5 Tips For Surviving In Corporate America
Whether it’s your first professional position working for a corporation or your fourth, there are always lessons to be learned both personal and professional to maximize your experiences for the corporate beast.
Now bear this in mind, it doesn’t have to be a huge company either – if your company has 6 employees or 600, the rules of the game are the same!
Each one of us has a varying back-story of work history. Some decide to stay home and work raising children and tending to their family while others decide to put the parenting on the back-burner and commit to achieving their degrees and develop a strong foothold in their professional careers. Whichever way you choose, eventually you will have to deal with the rules of the corporate shuffle – and that’s where things get tough. Some lessons were hard learned, others made through observations, but either way, some personal mistakes we make can be job threatening and that’s aside from the professional ones.
My back-story: Prior to meeting my husband, I had only completed one year of college and left school to be with him. At the age of 19, I was newly married and knew I wanted a family immediately. At the time, I wanted to develop a new skill that would allow me to work part-time while raising a family, and since I had always enjoyed makeup and was naturally good at cutting hair, I knew becoming a licensed cosmetologist would be a great option. Off I went to school and completed my coursework.
Directly after I completed school, I became pregnant with my first child and shortly after that my second. By the time my oldest was around 8 years old, I made a decision to start working part-time and went to my local salon and off I went to a new and exciting journey. Eventually, I worked full-time and that decision seemed to be a good fit.
Twenty or so years later, I knew I needed a new direction. I had yearned for a higher education degree all of my life and knew I had to listen to that calling. I enrolled in college and completed both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. You can read more about that experience here. I landed my first corporate position almost directly after the completion of my degrees and off I went into a new and exciting chapter of my life.
Working for a local salon and working in Corporate America, were two very different experience with one exception – they both involved dealing with humans. Looking back on both divergent roads, there were certain lessons I wish someone had taught me. It took years of often painful experiences to finally “get it’ – the dos and don’t of sustaining an emotionally content career.
1 – Divulging Too Much Personal Information: We all want to feel like we belong, and developing allies at work is essential for fruitful teamwork, but there is a huge difference between making strong connections with your peers and crossing the line into confessing your personal woes to coworkers.
Never talk about the details of your personal life at work. Easier said than done you say? Well, even if a co-worker starts confiding in you and starts sharing TMI resist the temptation to reciprocate. Everything you say can and will be used against you especially in times of a crisis.
A coworker will quickly jump on an opportunity of telling your boss that your finances are a mess, or that you and your hubby are having marital issues. You run the risk having that information shared company-wide as well. Simply stated, keep your personal life out of your professional one.
2 -Yes, Of Course, There Will Be Gossip: OK, so we all know gossiping is inevitable in our personal and professional lives so, why do we keep engaging in it when we all see the negative impact it produces? OK, so again with the “human nature” thing I suppose.
At work, gossip is especially deadly. Gossiping will break down the social support at work you worked so hard to achieve. When faced with getting wrapped up in it, I found that staying silent and nodding works especially well. I also quickly bail out of the conversation with an “Oh, darn, I forgot I have to return a call”, trick.
Do anything you can to not get actively involved in it. In our personal lives, gossiping can often be harmless and even good for a few laughs, but in our professional lives you have to ask yourself is it worth losing your job over?
3 – If You Wear It, They Will Talk About It. Professional attire is a biggie. Regardless of what you wear, I can guarantee someone will comment on it. Always be mindful of what you are wearing when you step out the door to work of course, but also remember that even when you are wearing a very professional outfit, someone will talk about.
There are certain things at work you will have to put your ego aside and not let upset you and this is one of them. As long as you know you look professionally dressed don’t sweat the small stuff.
4 – No One Likes A Complainer: Think it but don’t say – that was my survival mantra for work. Whether I wasn’t feeling great or had a huge amount of work to catch up on, I hardly ever complained to anyone. Even the folks you trust can’t be trusted at work. Cynical you say? Well, yes maybe, but if you want to survive at work it should be your mantra too.
The working environment is dog-eat-dog no doubt and you, unfortunately, have to be on the defensive at all times. I can remember the one time I complained openly about a project deadline at work and later that day my manager called me and asked if I had any concerns I would like to discuss regarding the project.
Yes, negativity can spread that quickly at work. Coworkers think for some odd reason that putting you in a negative light will help boost their short road to success.
5 – Bring Your Lunch But Not Your Ego: Your ego has no place at work. I know that sounds impossibly difficult, but corporations don’t like egos – they like worker bees. remember, you are a part of the collective much like the Borg in Star Trek. Your ego has no place there. This is another example of “think it doesn’t say it”.
If something hurts your feelings, don’t express it. Feelings and work don’t make a good cocktail. Sharing feelings is for home. Wait to share them with your family and friends – not your coworkers. The same goes for boasting. Make a point not to boast about the comment your manager said to you about being one of the best on the team, or what an excellent job you are doing. Your coworkers will indeed become resentful and there go the allies you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Some other great advice for working outside the home, be sure to read my post about not taking things personally. It’s packed with some great tips as well.
It sounds all grim and negative, but taking steps to protect yourself at work with these simple tips can save your professional career. Yes, there will be times when you can laugh and actually have fun at work. I know I have plenty of times. Which brings me to a time when I was heard laughing after a training session and was actually reprimanded for laughing in the training room. I ironically laughed about it after the initial shock worn off.
Go to work to work – and before you know it, you will be climbing that corporate ladder in no time!
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Great advice, Carolann. The smarter you are, the less you say. Be an enigma. Let them wonder, if they find the need. Better be safe than sorry. Happy Monday! Have a great week!
