Top 5 Mistakes Millennials Make in the Office

Millennials have many strengths from being tech savvy to not taking no for an answer, but sometimes this hard headedness can become an issue in an office setting. Here are five of the most common mistakes they make in the office, and how to avoid them.

Multiethnic Group of People Social Networking at Cafe

Mistake #1: Not Doing Your Homework.

You should come into an interview knowing all there is to know about the company you are interviewing for. This will make you look more informed during the interview itself, and will project the image the company is seeking. If you get the job, do your best to understand the inner workings of the company; with a greater overall picture, you will better understand your role in the company, and impress the higher ups along the way.

Mistake #2: Being Late.

Employers will always note your punctuality; being on time is not only expected, but it is required. Chronic tardiness says something more about you than your wake up time, it can turn into your defining trait. Instead, be early; this shows initiative and a strong work ethic, both vital characteristics of a good employee.

Mistake #3: Dressing Inappropriately.

Perhaps it is the fault of our all-too-casual generation, or an unclear office dress code, but the bottom line is the way you dress affects how people view you.

Here’s a short list of the major office faux pas: spaghetti straps, sheer clothes, work out gear, shorts, bandeau skirts, and flip-flops. In short, if you’d wear it to the club or a BBQ, it should probably not be worn at the office.

Mistake #4: Having Questionable Images on Social Media.

Spring break- it happened, it was documented, but it shouldn’t be accessible to your employer. Aside from the obvious substances that should not be on your profile, bikinis, clubbing, and partying pictures should be set on restricted view. You never know who will come across your profile, and you want to present yourself in the most professional way possible.

Mistake #5: Acting Like A Boss.

Especially in a big company, acting like you own the place on day 1 is a huge mistake. Accept the territory that comes with being new, and do your best to absorb the surrounding information rather than acting like you know everything right off the bat. Hard work will always beat the cool factor when you’re new, so tread lightly.

Millenials often get a bad rap for being the “me” generation or not working hard, but all of us are building our careers and are ready and eager to learn. We will undoubtedly make more mistakes than the five listed here, but if you get these down, you can move on to refining yourself further in your career.

A Reflection on My Collegiate Years

Everyone says, “College is the best four years of your life.” I think college is what you make of it. I hope college isn’t the best four years of my life because I have big plans in my future, and how I spent all of my time at SMU wasn’t how I dreamed college would be. When reflecting on my collegiate years, I cannot help but feel thankful and disappointed. Two powerful emotions dramatically crashing against each other.  Continue reading

Read 500 words per minute with Spritz

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As college students, our teachers are constantly pushing us to stay on track with the readings from our textbooks, and time after time we end up attempting to cram the 100 page readings in the night before our midterm. Whether you are a procrastinator or one of the few that do keep up, there is a new app that is revolutionizing the reading process. Software developer “Spritz” not only might make us want to read to try out the new software, but help us remember the content that we are reading. Continue reading

Here’s to a Super Super-Senior Year

To say I’m a senior is a bit of a stretch. I graduated high school in May of 2010 and started my college career in August of 2010. All my friends are seniors and my graduation year is still 2014. I’ve even exceeded the total number of credits necessary to graduate from SMU, but I have a full three semesters worth of classes left before I can get my diploma. I might have (accidentally) stretched out my time at SMU as long as I could, but I wouldn’t change a thing about my college experience.

Visiting SMU my freshman year with my parents

Visiting SMU my freshman year with my parents

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Google+ Revamps the College Visit

I have been a Southern Methodist University Tour Guide for almost three years now. In my opinion, it’s a great job: good pay, flexible hours, and invaluable customer service experience. However, it has come to my attention that Google is looking to put me out of a job. Thanks, Larry Page. Continue reading

Extreme Social Media Fails Done By Young Adults

As college students, we are constantly told by others to think before what we post on social media. We are told this because everything we post on the internet is permanent, even if we delete. Many of us who are preparing to graduate and begin looking for a job, have become cautious on exactly what we put out there on the internet. In the last month, two stories of two young adults  have gone viral after they posted their wrong doings on social media. We can witness how these two individuals had extreme social media fails.  Continue reading