Read Online They Don't Teach Corporate in College by Alexandra Levit - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alexandra Levit
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beginning, before documents start flooding in.
Espionage
Whether youâre thrown headfirst into a project or left alone to stare at the walls of your cubicle, the most important thing you can do at the beginning of a new job is to pay attention. You donât have to be a CIA operative to harness the power of smart observation. Simply keep your eyes and ears open, and you will become an expert at mastering the organizational culture of which you are now a part. I know youâre eager to let the company know who you are and what youâre all about, but keep in mind that the most successful employees are the ones who effectively assimilate into their companyâs culture.
Do your best to lay low in the beginning. Take the time to study every aspect of your new organization, including how people present themselves, how they work together, and how they interact with executives, managers, and clients. What are the written and unwritten rules of engagement? Itâs particularly useful to watch how employees conduct non-company business during the workday so that you can get a sense of how personal breaks, email, and phone calls will be tolerated. As you learn, begin to adapt your behavior and work style to suit the work environment.
Examine your companyâs Website, annual report, and recruiting materials for clues about its mission, goals, image, and values. Is your company more focused on forging ahead in the market or delivering superior customer service? Is the culture guided by competition or cooperation? Is it more important for employees to be solely focused on hardcore business realities or to be well-rounded in their professional and personal lives? If these things are difficult todetermine through written materials, you may need to scope out your work area. On my first day at a Fortune 500 company, for example, I noticed a book of photographs on my bossâs desk. The book, which my company had produced, featured pictures of children in the on-site daycare center. The following week, area schools were closed. I was not surprised to see my colleagues bringing their children into work for a company-sponsored holiday camp. In no time at all, I had become aware of the importance of family in that culture.
Remember that although the professional world is the same in many ways, cultures vary dramatically from organization to organization. Just because it was perfectly acceptable to order snacks for an afternoon brainstorming session at your old place of business doesnât mean that your new boss will consider this to be a legitimate expense. Developing a good understanding of your new companyâs culture will unquestionably serve you well as you look for ways to make a contribution.
Operating the HR Machine
The first time I had to fill out a W-2 form, I had no idea what I was doing. I was too embarrassed to ask about it at orientation, so I just fudged it. Unfortunately, come tax time, I owed the government a whole lot of money because I had mistakenly put down that I had a dependent. I wasnât planning on this expense at all and I ended up having to borrow money from my parents.
Brian, 22, Louisiana
When youâre grooming your professional persona for a multitude of new colleagues and spying on the company culture, doing right by the human resources department may seem like the least of your challenges. If youâre tempted to think about it this way, just remember that HR hired you, and they also have the power to make trouble for you, if so inclined. Learning the ropes early in your career with a company wonât take much time, but it will inevitably save you major headaches later on.
The New Hire Folder
On your first day, you will probably be asked to fill out a âHello, My Name Isâ sticker and show up to an orientation for new hires. This event will typically feature overly enthusiastic guest speakers, generic orientation videos, and a tedious page-by-page review of a
Espionage
Whether youâre thrown headfirst into a project or left alone to stare at the walls of your cubicle, the most important thing you can do at the beginning of a new job is to pay attention. You donât have to be a CIA operative to harness the power of smart observation. Simply keep your eyes and ears open, and you will become an expert at mastering the organizational culture of which you are now a part. I know youâre eager to let the company know who you are and what youâre all about, but keep in mind that the most successful employees are the ones who effectively assimilate into their companyâs culture.
Do your best to lay low in the beginning. Take the time to study every aspect of your new organization, including how people present themselves, how they work together, and how they interact with executives, managers, and clients. What are the written and unwritten rules of engagement? Itâs particularly useful to watch how employees conduct non-company business during the workday so that you can get a sense of how personal breaks, email, and phone calls will be tolerated. As you learn, begin to adapt your behavior and work style to suit the work environment.
Examine your companyâs Website, annual report, and recruiting materials for clues about its mission, goals, image, and values. Is your company more focused on forging ahead in the market or delivering superior customer service? Is the culture guided by competition or cooperation? Is it more important for employees to be solely focused on hardcore business realities or to be well-rounded in their professional and personal lives? If these things are difficult todetermine through written materials, you may need to scope out your work area. On my first day at a Fortune 500 company, for example, I noticed a book of photographs on my bossâs desk. The book, which my company had produced, featured pictures of children in the on-site daycare center. The following week, area schools were closed. I was not surprised to see my colleagues bringing their children into work for a company-sponsored holiday camp. In no time at all, I had become aware of the importance of family in that culture.
Remember that although the professional world is the same in many ways, cultures vary dramatically from organization to organization. Just because it was perfectly acceptable to order snacks for an afternoon brainstorming session at your old place of business doesnât mean that your new boss will consider this to be a legitimate expense. Developing a good understanding of your new companyâs culture will unquestionably serve you well as you look for ways to make a contribution.
Operating the HR Machine
The first time I had to fill out a W-2 form, I had no idea what I was doing. I was too embarrassed to ask about it at orientation, so I just fudged it. Unfortunately, come tax time, I owed the government a whole lot of money because I had mistakenly put down that I had a dependent. I wasnât planning on this expense at all and I ended up having to borrow money from my parents.
Brian, 22, Louisiana
When youâre grooming your professional persona for a multitude of new colleagues and spying on the company culture, doing right by the human resources department may seem like the least of your challenges. If youâre tempted to think about it this way, just remember that HR hired you, and they also have the power to make trouble for you, if so inclined. Learning the ropes early in your career with a company wonât take much time, but it will inevitably save you major headaches later on.
The New Hire Folder
On your first day, you will probably be asked to fill out a âHello, My Name Isâ sticker and show up to an orientation for new hires. This event will typically feature overly enthusiastic guest speakers, generic orientation videos, and a tedious page-by-page review of a
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