{"id":129638,"date":"2026-04-05T22:00:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T21:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.society19.com\/uk\/?p=129638"},"modified":"2026-04-05T22:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T21:00:16","slug":"how-to-speak-up-for-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.society19.com\/uk\/how-to-speak-up-for-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Speak Up For Yourself When You’re New To A Career"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a daunting world, the workforce. The real life. Adulting. Like, actually being in a job you might want to be in for an extended period of time \u2013 maybe even have a career<\/em> in. As millenials, a lot of us have gotten accustomed to the idea of working dead-end service industry jobs or menial office jobs for the rest of our lives (of course, nothing wrong with these jobs, and some people do enjoy them). We are, therefore, very much unprepared when we, somehow, magically get one of those jobs we really wanted, which is why it is important to know how to speak up for yourself in this type of scenario.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in this boat, congratulations \u2013 you\u2019ve just taken your first step in your<\/em> career. As the new person in the office, especially a young one, it can be hard figuring out how to speak up for yourself. You go in wanting to please everyone and to make sure that you\u2019re like by your colleagues. Sometimes, though, this can backfire \u2013 especially when it starts taking a toll on you. Here are a few pointers on how speak up for yourself when you\u2019re new to a career.<\/p>\n

\n<\/h6>\n

1. Fake it till you make it. Even the most confident person in the office has been new to a career once. Not many people ooze confidence naturally: even those who make it seem effortless are, more often than not, faking it.<\/p>\n

2. Make yourself seen and heard. When you\u2019re new to a career, it\u2019s easy to sink under the radar. However, if you want to make sure that those above you know who you are, make sure you make a good first impression during your first week. Ask your boss or supervisor if you can schedule a meeting to chat about the industry. Even if they don\u2019t have the time, they\u2019ll appreciate the initiative and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

3. Know what is expected of you in your role, and don\u2019t do anything that isn\u2019t. This is especially true at unpaid internships \u2013 if your boss is expecting you to work overtime for no pay, make sure you set firm limits early on. It may be valuable experience and good for networking, you don\u2019t bend over backwards \u2013 especially if you\u2019re not getting paid for your work. An easy way to do is to simply say, \u2018I can\u2019t right now as my hours have finished \u2013 I\u2019ll look at it first thing tomorrow\u2019.<\/p>\n

4. Learn to say no. You can easily begin to spread yourself too thin if you say yes to everything that\u2019s asked of you.<\/p>\n

\n<\/h6>\n

5. If you feel overwhelmed by the work, speak to someone. They can find someone to help you out, or give you tips or tricks on how to best go about your tasks. Simply asking for how to best prioritise the tasks on your plate is usually enough!<\/p>\n

6. Remember that you\u2019re there to learn. You learning how to be good at what you do benefits the company, too \u2013 there are no stupid questions. It\u2019s always easier to ask for help when you\u2019re unsure than to have to explain why you\u2019ve messed something up.<\/p>\n

7. If you mess up, own up to it \u2013 you\u2019re new, they don\u2019t expect you to be perfect at your job.<\/p>\n

8. Be assertive, not aggressive. If you think you have a good idea, stick by it \u2013 but listen to what others have to say, too.<\/p>\n

\n<\/h6>\n

9. Trust your instincts. If your gut\u2019s telling you something is amiss, it\u2019s usually right. When it comes to learning how to speak up for yourself, this is really important!<\/p>\n

10. If there is a problem, find someone above you whom you feel comfortable with and bring it up with them. You deserve to feel comfortable in your place of work, too.<\/p>\n

11. Before you go to speak up about something you know might get you irritated or angry, make sure you\u2019ve planned what you\u2019re going to say \u2013 write it down if need be. This way, you\u2019ll be going in prepared, and will come off as assertive and articulate.<\/p>\n

12. If you\u2019re sick or unwell, speak up for yourself. There\u2019s no point in you being at work if you can\u2019t actually do your job. This is especially true for those suffering with mental health issues, or for women who experience crippling period pains. There\u2019s no shame in needing the time off.<\/p>\n

What do you think of these tips on how to speak up for yourself? Let us know in the comments below!<\/h2>\n

Featured Image Source: www.pinterest.com<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s a daunting world, the workforce. The real life. Adulting. Like, actually being in a job you might want to be in for an extended period of time \u2013 maybe even have a career in. As millenials, a lot of us have gotten accustomed to the idea of working dead-end service industry jobs or menial…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24416,"featured_media":129643,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":true},"categories":[1801,1803],"tags":[13959,13960,11167,13958,11166],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-129638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-in-real-world","category-young-professionals","tag-new-in-the-office","tag-speak-up-for-yourself","tag-tips-for-young-professionals","tag-work-advice","tag-young-professionals"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow To Speak Up For Yourself When You're New To A Career - 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