Traffic chaos during the BJP’s demonstration over the women’s reservation bill in Mumbai's Worli area prompted an irate woman to confront Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan, blaming him for the snarls. The incident occurred on Tuesday (April 21
Outgoing Apple, Inc. CEO Tim Cook oversaw a period where the company sank far deeper roots in the Indian market than had been done in the decades prior. Most notably, he presided over the firm’s supply chain expansion, during which it set up iPhone assembly operations in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
West Bengal polls: Polling for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes on May 4. West Medinipur: Union Home Minister on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister
The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) is likely to announce the results for the Class 10 (Matric) and Class 12 (Intermediate) board examinations for the 2025–2026 academic session. According to board officials and reports, the JAC Board has completed the process of preparing the Jharkhand 10th
The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice on a public interest litigation challenging the validity of the 2008 National Investigation Agency Act, Live Law reported. The Act set up the National Investigation Agency in 2008 and contains a list of scheduled offences that it has the power to
Woman gives 5 reasons she’ll never return to a corporate job even with 2x salaryA Dubai-based woman has explained why she will never return to a corporate job, even if her pay were to be doubled. Updated on: Apr 22, 2026 11:45 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link A Dubai-based woman has
Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel, who effected a stunning stumping of Kolkata Knight Riders batter Cameron Green in the IPL on Sunday (April 19, 2026), said he was grateful to be working with the legendary Sri Lankan gloveman Kumar Sangakkara.Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel
The Congress said that Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to West Bengal on Thursday to campaign for the Assembly elections had to be cancelled after the administration allegedly denied permission, The Telegraph reported. Gandhi was to address a rally in Kolkata and another in Serampore
The readiness gap before the first job and how to close it
The readiness gap before the first job and how to close it
In a few months, thousands of final-year students across India will step out of their campuses and into the workplace. Some may already have their placement offers, and many more will receive theirs soon; a moment filled with relief, pride, and the feeling that life is finally moving forward.
Ari and Sri felt the same. After months of interviews, preparation and uncertainty, their offers arrived like a long-awaited victory. But what they did in the days between receiving the offer and joining the organisation shaped everything that followed.
Ari moved into the familiar post-offer comfort zone that many students slip into. The interviews were over, the goal had been achieved and the pressure had eased. Ari enjoyed the praise and believed that learning would begin after joining. For many students, the offer letter feels like a finish line.
Sri also celebrated, but in a different way. To him, the offer letter felt like a doorway, not the destination. He spent time reading up on the organisation, understanding its products and services, refreshing important concepts, and completing a short online course related to the role. He reached out politely to a future colleague. Only a few students do this, but when they do, the transition becomes smoother and the first week feels far less overwhelming.
Across organisations, seniors often wonder how new entrants will adapt. This does not come from judgment. It is a mix of curiosity and concern because the workplace they entered years ago looked very different from the one that youngsters today will enter. In my leadership sessions, I hear something consistent from senior managers. They admire Gen Z's intelligence, courage and speed. What they worry about is not whether they can do the job. They wonder whether they will settle in well, learn steadily, and show consistency.
Satya Nadella captures the essence of this when he talks about the value of being a learner. His reminder that the learn-it-all will always outperform the know-it-all is especially relevant to those preparing for their first job. Indra Nooyi often says that the first step to improving an organisation is improving ourselves.
Organisations do not expect mastery on the first day. They look for sincerity, humility, and a willingness to understand how things work. For young professionals, that improvement can begin before Day One. Research from McKinsey in 2023 also shows that even a little preparation before joining helps new employees learn faster, adapt better, and experience less stress in their initial weeks.
Students today constantly hear about productivity hacks, communication styles, and success habits. But early success comes from certain consistent behaviours: listening fully, respecting time, asking thoughtful questions, preparing before meetings, and completing small tasks with care. These habits quietly build trust and create a strong foundation for growth.
