First Job Out of College
Browse the library

Topics.

Nine pillars, each with its own short stack of essential reads. Pick where you're stuck. Skip the rest until you need it.

Managing Up

1:1s, expectations, alignment, and the habits that make your manager trust you.

See all 14 →
  1. 01 First 1:1 with a new manager: the exact agenda The first meeting with a new manager sets the template for the relationship. Here's the 30-minute agenda that gets you 90 days of goodwill.
  2. 02 A reader asks: my manager gives zero feedback. How do I get some? When your manager isn't giving you feedback, the issue is rarely that they don't have any. They don't know what to give. Three questions that unlock it.
  3. 03 Week 1 Checklist: how to look competent in your first seven days A simple day-by-day plan for your first week: relationships, clarity, and one small win.
  4. 04 Status update template: the six-line update that buys you trust A short weekly status update you can send in Slack or email that prevents surprises and keeps you aligned.
  5. 05 Manager 1:1 agenda (the one that makes you look prepared) A weekly 1:1 structure that produces decisions, not vibes. Updates, blockers, calibration, and the discipline of recommend-don't-ask.
Meetings

Agendas, decisions, follow-ups — and how to stop meetings from eating your calendar.

See all 6 →
  1. 01 First 1:1 with a new manager: the exact agenda The first meeting with a new manager sets the template for the relationship. Here's the 30-minute agenda that gets you 90 days of goodwill.
  2. 02 Meeting rules: 7 habits that make you the person people want in the room Short rules for running crisp meetings: agendas, outcomes, and follow-ups — even if you're not the one in charge.
  3. 03 Manager 1:1 agenda (the one that makes you look prepared) A weekly 1:1 structure that produces decisions, not vibes. Updates, blockers, calibration, and the discipline of recommend-don't-ask.
Communication

Email/Slack tone, response times, escalation, and writing like a professional.

See all 16 →
  1. 01 How to Ask for Help Without Sounding Helpless (The 3-Part Ask) Three parts, in order. Context, what you tried, the specific ask. Stop making your manager do two jobs.
  2. 02 The coffee-chat script that isn't creepy Most early-career coffee-chat requests miss because they're either too vague or trying too hard. Here's the script that works — and the one that doesn't.
  3. 03 How to write a project brief your PM doesn't rewrite If your PM rewrites your briefs, the issue isn't writing quality. It's structure. A six-line template and the two sentences that tend to break.
  4. 04 Status update template: the six-line update that buys you trust A short weekly status update you can send in Slack or email that prevents surprises and keeps you aligned.
  5. 05 What is an executive summary? (and how to write one) A simple structure for a one-page summary that leaders will actually read.
Execution

How to ship work, manage risk, and build a reputation for follow-through.

See all 9 →
  1. 01 How to write a project brief your PM doesn't rewrite If your PM rewrites your briefs, the issue isn't writing quality. It's structure. A six-line template and the two sentences that tend to break.
  2. 02 The First 90 Days OS: your Week 1 boot sequence A simple Week 1 setup so you look competent fast: define success, build your note system, and stop guessing what matters.
  3. 03 Week 1 Checklist: how to look competent in your first seven days A simple day-by-day plan for your first week: relationships, clarity, and one small win.
  4. 04 Meeting rules: 7 habits that make you the person people want in the room Short rules for running crisp meetings: agendas, outcomes, and follow-ups — even if you're not the one in charge.
  5. 05 What is an executive summary? (and how to write one) A simple structure for a one-page summary that leaders will actually read.
Compensation

Raises, bonuses, offers, and the conversations that actually move your pay.

See all 3 →
  1. 01 Negotiating your first raise: scripts and timing How to ask for your first raise without torching the relationship — exact scripts, the timing that works, and what to do when the answer is no.
  2. 02 How to get promoted when there's no clear ladder Not every company has a neat level structure. When the ladder is fuzzy, the promotion path is a conversation — not a document. Here's how to run it.
Career Development

Goal setting, feedback loops, promotion paths, and what to optimize for in years 1–5.

See all 8 →
  1. 01 The coffee-chat script that isn't creepy Most early-career coffee-chat requests miss because they're either too vague or trying too hard. Here's the script that works — and the one that doesn't.
  2. 02 A reader asks: I'm benched as a first-year consultant — am I going to get fired? Three weeks isn't the problem. Three quiet weeks is. Here's how to flip the impression your staffing lead is currently building of you.
  3. 03 How to get promoted when there's no clear ladder Not every company has a neat level structure. When the ladder is fuzzy, the promotion path is a conversation — not a document. Here's how to run it.
  4. 04 A reader asks: I'm in FP&A and want to pivot to IB — is it too late? Corporate-finance-to-IB pivots are harder than people say, but more doable than the internet makes them sound. Here's what actually works.