College Habits That Don't Fly In the Workplace | The Financial Diet 

Looking to create good habits post college? Chelsea shares some tips in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oOXUSDDxLxc.html.

Everyone who says this is depressing is right, but I'm glad this video is out there, the reality is that your opinion doesn't need to be heard at all times in the workplace, you shouldn't treat all your co workers as friends, and you can't act and sound unprofessional. Thanks guys for this video

I'm surprised punctuality wasn't mentioned! It seems obvious but the hardest adjustment for me so far was having to work on a set schedule that's more convenient for my employer and not me. With that, I had to make a lot of adjustments, including my sleeping time, my volunteering commitments, and other things I do outside of work. Also, when I was in undergrad, all that mattered was whether I got the work done or not, it didn't matter where or when. I miss setting my schedule and being able to work in different settings (home, library, Cafe, etc), because that doesn't fly in most professional settings. To this day sometimes I get annoyed when I have to stay in my office for a few more hours even though I've finished all my tasks for the day because I think about what I could be getting done at home with this time.

Generally good points, but I'll disagree with #1 a bit. My experience has been that you obviously can't be afraid of talking on the phone or in person, but email is a ton more important. It's vital to have written backup of decisions that are made and actions that are taken. The last thing I want to do is take an action based on what someone tells me on the phone or in person then have to try to justify it later on without some sort of proof. So don't be afraid to approach someone in person or call them, but also make sure you have a paper trail you can turn to later should you need it.

Honestly a lot of these points in these videos seem kind of weird so here are mine. 1) You have to be on time. 2) You can't just skip whenever you want. 3) Treat everyone with respect and kindness. Not everyone will be your friend but it doesn't hurt to be kind and friendly. 4) You cant just show up in sweats every day. You have to put in a little bit of effort into your appearance. 5) Communication is key. If you have a question or need help dont be afraid to ask. If you wont be in the office make sure to remind people and designate your tasks to others if needed. Etc.. 6) People arent going to pick up your slack. Do the work and do it well. Dont half ass it. The team is counting on you. 7) Don't get involved in workplace drama, at the end of the day just isnt worth it to gossip. 8) You can't wait until the last minute. You have to spread your work out over a given time to meet deadlines. 9) Be sure to find hobbies outside of work. It's easy to get consumed in work but find something you can do in your spare time that you truly enjoy. It isn't as depressing as this video sounds. You can do it!

I think I'm pretty much good on all points except the being friends with coworkers and talking about sensitive topics (with said friends/coworkers). Then again, we're all PhD students, so... almost students? One thought I wanted to leave with you is: It's pretty difficult to not talk about sensitive topics when your life is considered a sensitive topic by some. A.k.a. I'm a woman; I have a girlfriend... Unless I say nothing of my life ever or chose to outright lie, any conversation that isn't purely work-related will end up in the sensitive topic area for some people. Not that I go full militant on people, but when people ask me what I did last weekend, I'll answer "Went on a hike with my girlfriend." And I don't think that is something that I am willing to change.

Regarding fillers: this really depends on the country. In Japan using fillers is more polite and natural than leaving a little speaking gap.

Honestly the bulk of your first job after college/university is unlearning the last 3/4 years of your life. Critical thinking, debate and ideas, nope. Do this thing for 9 hours and sit in front of a shitty old computer. Don't think, don't change, don't challenge. University is the only time you're ever truly free to explore and embrace intellectualism. Oh, and enjoy moving back home after living independently for a few years! Enjoy the debt!

#5 about the default friends is so true. Especially if you are the only recent student. You have to realize that these adults you are now working with have their own established lives, habits, friends etc. They are not obligated to make friends with you, time is precious, and they have already allocated theirs to their own friends, family obligations, activities and so on. You will get this too, just be you and be patient!

apparently college is the new high school...? I learned all of these things in college, not in the workplace.

Christ what is college like in the states? All of these things seem like common sense.

The verbal filler was almost impossible to listen to, lol.

this video just scared me a lot, it sounds as if i have to stop being a person after i graduate.

Is like to add that the skill of drawing out a paper to 10+ pages doesn't generally fly in the workplace either. Keep it shirt under sweet and to the point!

While some of these points are valid, I feel like this kind of environment for work, especially not being able to express opinions, is dangerously restricting. Only listening to the opinions of the boss can be dangerous because it becomes totalitarian. The workplace is where most of our lives are spend. Should we suffer living under an environment where our opinions are not even heard and we are forced into the box of someone else's ideas?