Thanks much Kelly! Well said. The less you say and be an enigma for sure! I never like to red flag myself at work. Thanks much for stopping by and sharing your insight! Have a great week too! xo
I’ll be honest–I worked in corporate America from ’01 up until about three years ago when I took a huge leap of faith to work from home doing social media/marketing for small business owners. That said, I just got burned out from working in a corporate environment. There was too much cattiness and politics… BUT I have maintained most of those great friendships (and even had brunch with my old friends this weekend). It’s important to establish good friendships in the work place, I think. It was the saving grace I needed on days when I didn’t want to get out of bed or deal with the commute.
And YES re: complaining at work. That’s what happy hours are for, LOL. XOXO
Hi Charlotte, Yes, there is so much cattiness going on for sure. I used to work at home at one point too and I really enjoyed that the best. It is important to maintain friendships from work for sure, but also be careful to protect yourself because there are so many folks out there waiting to get you off guard. I’m glad you got the opportunity to keep good friends for sure! LOL and yes complaining is for happy hour indeed! Thanks much for stopping by to share your insight!! Have a great week. xo
All these are so true and have happened at one time or another. The worst for me was “the complainer” – sometimes whiner.
I agree Sue. I think we have all experienced these things at one point in time. I only wish someone had warned me in advance. lol
After my baby was born I went from full time to half day. I got as much, if not more done in the same period simply by putting my head down and not getting caught up in office chat.
Yes for sure Kathy. That is the smart thing to do. Corporate America can eat you up and spit you out if you don’t!
These are great tips, I wish I read them before I entered corporate America all those years ago. I learned quickly to grow a thick skin and not take anything personal.
I am so glad to have one foot out of corporate America at this point and I cannot wait to get the other foot out.
lol I hear you Doreen. It’s a tough go of it for sure. Those lessons were hard learned for sure.
I spent my entire career in corporate America and your tips are right on!
Thanks much Carol – some of those lessons were hard learned for sure!
Ah, such great advice, and how glad I am not to be in corporate America!
Thanks much Tam, me too lol.
Carolann – this is a wonderful post and something that has helped me to refocus about work. I work in a section with 8 other women and the advice you give is excellent. The section dynamics are always interesting and although I like them all it sometimes feel like I have to watch my back. Your suggestions are something I will need to keep foremost in my mind.
Hi Ines, I’m glad to hear that this helped you to refocus. I have had to learn those hard lessons and loved sharing them with you all. I appreciate your lovely comment – it made my day!
25-year corporate veteran here and all the tips are TRUE. I wold add don’t take things personally – people will dissect your ideas and sometimes put them back together in a way that doesn’t make sense, people are critiquing the work not you as a person – learn to separate the two – for your own sanity!
Yes for sure. I should have and will update that post now and link it too my don’t take this personally post for sure. thank you!
Great post – and one that makes me realize I could never go back to working in corporate America! This brought back too many memories!
I agree with that Lois. Those were so rough days for sure. At times, I miss it but overall…I’ll pass lol
Great post & tips…Geez I hate Corporate America! Its appears it’s all their way or the highway!
Thanks much Patti! Yes totally…you said it perfectly!
It’s always been the same, yes, them big eyes are looking at you so better do your job well. And you are welcome to leave if you cannot take the inside culture anymore. There will always be office politics, stern rules, and all-knowing people. However, all the same, it helps to keep your cool and carefully stand up for your principles and that no matter which department you are, doing the right thing is the only thing to do. Live without fuss and you’ll survive just fine.
Hi Judy, I agree completely! I always say, never red flag yourself, it’s the best way to get by at work. I never minded the work it was dealing with all the personalities that were challenging for sure. Thanks much for stopping by. Have a great week!
Sassy
You are absolutely spot on about your image. Think it and do not say it.
Being on time, professional attire and a can do attitude are all great qualities.
Hi Saddat, Thanks much for your lovely comment! Have a wonderful weekend!
Good tips, but I disagree in part on the ego statement. If all you are is a worker bee, then that is all you will ever be. A certain amount of ego is necessary to show you aren’t just a worker bee and you strive for a better position and more responsibilities.
Hi Scott, thanks much for your insightful comment! I guess I should have clarified my thoughts about ego – I was directing that towards our bruised egos which happens quite frequently at work, and not at all about the ego that drives us and is responsible for our success. I agree totally! You must have a strong ego intact to thrive in the workplace for sure. Thanks much for helping clarify that point. Hope to see you again soon! Have a great week.
As a read the article I was very much brought back to how important it is to cherish employees. All of these things that we should do as well as to avoid can be prevented if you are humble and treat an employee as your peer instead. Thanks for the great article on having a better outlook in a company. http://www.rjacksonqld.com.au
Hi Ava, wow you said it perfectly. So many times, I’ve been treated like an underling at work even in my role as Manager. I wish I had a boss that thought like you. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. Hope to see you again soon. Have a wonderful weekend!
Great post. I would like to say that people go to extra heights just to fit in. The problem is you do not get to be yourself and one day people realize who truly are and again it is a problem. I think the best way is being yourself let people like you for who you are and something you are not. Keyword – Be Yourself
I agree! It’s so very important to just be yourself at work, but also important to protect yourself against those that are out to get you. And yes, there are loads of folks like that at work which is sad but true. Thanks much for stopping by and have a great week!
Great post and the points you suggest really great for surviving in corporate america.Especially the point about ego.”Your ego has no place at work.corporations don’t like egos – they like worker bees”.
Thanks much! I agree…the ego is often the biggest issue. Thanks much for stopping by hope to see you again soon!
Thanks Carolanne for posting this.
This is a head up. It will surely help.
I really appreciate this.
Thanks much. So glad you liked the post.