Starting your first full-time job is really, really exciting. It can also be a little bit — or maybe a lot — intimidating. Everyone else there knows things: where the good bathroom is, where to sit in meetings, what to say to impress the boss. They all seem so … professional. Meanwhile, you’re over here wondering when the awkward’s going to stop.

But they hired you for a reason. You are awesome, and you’ve got this. We want to help you crush it, so we turned to the (also awesome) Ellevest team for some words of wisdom. Here’s our advice for starting out in your first full-time job.

Show ’em how great you are

First up: How to be a Professional Go-Getter. How to make people see fire emojis when they look at your work. How to get ahead in your job. Aka: What they probably didn’t teach you in school.

“Ask for book or podcast recommendations from your boss and company leaders. Read and listen to what they're trying to learn about. That way, when the time is right, you’ll have perspective to add to strategic conversations, and your opinion will be informed by materials you know they find relevant.”
— Joanna Curran, people operations manager

“Become the go-to person for something — you’ll naturally become that person if you’re super curious about a specific area and are obsessed with learning as much as you can about it. Being that person others come to for answers is one of the best ways to gain visibility and feel valued, especially in your first job. It’s also a good way to get recognized and get more responsibility.”
— Rajesh Jayaraman, chief technology officer

Set a path to your $$$

Every time you earn a raise, Future You feels a little more financially secure. And the raises you earn now set the stage for the raises you’ll get in the future. But to negotiate a raise effectively, you have to put in the work to earn it first.

“Take time to understand the priorities of your company and team. Perfection meant a lot in school, but delivery means more on the job.”
— Monica Gallegos, senior software engineer

Put your money to work, too

Your first adulting job probably also means your first adulting salary. Which means you are probably jumping feet-first into the world of managing your money. Good news — good habits can start now.

“I wish I’d learned that ‘salaried, full-time job’ doesn't give me permission to spend like crazy. Learning to simply live within my means was huge when I got my first full-time job. I really wished that I’d learned how to create a budget (and follow it) much sooner, pre-credit card debt.”
— Kaitlyn Manlove, QA manager

Another one coming your way: Here are the money moves we recommend for new college grads.

Self-care is key

Part of financial self-care is career self-care. Because work and professional relationships are emotionally complex, and they will take a toll on you. And you can’t be your best at work if you don’t make space for your own wellness.

“Make a cheesy folder in your inbox called ‘Happy.’ Keep every happy email that makes you smile (great feedback from your boss, joy from a client, etc). This will mean a ton to you on your rougher days.”
— Kaitlyn Manlove, QA manager

“Take more risks. If you fail, you have plenty of time to recover.”
— Peter Yuen, director of investments for Ellevest Digital

“Working hard is good, and going above and beyond — when it’s warranted — is good, too. But don’t martyr yourself. Resist the urge to work on nights and weekends just to ‘get ahead.’ Don’t sacrifice your mental health just to show them how hardworking you can be. That’s how you burn yourself out. Instead, communicate and prioritize with your manager. Hard work is an action; time management is a skill.”
— Deedi Brown, senior editor and content strategist

We hope this helps. Now get out there and slay — and remember us when you’re CEO of the world.

Disclosures