As others have stated, I think the way TFD has addressed verbal filler here is too simplistic and I was surprised at how accusatory this point felt, probably more so than if I were a male viewer. As a woman, I have actually often found myself far *better* perceived as "professional" when I use verbal filler, lest I come off as too "bossy". TFD is amazing, I understand that you were perhaps trying to give this caveat when you mentioned that how one speaks has little to do with intelligence, but I think this is a complicated issue. Perhaps what is more important is addressing the fact that, very unfortunately, women and gender nonconforming individuals have to bear the burden of reading a room more deftly than men do in order to react to it in a way that doesn't compromise their job or professionalism.

I am happy that I do not need to work in the US. Many of your points are 100% no goes. But some of them seem arbitrary and limiting.

Re: Sob Story Emails: I teach college composition and even I'm annoyed when a student emails me about why they're not in class. Many students - especially 18 year old freshmen - think they can get an absence excused if they email me, and then they're disappointed when they're marked absent or not given credit for late work. Sob story emails should never be part of your life!

I used to be terrified of using the phone so I just threw myself in headfirst and got a part time job at a call centre which was so helpful

Conversation about politics do happen in the workplace but they go like this: The government sucks blah blah the end

it's just like idk like i feel like verbal filler is like used by women because idk like we are used to like idk not being taken seriously? and like sometimes when we idk try and use declarative normal statements we're like totally seen as like bitchy and bossy and like all of those dumb terms! like idk whenever i talked like that in my college classes it was so like i didn't get called aggressive and bossy like i have in the past! so like idk i'm not an expert but like y'all seem like really educated feminists so idk i would've like preferred a little um side note about that and why it's important as a woman to unlearn talking like that bc it's like obviously really unprofessional but how it can be like really hard to unlearn bc omg!!! men are the worst!! but like, i get it and otherwise i think this video and your blog are like totally awesome!! i know this video is like ten minutes long but that like really bothered me because it's not something i like want to do on purpose!!!

Not everyone works in an office. I'm middle aged and have a couple of careers under my belt already. I've worked ambulance, hospitality and grocery and every job was very accepting of me expressing myself through how I looked. Both of you lovely young ladies have some wonderful tips for those entering the workforce but the lack of life experience is obvious.

This video is seriously depressing...

I actually had a communications class that my college requires (most people take it freshman year) where the professor would count the number of vocal fillers you used, and start docking points if you went above a certain number. I haven't quite finished my degree yet (just one year out), but that was honestly one of the most valuable things I've learned so far.

Well this is kind of depressing

The thing about verbal filler is I think it's important to note that it's been studied and generally there is a correlation with the amount of empathy people tend to be. There is also the distinguishing characteristic that people who use less of it have more common workplace phrases.

I love this channel but also I'm going in to a field that I feel like a lot of their advice doesn't apply to. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting mixed signals.

I'm British, currently at university, and in my experience the "thinking big", professional communication and verbal filler things were mainly common in secondary school (11-16) and 6th Form (16-18), and we're encouraged to grow beyond them during university, but without too much shaming. We are encouraged to stretch ourselves intellectually, have big ideas, but also to go beyond the big ideas to the detail. I am doing a science course, which I couldn't pass without the attention to detail and perseverance needed to complete the practical coursework. We a taught how to succeed at that. I get to practice professional interaction when I interact with my lecturers and tutors. If you have a question or a problem you resolve it via email or ask for a meeting (by emailing). I know not to talk about politics with my Tutor. I cannot text her or message her on facebook. I sometimes use verbal filler around her and I'm never told off for it but I can tell that she respects me more when I speak properly. University shouldn't be the one time you get to be a teenager. Be a teenager (find yourself, have your over-ambitious ideas, express yourself via hair) when you're actually a teenager. University is a time for enjoying that, but also for growing up and learning how to be a professional adult in an environment that is supportive as well as challenging.

To summarize number 3: Talk less, smile more. I always knew Aaron Burr was right.

I think a lot of us need this advice regardless of how far/experienced someone is in their working life, but especially for those who are newer into the working world. I think another thing that is likely going to be helpful for everyone in workplace is learning when and how to appropriately share their opinions/ideas, how to receive constructive feedback and how to appropriately disagree. Of course all opinions are important, but i think people who have “my way or high way” type of mentality or those who think everything is a debate and take everything personally might have a lot of difficulties. Yes, your options and feelings matter too, but yours also aren’t the only one that matter.

This would have been great when I started a few years ago. Everything is very true - on point, ladies!

what's funny is this happens so much at work. so many unprepared people.

