AUGUST @ &PLEASURE
There’s a weird phase at the start of your career where no one really tells you how to be good at your job. Not the work itself, but the stuff that actually gets you noticed: knowing when to ask for help, how to be proactive, and how to become the person people trust with the good projects.
The good news? You don’t need to be senior to do any of it. Make other people’s lives easier and you’ll quickly become someone they want in the room. & we’re back with Alanah Moir, Head of Growth & Strategy at Day MGMT, answering the career questions no one puts in the onboarding deck.
PEOPLE WHO KNOW WTF THEIR DOING
ALANAH MOIR, HEAD OF GROWTH & STRATEGY AT DAY MGMT
Name: Alanah Moir
Handle: @alanahmoir
Job Title: Head of Strategy & Growth at @daymanagement
Workplace: Day Management
Location: Melbourne, Australia
When you're assigned to a new project, what's the first thing you should do to set yourself up for success?
Get up to speed on all the details of the project, read the brief, ask questions, research what you need to and then make a list/timeline of all the elements you’re responsible for. Break it down into bite sized tasks and put a deadline against each for yourself that’s earlier than when it’s actually due as a buffer. Being organised and responsible for your own tasks and deadlines will always set you up for success!
How can someone add value from day one, even if they're the most junior person in the room?
Be curious, ask questions, give opinions and embrace the fact that even if you’re the most junior person in the room, you have a unique view and set of experiences that brings so much value. So don’t be afraid to share your thoughts and contribute ideas - you were hired for a reason!
What's the best way to get across a project quickly?
Read through the brief/any and all info you have, jot down any q’s to ask your manager, then make a list of your actions/tasks in your own words. Breaking the project down into the smaller chunks that you’re responsible for in a way that you understand them always helps to get your brain across the elements! Q’s you should you ask upfront to understand the brief, priorities and your role -
What’s the key goal/what does success look like for this project?
Who is our target audience?
What are the deliverables/tasks that need to be completed?
Which of these tasks am I directly responsible for/do you need help with?
What’s the order of priority?
What are the deadlines?
How can junior professionals make life easier for their manager or project lead? What are the small behaviours that have the biggest impact?
Be honest, if you don’t understand something or you’ve made a mistake, take ownership and chat to your manager (and try and come equipped with ideas on how to solve the problem)
Show your passion and positivity, having a team member who is genuinely excited and passionate about a project makes such a big impact.
Be on time with deadlines (or ahead for bonus points)
Be proactive, propose a next step instead of asking “what’s next”
Communicate!! Keep your manager in the loop with comms, progress reports, etc.
Stay organised, whether this be with admin, emails or project deadlines
How do you stay organised when you're juggling multiple deadlines and stakeholders? Are there any systems or habits you find super useful?
Organisation tools are a must. Ensure you have a project timeline (whether that’s an excel spreadsheet or on a platform like Monday/Asana) that includes all major elements of the project, who is responsible for what, the sub tasks you need to do to achieve each element, and the timings you need them done by. And don’t underestimate the importance of keeping on top of your admin, emails and comms, especially when dealing with multiple stakeholders. A messy inbox = a messy brain.
When you hit a roadblock, how do you know when to solve it yourself versus asking for help? What's the best way to raise an issue without just bringing another problem to your manager?
As a general rule, if it’s a quick fire question or reminder of a process/detail you’ve already learnt, then fire away. If it’s a bigger roadblock, a mistake you’ve made or a more in-depth problem, I would always look to find a solution yourself first and then take the problem with the proposed solution to your manager. We’re always here to help but seeing someone take initiative and think about the problem and potential ways to solve it before expecting someone else to solve it for them goes a long way!
What's the best way to keep people updated on your progress? How can you communicate proactively so no one has to chase you?
Set the standard from the beginning. Ask where and when your team wants updates and stick to it. This could look like end of day Slack messages in a designated project channel, an in person WIP meeting at the beginning of each week, daily updates and comments on a Trello board…whatever the preferred channel of comms, consistency is key!
How do you build trust on a project, especially if you're new to the team or early in your career?
It’s the simple things. Be proactive, listen, ask questions and actively show your interest in the project. Make sure you complete all your tasks on time, stay organised and communicate clearly. Being reliable is the fastest way to build trust!
If you notice something has been missed or could be improved, how should you raise it? The best way to be proactive without overstepping?
Raise it one on one with your project lead and avoid placing blame on anyone. Instead come to the conversation with recognition of the problem and an idea to fix it. This should open up a collaborative chat where you can gauge their response and figure out where you can push for new ideas.
What's one habit you've seen early-career professionals adopt that makes you instantly trust them with bigger opportunities?
Taking initiative! This could look like lots of things:
Going out of your way to research competitors or potential new clients
Suggesting new ways of working or efficiencies that could help improve the business or a particular project
Putting forward out of the box ideas to better a brief, gain more engagement on social media or bring in new leads
Putting your hand up for new opportunities, saying yes to the networking event or opportunity to sit in on an important meeting
Coming up with solutions to problems yourself before expecting someone else to fix it
Taking initiative will look different pending the role but it’ll help you stand out immediately and build an amazing foundation with your team.
HOW THE F*CK DO YOU ACTUALLY MOVE ABROAD?
Our ABROAD series is where we chat to people who’ve packed up their careers (and their lives) and taken them somewhere new. Check out our interview with Chelsea Stewart, Senior Talent Agent at Digital Icon Agency, who gave us the lowdown on taking her career abroad to London.
JOBS WE WOULD APPLY FOR IF WE WEREN’T ALREADY EMPLOYED
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UNTIL NEXT MONTH...
There's business & there's pleasure…
MWA,
&PLEASURE xo
