Remember Your First Job? Where We Learn, Stumble, and Become Ourselves

Harinath

Strategy & Growth – Reliance Retail; EI Outlook Editor

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Recently, I came across a discontinued podcast that captured young people’s reflections on their very first jobs. As is my habit, I noted down a few thoughts and lessons that stood out to me. I’ve curated them here, hoping my gentle readers will find something to relate to—and perhaps a spark of encouragement as well.

“One of the most defining aspects of my first job was the mentorship I received. I joined a seven-person startup as a data analyst. But because of my mentor, the CTO, I wore many hats—testing, product management, fixing bugs. Two things he taught me shaped my entire career: always do the right thing, and the devil is in the details. That mindset helped me think long-term, build better products, and stay grounded.”— Gaurav, Software Engineer

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“When I started in field sales during the pandemic, I was terrified. I was an introvert, forced to meet strangers every day. But over time, I became more confident, learned to trust myself, and stopped fearing judgment. My manager told me something I’ll never forget: If you haven’t given it a fair try, don’t quit yet. But if a job ever asks you to abandon your core values, it’s time to walk away. That advice has guided every decision since.”— Kanupriya, Sales Professional

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“In those early years, I thought money and job titles would make me happiest. But when I looked back, I realized it was the people around me. Nearly 60% of people in our survey said their peer group and mentors mattered more than anything else. Only 5% said compensation was their main source of joy.”— Shiva, Software Professional

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“I used to think I needed to compete with everyone. But the biggest mistake I made was not collaborating. Once I stopped seeing colleagues as competitors and started seeing them as partners, everything changed. You can’t learn or grow in isolation.”— Anonymous Respondent

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“Validation meant everything to me. Early in your career, you have no idea if you’re doing things right. Every piece of feedback felt like fuel. It built my confidence. A simple ‘you’re doing great’ made me believe I belonged.”— Raahil, Journalist

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“For me, happiness at work is feeling creative. Even if it’s writing an email or designing a presentation, those small acts of creativity make everything worthwhile.”— Akshaya, Content Creator

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Conclusion

Your first job is rarely perfect. It’s messy, unpredictable, and often humbling. Yet, hidden in that uncertainty are the seeds of growth—mentors who inspire you, challenges that teach resilience, and small victories that build your confidence.

Whether it’s a moment of recognition, the thrill of solving a problem, or simply discovering what you don’t want—these experiences shape not just your career, but who you become.