Funny how a lot of comments on the verbal filler point are about the video being too simplistic or how women are not perceived the same way men are in the workplace (which and that most definitely can be true), but verbal fillers are not exclusively feminine and when I hear a young man using "like", "you know", or worse, "man", I view them exactly the same way I view a woman who would speak the way presented in the video. In the end, people talking about sexism fall victim to it too, because they forget that young men do use verbal fillers and they are judged negatively for it, but instead of being seen as a brainless, insecure barbie doll, they are seen as brainless, possible skater boy/meat head etc. Those assumptions might not be true in the slightest, or they can be, but the fact is that verbal fillers, up speak and maybe other speech characteristics do make people sound a bit stupid or like they lack confidence or even knowledge. Great video

I like that you guys keep it real and don't worry too much about hurting ppls feelings. I feel that very successful people often teach young ppl like myself that it's ok to slack off or be inappropriate if u have big dreams. I appreciate your honesty and that you guys realize that not everyone wants to be the next Casey Neistat but simply to do well in there field and in there work place.

thanks for making this video! it really helps a lot to know what is off limits when it comes to working and being professional

wow this makes me feel like I've done so many wrong things at my job!! I can't wait to transfer stores and start new!

It's difficult getting a job when you have social anxiety. I speak, but pause in the middle of sentences, and it's hard to get myself talking again. that's been an issue with my previous interviews.

So, talking about things via text: At my workplace, E-Mail is the main form of communication, with the phone being used for emergencies. (Since E-Mail is asynchronous) This is much better than using the phone for everything (I work remotely, btw), because you can easily review what was said. It is a big problem if things are being talked about verbally and you end up forgetting half of what was said. However, if I need clarification on things, I will often call my boss, since it is indeed quicker. Do not underestimate the importance of text-based communication, though! Opinions: I'm sorry, but if I think what my boss is suggesting is dumb, I will tell him so. (In, err, less inflammatory terms) If he is suggesting a solution that I think could be done better, I might just do it his way, though. If you have an opinion and can back it up, you should voice it. The last thing anybody wants is the project falling behind just because you were a sheep and couldn't think for yourself. Of course, if you can't back up your opinion... you shouldn't have it in the first place. But I guess that is just my opinion. Pulling all-nighters: Since I work remotely and to my own schedule, it's not such a big deal actually. If you need to be in an office at 9 am, though... yeah. Verbal filler: If used sparingly, verbal filler can be used to introduce some nuance to your statements. An example is actually in this comment: "In, err, less inflammatory terms". I could leave that out, but the "err" makes it seem like I'm thinking about what to say next, how to correct what I just said, since I obviously regret having said that and want to fix it. While the meaning doesn't change, it does add a bit of nuance and I don't think it should be generally put in a bad light. Of course, if every third word you speak if verbal filler... gtfo. Upspeak is also something I just cannot stand. I notice a lot of girls doing it and it is infuriating. Seriously, stop it. Appearance: Well, my bosses have never even seen me, so I guess it doesn't really apply to me, but I agree. You need to look at least somewhat normal if you work at an actual workplace. (Well, ok, the CEO has seen me, since I signed the contract with him. He was actually one of my professors) Talking about sensitive subjects: Just be careful until you know the other person. Everything else, I completely agree with.

Just recently found The Financial Diet and I am hooked. Thank you for creating and putting out such valuable content for young professionals trying to Figure It All Out. Cheers, ladies!

this is depressing and not really true for most workplaces unless they are exxxxtremely serious or stuffy.

I feel like this is more of a problem with common office environments. I hope to not have to work in an office full time (not only just for these reasons)

Really quite torn about the filler-speech thing..what do people think? I feel like using that kind of speech makes you more relatable, less intimidating, and invites more feedback when you're trying to get a discussion going. Perhaps not good when you're presenting something in a professional setting (basically trying to self-promote), but good in a chilled-out college group setting when you're not trying to set yourself up as better than anyone else?

Also one thing to remember: colleges, particularly american colleges, are VERY left wing biased. many science departments have 5-8 liberal professors for every conservative. So you get used to loudly proudly talking about liberal topics as if they are the absolute truth. Be prepared to meet people who will disagree with ideas you thought were unassailable facts. Sometimes the person you talk to will be wrong, but other times you'll be wrong, be open to it.

I would die at work if I couldn't talk about intelligent topics such as politics, ethics, sex. I couldn't bare the weather talk or the "what did you do in the weekend" talk. If people are prone to listen/to be open minded there is nothing wrong with sensitive subjects. They are actually the most rewarding topics. Please people talk about something that's worth talking about and not about what you ate for dinner. We are individuals with opinions and we should work in a place that accepts this and doesn't punish us for it.

