and department-related information,” said Fadrilan. “This made it so much easier to sort through and categorize everything I learned in the first week and understand what I need to prioritize. Everyone is different so use whatever system works best for you but definitely start organizing that first week and it will make your life so much easier later on!”
2. Block out open-office noise
You may have already used noise-cancelling headphones when studying around campus to drown out the noise and concentrate. You’ll want to hang onto those especially for office days when you need to stay focused on tasks. Better yet, find a pair that has a noise-cancelling microphone so you are heard clearly on calls even with the noise of colleagues speaking in an open office environment.
3. Get to know others in the company
Once you’ve settled into your role, take the time to get to know people who you may not speak to on a regular basis. Schedule coffee chats or walks with different team members so you learn more about the company, how each department works and maybe find a mentor in the process.
“I asked my manager for recommendations on people to connect with and set a goal of scheduling two coffee chats each week during my first few weeks,” said Emily La, Digital Marketing Intern at Logitech. “Those conversations gave me a much better understanding of how our cross-functional teams work together and opened the door to incredible opportunities, like shadowing marketing photo and video shoots.”
4. Personalize your workspace
One of the more surprising things about the transition from school life to work is the increased time spent on your laptop. You may have been able to get by with your laptop’s trackpad and keyboard, but when you’re spending eight or more hours at the desk, you realize the toll it takes on your body. Personalizing your workspace to reflect how you actually work can help drive daily efficiency.
When you’re spending increased time at the desk, ergonomic peripherals like Wave Keys and Lift to keep your hands and arms in a more natural posture throughout the workday. If you want a setup that brightens your desk and puts shortcuts a tap away, colorful accessories like POP Icon Combo make the space truly yours while boosting productivity.
“My workspace is my biggest productivity tool. When I have the right environment everything just clicks,” said Brandon Nguyen, Customer Marketing Intern at Logitech. “From the mouse I use to the color of my laptop case, I make sure I create the environment I enjoy to put my best work forward. Aesthetics and looks are part of my day-to-day work, so I need to make sure I have a space that matches that.”
5. Fuel your body and mind
To combat the afternoon slump, we may resort to coffee or tea for a caffeine boost. Our intern cohort favors stepping away from their computer for short walks, fresh air and just a few minutes to rest their eyes. But if they can’t get away from their desk, they turn to other essentials like snacks and small stress-relievers (think squishies and sensory toys) to resurge energy levels.
About the author: Gurpreet works in communications at Logitech, curious about how personal accessories help people access the digital world.