Those who begin like Sri often say that they settled in faster, understood the team sooner, felt more confident in meetings, and handled the early days with less stress. Those who begin like Ari are not wrong. They just take a little longer to find their rhythm. The difference is not about talent or capability. It is about the small choices made in the quiet days before joining.
Beginning like Sri does not require intense study. It requires small, meaningful steps. Reading about the organszation, refreshing one important skill, learning the basics of a new tool, completing a short certification, and setting a simple routine can make a young professional feel grounded and ready.
As you prepare to enter your first job, it helps to remember that the offer letter is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning. The days before joining are a chance to build clarity, understand the workplace and prepare your mind to grow. You do not need to prove anything on your first day. Begin quietly and steadily. Let your early actions show that you value the opportunity, you are ready to learn, and you are prepared to begin well. The future that unfolds will be shaped by how you choose to step into it.
The writer is Junior Faculty-Organisation Behaviour and Human Resource at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai.
Published - January 03, 2026 12:00 pm IST
The Hindu Education Plus / education / higher education / careers / students / teaching and learning / university / universities and colleges
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Suryakumar celebrates India’s T20 WC triumph with trophy at Adalaj Stepwell School mergers in Andhra Pradesh leave rural students facing months of disruption Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets outage hits thousands across US India's snakebite crisis is killing tens of thousands every year China exports surge in first two months of the year despite Trump tariffs How a 57-year-old woman reversed Type 2 diabetes in 2 months after coma scare Thousands of glaciers to melt each year by mid-century 64-Year-Old Teacher Used Soundproof Room To Sexually Abuse Students Students face new cellphone restrictions in 17 states as school year begins UP, United Kingdom Collaborate To Offer Chevening Scholarship To 5 Students Every Year
Shah Rukh Khan stayed calm amid fan frenzy during visit to Ajmer dargah, reveals bodyguardBodyguard Yusuf Ibrahim revealed that he had accompanied Shah Rukh Khan to the Ajmer dargah on a Friday, but the visit quickly turned chaotic. Apr 22, 2026
1 days ago
Karnataka recently rolled out a draft policy to alter the taxation structure on liquor sold in the state. The policy proposed taxing liquor based on the actual volume of alcohol present in it — or the Alcohol-in-Beverage taxation system, a popular practice in western countries
1 days ago
Inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPN) are cruel genetic diseases that affect around 1 in 2,500 individuals. A person affected by IPN develops high foot arches, curled toes, thin calves, and walks awkwardly or trips. Their fingers may become clawed and, because they lose sensation
1 days ago
Kedarnath Dham portals open today, CM Dhami offers prayersChar Dham Yatra began on April 19, with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines in Uttarakhand on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya Published on: Apr 22, 2026 1:33 PM IST By HT Correspondent
1 days ago
No, ICSE Class 10 Result 2026 will not be declared today, April 22, despite the false claim floating on social media platforms. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) told Times of India (TOI) dismissed the rumour and said that the board has not made any announcement
1 days ago
Kevin Warsh has clashed with Democratic senators during a fiery confirmation hearing to decide whether he should be installed as Federal Reserve chairman. From suggestions that he would be President Donald Trump's "sock puppet" to questions over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Panasonic ACs are trending this summer! Grab top deals with up to 30% discountPanasonic ACs are becoming a top choice this summer. Check out the latest deals, key features
1 days ago
A Mumbai woman has gone viral after angrily confronting Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan over a massive traffic jam allegedly caused by a political rally in Worli, with many on social media calling her the voice of ordinary commuters. The clip, shared by X user Prashant Dhumal
1 days ago
IIT Kharagpur professor invites students to his birthday party, internet enviousAn IIT Kharagpur student left the internet surprised—and a little envious—after sharing a video of a professor’s birthday celebration with his class. Updated on: Apr 22
1 days ago
The Iran war has caused a significant drop in global oil demand, with consumption plummeting due to supply disruptions and record-high fuel prices. While this short-term destruction accelerates the shift to EVs and biofuels, the conflict's longer-term impact may paradoxically boost oil demand