I really love the candid way in which you express these essential things - great :)! As a college and school teacher, I also aspire to convey these points to my students ideally BEFORE they leave the safe space of the classroom/lecture hall, so they are not taken aback (or, and I quote, "bullied") by completely normal rules of conduct in a workplace. Life after college is great for realizing the really important life lesson that a different stage in life will always call for a different set of habits - it's growing in its most basic form, and it's not about losing yourself, it's about redefining your behaviour and, as such, a great chance to ask yourself what you wish to pursue professionally and as a person! PS: it's not completely acceptable to text your professor a sob story, they're enraged nonetheless ;) ... (but might not show it - I do!)

Great advice, but this video did not relate to the show's focus of helping viewers become more financially responsible. TFD talks about College frequently, but usually in the context of how to help students save or budget to control avoidable debt. As a subscriber, I would prefer the videos to remain closer to the core values of the channel.

Does Chelsea practice those hand movements before she speaks or do they come naturally? They're incredibly on point.

This. ALL of this *especially in favor of the ones about friendships with coworkers. Definitely think it's important to be friendly but I was definitely running into the issue where my coworkers wanted me to hang out with them all the time (which was like nice of them to do that) but I didn't want to just b/c they cause a lot of drama and I didn't want to get sucked into that. Setting boundaries is hard

I can happily say that none of these things are things I do and I'm in my final year of college, that makes me feel slightly more prepared for graduation in May

I was surprised that not getting on social media (when it's not work related) wasn't on the list. Also, to echo someone below: punctuality is key when you have a full time job. I was working at a news station once and I was behind a major accident on the way to work. I had left with enough time to get to work a half hour early I was still 45 minutes away from being late and I called to say I would be late because of the accident.

lol, college in my country is the exact opposite of this US examples, I guess my college is like a work then :D Also sending your teacher a sob story? No one would do this in my college, so pathetic and embarasing

Aka: 101 reasons never to get an office job. I'd rather be a barista, be active and passionate in my work (and not shave if I sure don't want to) than pretend I'm a shiny, grayscale Go-to-Work Barbie doll

I recently just finished an internship with a small company after my 2nd year of college, and the employers I have worked for so far (be it limited) have looked for more people to speak up on their informed opinions. They realize that the company will not go anywhere if they continue to look only from their point of view, especially when it comes to marketing. And by speaking up to my boss, we were able to implement an international marketing strategy which has already increased sales enough to cancel out the initial investment. So I don't think you should be a sheep, but present your opinions (even if contradictory) in a professional manner.

I'm glad that in the graphic design field, we can pretty much express ourselves however we want appearance-wise 🦁

Nailed it! I also could not stop laughing at the "verbal filler" section! Laughing because it's sooo true. Thanks for this.

None of these really apply to my graduate job; for example, my job has its own messenger system that everyone uses for everything!

You can make most this shit fly if you have social skills and you work hard. Also messaging is literally the most efficient way to check in and discuss things, I use the Skype for business chat constantly at work. Every professional I work with thinks too many meetings are bullshit and calling people is a massive waste of time sometimes

so... be a sheep? no thanks. luckily in aus we have an antidiscrimination act.

Beware of mistaking coworkers for friends!! Straight out of college I got an office job and shared an office with another woman. I thought this woman was my “friend” because we generally got along and had nice conversations. But, every time I would, or seemed to be, off task, she would run to our manager and and spill the beans. Not saying you should be off task at work and be mad when the consequences hit, but be aware that not everyone is your friend and won’t mind if you check Facebook for five minutes.

Excellent video! I'm still in college but this is giving me a lot to think about before applying for internships.

Love these videos! You provide such excellent and accurate advice!

Lmaooooo y'all have never worked in the UK. Getting in hungover on a Thursday is more or less the norm😂

My college had me in charge of 200 people responsible for their welfare, training, and morale by the time I hit senior year. I had to always be on my toes and know everything, and be the walking standard I wanted my subordinates to be at. This included disciplining those under me and sometimes passing decisions that could possibly affect their entire lifestyle. I’m curious how other colleges even prepare their students since this video is very much common sense.

Sad but true. I hope it changes one of these days.

Thanks for making this! I'm just starting college, so I have time to kill these habits as they try to start.

Geez at 24 a lot of this is common for me, I'm guessing that a lot of this applies to people even younger then me lol.

This is so helpful. Really. Thank you so much.

Great video! Sob story e-mails :D PhD students are a bit different and post-docs as well but that still counts as a workplace though

This is advice is spot on. Most of it is common sense but I'ver had to learn some it the hard way.

I was a big victim of #6... drinking the night before is a terrible idea. multiple times, thinking it would be okay without using logic.

I realize that my work environment is very laid back...

