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Don’t be too hard on yourself, as a new grad you are not expected to “get” everything right away. Even if you were a new hire and had industry experience it probably wouldn’t all click at once. Unsolicited advice, don’t be afraid to ask questions, you look dumber wasting time trying to do something you don’t know how to do.
Find a buddy at work to bombard with questions, also the more senior you become the easier it gets to ask any stupid questions
It really feels like I was in your shoes such a short time ago! Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s really hard getting to know Pharma lingo, regulatory processes, and all that jazz. Here are some things that helped me:
1. GOOGLE- if someone says an acronym you don’t know, Google it
2. Pick a buddy and ask your basic Qs- if able, ask your manager these questions after you Google and don’t come up with anything. This shows initiative and that you care. These Qs can be anything from how long does it take to get a PDUFA date to is Leukemia a solid cancer
3. Continue taking notes and if able, record meetings- this saved me when I was on an account that went a. Mile a minute. I recorded meetings while taking notes and then listened back on 3x speed to ensure nothing slipped through. I then deleted the recordings.
4. Read read and listen- read the daily reports, listen to the Pharma podcasts, and immerse yourself in the industry.
5. Lastly, don’t be afraid to show enthusiasm even if you’re not well versed- I have been known to say this often “ I would love to take X on! I do want to flag this is the first time I’m involved in XYZ but I appreciate the ability to get my feet wet on this project. Do you mind if I circle back with any questions?”
#1 is good advice. I know "Google it" sounds obvious. But it surprises me how often people overlook Google as their first go-to resource. There is so much expertise & helpful information available online.
I'm a VP, but I still constantly look up acronyms, phrases, and questions. I like to arm myself with better answers and context using Google. I've had clients ask me questions that I have no idea how to answer, but after a few minutes of searching, I'm usually able to provide a helpful response that makes me (and our agency) look smart.
Google won't work for everything—particularly for things like internal agency processes or internal client acronyms. But you'd be surprised how often you can find info online you didn't think would be there.
Context from searching & reading helps, too. For instance, if you had to look up the acronyms SEM & SEO, you could quickly learn what those letters mean. But if you searched "What's the difference between SEM & SEO?" you'd find tons of quick reads and deep dives that would help you understand those two terms on a much deeper level.
I haven't spent much time using ChatGPT, but I plan to try it more. I have a feeling it could be a big help, too.
The hardest part is knowing what questions to ask. You don’t know what you don’t know.
Ask your manager to go through your notes with you or something like that to figure out what it is you wrote down.
If you’re given an assignment that you don’t understand make sure you ask someone to walk you through an example of the deliverable asap before you start doing the wrong thing.
Trust me I spent the last two years going through your same frustrations, the right questions to ask will come.
Wow, thanks so much for that reply. Goes a long way in helping me
Don’t be to hard on yourself! It’s really hard getting to know all the abbreviations and processes. As a new grad, you are not expected to know everything right away! Don’t be afraid to ask questions and find a some buddies that you can ask them to.
When I started I made a word doc with all the abbreviations/pharma lingo and I still use it.
I also am I still learning new abbreviations and I have been at my company for almost 2 years!
You're not expected to know everything. Take this time to take notes on the dos and don'ts, and ask A LOT of questions. Each industry/client has their own acronyms and vocabulary, and ways of doing stuff. Schedule 1:1s so you can get more context/answers to questions. I've been in situations where I was thrown in with no clue vs had time to learn the process. If you're stressed and don't have proper training then I suggest asking to shadow your team and have more 1:1 time. If you're working remote, don't feel bad for messaging people multiple times. I graduated in 2020 and started working remote and now I'm working in person. It's your first job, time and practice will help. There's no rush. Good luck!
I would find a veteran in the role to connect with, and ask them if they have any space on their calendar for an hour or 2 to simply go over and walk through certain items you are struggling with (let them know the specifics in advance so they can be prepared).
In the past I also was placed in a position where the person I was replacing had left the company and no one else was really familiar with how that particular job role worked. I ended up finding that person on LinkedIn and asked to meet.
Don’t sweat it. It definitely takes time!
You have the right instincts - trying to connect dots. That is the role of account and it just takes a ton of practice and active listening.
But I get it, acronyms and jargon don’t really help. 😉
Stick with it.
https://customercentric.uark.edu/podcasts/advice-for-students-from-marketing-luminary-kevin-roberts
It does take time, so hang in there.
Every job I've ever taken, from entry level to VP, takes at least 3-6 months to begin to feel comfortable. Then another 3-6 months to really get into the groove.
Your first agency job can be the hardest to get used to. It might take 9 - 12 months. Maybe longer.
Lots of good suggestions here in terms of asking questions, finding a mentor, and other advice. But in the meantime, don't get frustrated that you don't know everything and that it's not all clicking at once.
Getting used to your first agency job is more like a marathon than a sprint. It'll take time, so keep plugging away as steadily as you can.