What’s the best way to ask for help? Many common, intuitive thinking around asking for help are often huge misconceptions and quite unproductive. Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran digs into the science of why so many of us are willing to offer help but reluctant to ask for it, learns what makes some people better at it than others, and busts lasting myths around what prevents us from unlocking the true benefits of asking for help. This episode features author and professor Wayne Baker, and...

Steven Rogelberg, organizational psychologist at UNC Charlotte, has some of the best advice when it comes to making meetings productive at work, especially 1:1 meetings. These are some of my favourite excerpts from Rogelberg's book Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings.  If you have a career question you want us to cover? Tell us. This episode was written and hosted by Akshaya Chandrasekaran, and produced by Anushka Mukherjee, with audio engineering by Rajiv CN.  The First Two...

“I don’t add any real value to the team”  “I don’t know how good any of my ideas are”  “I am not good enough”  Imposter syndrome. You’ve probably heard about it. You’re probably experiencing it right now. And you’re not alone. Two weeks back, we at The Ken put out a survey on imposter syndrome. Since then we have received over 115 responses from young professionals in the 18-25 age group. The survey was titled “Are you good enough at your job?” You probably took the survey. I read and...

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang wants to completely do away with 1:1 meetings. “They (1:1s) are really not necessary. If there is a strategic direction, why do you tell one person? You tell everybody,” he said.  Most 1:1s meetings are ineffective, inconsistent, and often futile. In companies that mandate it, it is simply a check in the box. Employees use it to lobby for promotion, crib about annoying co-workers, or overshare personal details. So, managers hijack these meetings and turn them into...

You want to be visible at work, build a reputation, and be known for your strengths. Research suggests that there is no guarantee that putting your head down and doing good work pays off. Neither can you always count on your manager to notice and amplify your achievements.  Self-promotion gets a bad rep because it sounds a lot like bragging. But if done well, it can be a game-changer at work. Learning how to talk about your strengths, accomplishments, highlights, and milestones, can help you...

​​Pearl embellished jeans. Pretty pink bows. Summery pinstripe vest. Vintage corset tops  2024 fashion is all about glitz, glam, and reminding everyone that we are no longer holed up in our houses. Sweatpants, the peak pandemic uniform, may be officially gone  For many Gen Z workers, this is probably the first time they are having an office job. They are inevitably romanticising the idea of going to work. Imagining themselves as the main character of a workplace. The new ‘corpcore’ or...

You made your first mistake at work – and it feels terrible. Maybe you messed up on an important project or failed to meet the expectations set for you. In your first two years, these mistakes can feel devastating. You don’t have years of experience to fall back on and it can feel like you’ll forever be defined by this mistake at the workplace.  The next few months can feel like an extended interview where everyone overanalyzes your subsequent moves. The pressure to regain the lost trust and...

In your first job, you can feel like a fish out of water. Confused, lost, and unsure of how to proceed. You don't have any connections or networks yet. You've just got a foot in the door. At this juncture, finding a mentor can dramatically change your career trajectory. Research suggests that just having a mentor can improve your performance at work and having a strong relationship with a mentor can directly result in promotions and raises.  The truth is nobody wants more mentees. But you...

Most fresh graduates quit their first job within the next six to twelve months of joining, according to a survey by The Ken. The top three reasons were toxic managers, disagreements with the workplace culture, and most interestingly, a want for more challenging work. More and more young, ambitious, and curious professionals prefer shorter stints not because they are unhappy, but because they realised they could be happier. And it may not be such a bad thing. But only if it is done...

Your workplace loves therapy-speak. Everyone seems to know and use the mental health lingo. That meeting was “triggering,” your boss “gaslit” you into doing something, and your colleagues want you “hold space” for them and do all the “emotional labour” at work. What should you do – give in or give up? Neither, there’s a way out.  In this episode of The First Two Years, we ask and answer some of these questions. Are there downsides to casual therapy-speak? What do these words actually mean?...

You’re at your first job. But it…sucks. Quitting isn’t quite frankly feasible at the moment given the current job market.  So, what do you do?  In the pilot episode of The First Two Years, we learn how to turn a job that you have into a job that you want. How do you inch your responsibilities toward things you enjoy and change how you think about your work?  Host Akshaya Chandrasekaran talks with people on both sides of the table, a fresh graduate about to start his new job and someone who’s...

The first two years of our careers are hard. They are exciting and full of possibilities, but also frustrating and anxiety-inducing.  Every interaction, every assignment, and every initiative seems to hold promise and uncertainty in equal measure.  Do you have to love your job? Must your colleagues also be your friends? Is it okay to feel restless after just six months? Did your boss offer you feedback or criticism, and does the difference matter? Is it okay to be seen as ambitious? Can...