You two produce great videos! ☺

This is as sad as it is true. This is the talking-to that is easier to accept from people that are professionals and also not much older than most people finishing college. My parents gave me a similar talk and in my head I thought: "You mean well, but this is so 30 years ago". Sadly, it isn't.

Idk. Calling emails "sob stories" seems a little much. Yes, rambling emails can be annoying. What about the people who have legit reasons for not coming to work for an extended period of time, like people who are severely depressed or had a death in the family or are having a recurrence of a mental illness? I feel like this video encourages them not to "sob story" to their boss, which can decrease empathy and understanding in the workplace. The boss sometimes needs to know the full story, and that can be succient, but still a saddening situation.

This is bleak and depressing but thanks for the honesty about money for food vs individuality.

really good video very on the spot

A lot of these things don't fly in college either. A student may not get kicked out of college for them, as an employee might be fired, but it doesn't reflect well. And for the comments regarding verbal filler: assuming that only women do it, or that TFD is only speaking to women about it, is a pretty sexist angle to take when attacking TFD for not going into a lecture on linguistics and feminism.

Speaking of looking put-together, where do you shop? I'm looking for decent casual business attire and it is hard to find.

Great tips!!

I wasn't allowed to use filler words back before high school.....

2:28 "Being default friends with people the the office" 😂

I love this channel!

What kind of school has unlimited meal swipes??? My cafeteria is awful but we have expensive meal plans which limits how much we can eat

this might be obvious but have a normal email adress. just make one when you start college. you're going to need it seriously. when i started uni we had to make a list with phone numbers and email addresses and there was s guy who's address was george_the_boss at gmail or something. seriously who do you think you are. also another had a her name and a nickname very difficul to spell. i also had to loom through submitted resumes at my office and thete were a few hilarious addresses. your email doesn't have to contain your hair color. just make a normal email address with you name and you won't be embarrassed.

as soon as i go to share my ideas i definitely lose confidence. it's as though I forget all of my vocabulary and can't get my ideas across to people. As soon as. I can't think of a word, I stumble and get a brain fart.

Nothing makes me more relieved to be doing freelance work than these videos. Honestly how much more depressing can you make life seem? Literally how can you make life seem so awful. Bland af content

Being a professional doesn't mean you have to be a robot. Lol.

Love this!

clicked on the vid because they used university of Melbourne 's architecture building as their thumbnail.

Thanks great video

The real world sounds like a stifling and mindless place...

It really depends on the kind of workforce you enter as many of the specific tips you two gave is for a corporate kind. But even so, they are generally applicable to any workplace. Be you but be part of the team and that means compromises - which don't have to mean a Win-Lose scenario. You don't get a job done by not being dependable (being there and completing your work on the set deadline) to your boss, workmates, and clients/ customers (directly & indirectly). I didn't have much of these problems in the workplace as I grew up with many adults (teachers included) who gave realistic advise & expectations about work and peers who gave thought to life after school, so I had time to adjust. Still, thanks for this video. I can direct this to someone who wants a better idea about the actual workforce environment.

lol #2 is the opposite here in Spain. we have 3 course meals every day for lunch 😂 but I think this video is not very accurate with todays society of companies implementing the start up life of letting there employees be more free to do whatever they want of drinking at work, playing games pretty much being creatively free.

Well part of the reason i never pursued college for a career, and still dont have a career myself is how depressing some of this stuff is. Not that its a success story or anything xD I think much of it is valid. But the not talking about important things with work mates when you do have that available time, or if you work in a place where how you look isnt presented to customers or clients or its not a key part of your job then how you present yourself shouldnt matter so much (within certain limits, aka coverage, sloppiness, hygiene). Why is it more important to maintain a neutral environment when you arnt "presenting a united front" to an audience. If everyone was used to wearing whatever, would people really pay so much attention to that? Anyways, i understand making fashion sacrifices to a degree, but if that career is going to be your life, and certain work traditions are unnecessary, i tend to balance that against my happiness and mental health. For all we know you only get one life, and you have to consider the amount of sacrifices you are willing to make for a business that is paying you to not be you on their time. So if the job isnt creative, i cant dress creatively, i cant express creative opinions on how to improve the work, something will change.

woo, Lauren looking hot with that shoulder tilt toward the end!

It's crazy how different workplaces are, my boss has purple hair and I have a septum piercing. I work in behavioral therapy and I seem to have noticed that I was lucky enough to get hired into a company that is not too caught up with being so professional in appearance. I know this is not like other workplaces but I just still think it's very interesting how different workplaces can be

"...like.." is southern California 1985

The military teaches us this as well.

I don't befriend very many people in my highschool

Go hard on a Tuesday lol