Why it's OK to start from the bottom

It's OK to start at the bottom. You’ll have to do it in a lot of industries when you enter a new career. After all, everyone starts somewhere.

When you're interning or taking on an entry-level job, you’ll usually have to start from scratch. Sometimes, that’s disheartening. However, beginning a new career is an exciting new adventure and working your way up from the bottom is a common route to success.

Here are some of the reasons why it’s fine to start a career from the bottom:

• You’ll learn a lot
• You’ll receive more support
• You’ll master admin skills
• You’ll gain a valuable perspective
• You’ll build strong relationships

When you start at the bottom, you’ll learn new things as you go. With your first job, you’ll learn the ropes of the world of work. Office, video call and meeting etiquette are just as important as your role-specific responsibilities.

Plus, never underestimate how much a workplace values someone who knows how to work the coffee machine, print documents and order a courier to deliver something to a client. As you develop over the years, having these nuggets of knowledge will make you stronger professionally.

One of the reasons the bottom is a great place to begin your career is the fact you’ll normally receive more training.

As you don’t have previous experience, your colleagues won’t expect you to know everything (or even anything). They’ll know you’re new to the industry and will help you get to grips with the job – whether formally or informally.

If you somehow jump in at a higher level, colleagues will assume you have more knowledge than you do. While sometimes this means you’ll get to challenge yourself, you risk being out of your depth – which is stressful. When you start at the bottom, you’ll build up your knowledge and confidence at a natural pace rather than having to fake it until you make it.

Whether you like it or not, you’ll usually have an element of admin as part of any job role – particularly in corporate environments. Administration is at the heart of all businesses.

When you start at the bottom, you’ll almost certainly do admin-based tasks. While some jobs will seem mundane, you’ll gain valuable insights into business operations. Those admin skills will come in handy throughout your career. As you climb the ladder, you’ll know how to deal with admin. Those who skip steps might come unstuck when they face supposedly ‘simple’ tasks they’ve never done before.

You'll also always have a fair amount of admin to sort in your general life. So, acquiring organisational skills will stand you in good stead. Be ready to become the designated booker for all group holidays!

No job is beneath you. The moment you think it is, question whether you're becoming the kind of colleague that you want to be.

No matter what stage your career reaches in the future, having had experience in junior roles will make you appreciate the value of various positions in the business.

If you want to be a great leader, understanding others is key. Having a variety of experiences under your belt will broaden your mind and make you a better leader.

If you rise through the ranks in the same organisation, you’ll get to know people across departments and seniority levels.

The more roles you take on, the more people you’ll meet – and the more relationships you’ll build that you’ll take forward in your career. Starting at the bottom is great for networking.

Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom because it won’t stop you from reaching the top. In fact, it’s the first step to getting there – if you want to climb the ladder, that is. Some jobs at the ‘bottom’ will already be rewarding roles, so it’s up to you which direction you take your career in.

When starting your career at the bottom, you’ll enjoy certain benefits. You’ll get to learn on the job, receive support from colleagues, improve your admin skills, gain an understanding of different roles and build long-lasting relationships. While you’ll have to accept a lower salary and mundane tasks, an entry-level job will get your career off to a great start – whatever you want to do in the future.

Not sure which industry will suit you? Find out with our career path test.