1 days ago
Global oil prices edged lower in Asia on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he would extend a ceasefire with Iran until peace talks between the two countries have progressed. He added that the US will continue to blockade Iran's ports until Tehran presents a "unified proposal"
1 days ago
Abhishek Sharma smashed an explosive century on Tuesday. He scored an unbeaten 135 runs from 68 balls. This helped Sunrisers Hyderabad defeat Delhi Capitals by 47 runs in the Indian Premier League. Sharma's performance was the fifth-highest individual score in the tournament's history
1 days ago
One year after the terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, which claimed 26 lives in a targeted assault on civilians, the meadows of Kashmir seem to have begun their slow healing with a return to tourism. Yet for the families left behind, time has not healed in the way society often expects
1 days ago
At least 13 people have been killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in India's southern state of Kerala, officials say. The incident took place in Thrissur, where around 40 people were believed to be assembling firecrackers in a cluster of sheds for an upcoming festival
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Stay safe and protected this summer with these SPF-infused skin and hair productsKeep your skin and hair protected with these SPF-infused products. Published on: Apr 22
1 days ago
David Wilcock death rumors: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna sounds the alarm about dead, missing US scientists, ‘Something is up’Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has sounded the alarm about an increasing number of missing and dead scientists amid rumors that David Wilcock has died by suicide. Updated on: Apr 22
1 days ago
The protests by workers across Indian cities through early April are an urgent signal that survival is impossible on wages that hover around the bare legal minimum. Domestic, gig and delivery workers to industrial labourers in the Delhi-National Capital Region protested demanding an increase in
1 days ago
Walk into most classrooms today, and you will find students who can define empathy, write about conflict, and explain decision-making. But ask them to navigate a difficult conversation, respond to peer pressure, or articulate what they feel; the confidence disappears
1 days ago
V. Muthuraja returns to contest Pudukkottai seat for DMK in 2026 Tamil Nadu electionsV. Muthuraja, a key DMK politician from Tamil Nadu, won the Pudukkottai seat in 2021 with 85,802 votes, aims to defend his position in the 2026 elections. Published on: Apr 22
1 days ago
Learn how to search your name in the voter list 2026, verify details in the electoral roll, and download your Voter ID card online via NVSP and ECI portals. Step-by-step guide with direct links and troubleshooting tips. With Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal approaching
1 days ago
Nineteen hundred exhibitors from Italy and around the world. 700 designers, all under the age of 35. Over 169,000 sq.m. of exhibition. The numbers give a sense of the scale of this year’s Salone del Mobile.Milano, the landmark European furniture and interiors design trade fair that attracts a
1 days ago
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has cancelled a presidential trip to the southern African nation of Eswatini, accusing Beijing of putting pressure on other countries to bar his aircraft from flying over their territories. Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked Lai's overflight permits after
1 days ago
International benchmark Brent crude futures traded at $99.29 per barrel, up 0.82 per cent, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 1.15 per cent to $90.71. Mumbai: Global crude oil prices edged higher to nearly $100 a barrel on Wednesday as traders and investors analysed the outlook for US-Iran
1 days ago
A notorious North Korean hacking group is likely behind the theft of nearly $300 million in cryptocurrency over the weekend, an affected party has said, in the biggest known crypto heist this year.It is the latest such incident linked to North Korea
1 days ago
Diet Coke has become an unexpected casualty of supply chain disruptions linked to the ongoing tensions involving Iran, with several Indian cities witnessing stock-outs of the popular sugar-free beverage due to a severe shortage of aluminium cans. The crunch has also affected other canned drinks
1 days ago
April 22 Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on April 22, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Published on: Apr 22, 2026 11:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on April 22
1 days ago
The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) is expected to announce the Assam HS Result 2026 for Class 12 students in the coming days. Officials are likely to confirm the exact date and time of the result declaration soon. Once the results are released
1 days ago
