Hello! I’m Katie Browning and I am a first year Orr Fellow working as a Marketing and Communication Specialist at Onebridge. Named after former Indiana Governor Bob Orr, Orr Fellowship aims to develop the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs in Indianapolis. In just six months, the Fellowship has made a huge impact on me, though I believe my experience would not be the same if I ended up at a different host-company.
Throughout the application and interview process for Orr Fellowship, potential candidates are told to “trust the process” when it comes to host-company matching. Rather than choosing where we interview for our first full-time job, we are given companies who have decided to interview us. Though this is a scary thing to put in the hands of others, I am happy to say I ended up exactly where I was meant to work. I am surrounded by the most supportive, fun and hardworking individuals at Onebridge and I truly see our mission of empowering good people to do great things come to life each and every day.
I had no idea what to expect in my first full-time job after college but during these first six months I’ve already learned many lessons. Here are three things I’ve learned at my “real world job” that I will now carry with me in every new role I take on in the future:
1. Company culture matters.
When looking for a job after graduation, it was very easy to fixate on the what: job responsibilities, job title, etc. In fact, when I interviewed with Onebridge, I was sure they would not be interested in me, a communications major with experience working at my college TV station. I knew nothing about data analytics and that terrified me.
When I visited the office after getting an offer, my mindset immediately started to change. I saw the people who worked here and realized I could really fit in with the culture. Now six months in, I really believe company culture should be a huge factor when looking at a place to work. I did the research and sat down and talked with people to learn the technical language of data analytics.
I realize now I can learn technical skills but I can’t change the environment of a company. The people make the company and I know that I thrive in a supportive environment surrounded by good, hard-working people. Onebridge gives me exactly that.
2. The learning doesn’t stop just because college is over.
As mentioned above, I had to learn A LOT about data analytics and this industry. Of course, I am still learning every single day. I believe I will carry this mindset of continued learning with me into every project I take on in life.
College academics could be rough but I did love the opportunity to always learn something new. Just because college is over, I now know I will always have the opportunity to learn and grow--just in a different kind of classroom. Taking the extra time to research and take notes on industry content has been crucial for me in my first six months. I am now subscribed to email newsletters and Google alerts for various data topics and also try to take time to keep up with marketing and social media trends. I appreciate that Onebridge empowers me to do training videos and research like this.
3. Don’t be afraid to speak up--communication is key.
Going into this job, I always found myself overthinking because, as I mentioned before, I knew nothing about the subject at hand. Despite the fear, this presented a great opportunity to speak up and ask questions. I quickly learned that the people at Onebridge want to see everyone succeed and do well to lift up the company. It’s so much easier to express your questions and receive feedback than to “fake it till you make it.”
The more you use your voice, the more you will gain confidence in what you have to say. This is something I am still working through as a young professional straight out of college. I still find myself thinking I am not as qualified as those around me so my opinion doesn’t matter but that’s not true. Every voice matters and can help make an impact in the business. Being in an environment like Onebridge, where my managers and peers are mindful and appreciative of what I have to say and value the work I do, has really helped build my confidence as a new member of the “real world.”
Overall, my first six months have taught me that taking advantage of opportunities and finding ways to immerse myself in a company's culture can make a big impact on a job, regardless of daily tasks or title.
What lessons did you learn from your first full-time job?
