A Father’s Letter To His Daughter

Today is your first day at your office and your first step into the world as a professional. I as a father feel I must tell you certain home truths and things which will help you take on the uncertain water and navigate in the new world filled with unknown people and their unknown interests.

Leap not with romantic hopes but with practical understanding.

A job is an opportunity
It’s not a job, it’s also not a trophy you have bagged. It’s a responsibility that you have agreed to take. Be thankful that you got this opportunity to show your talent, give back to your organisation and learn from others. Evaluate the opportunity in terms of the quality of responsibility the organisation gives you. Responsibility is not a burden; it’s a silent acknowledgement of your capability and the trust that the organization reposes in you. It’s invaluable for your growth and learning and much bigger than the CTC. Make the best of it.

Gratitude
Not everyone gets this opportunity. A hundred factors have coincided to bring you where you are today. Remain in gratitude for your upbringing, grace, good wishes, and blessings of many known and unknown to you.

You are just not a packaged skill

Remember, that in the initial days, you will be evaluated based on your attitude towards work, learning, and people, not on your skill sets. The organisation will evaluate you on how well you deal with people, how committed you are to your responsibilities, and how open you are to exploring and learning new things and delivering them at work.

Let your conduct speak
Build your professional reputation by being punctual, being attentive during a discussion, showing sincerity by seeking clarification and help, and demonstrating commitment by delivering things on time. A reminder is a negative score you earn.

Respect and command respect
Respect is not demonstrated through obsequity, it is communicated through activities and behaviour. Be respectful towards others and be watchful of your boundaries; guard them against being breached.

Pleasantness
Everyone loves a pleasing personality. Differentiate between friendliness and pleasantness. Exude pleasantness, positivity, energy, smartness, and team spirit. You communicate a lot through how you dress and groomed and how you deal with people who are lower to you in order.

Shun negativities
The organisation will not treat you the way you want it to treat you. You will encounter unfairness and bias. Don’t jump to a conclusion. You won’t see the total picture when you are at a party. The organisation would be having its compulsions and reasons. Control your envy, jealousy, and the urge to pull others down when you feel side-lined. Don’t discuss anything negative about your friends, relatives, colleagues, or organisation. Never express your disappointment in public. Never!

Opportunities to learn
The opportunity will make you realise how little you know and how much is out there to be learned. The time you have in hand should be spent learning newer things and acquiring newer skills to be a smart problem solver. Self-improvement is key to long-term success. Better your best.

A job is the best fit
Remember that organisations will hire you when they need you for solving a certain problem they are facing then. The old models of organisations are fast disappearing. Organisations are becoming lean and changing fast because they have come to realise that they only can survive when they change fast with the changing time. See your job as the best fit for demand at that time and your ability to supply the same. Evaluate how much did you contribute to the revenue side of the organisation. You will be important if there is a need for it. A job is not a personal relationship or a life-long commitment. They are not obliged to help and support you achieve your personal goals and your career dreams.

It’s a very important day in your life as from today you are going to wear your own identity. You will be identified and recognised for your work and not as my daughter anymore. You will create your relevance in the organisation and over the next few years discover how successful you have become. All these can happen with your effort and at your own cost. The world will take you through your paces. It will be a testing time for our years of upbringing, education, skill, and attitude all combined.