They Don't Teach Corporate in College by Alexandra Levit Read Free Book Online Page B

I
will
tell you not to get too comfortable. The longeryou live with your parents, the more you delay your own progression into real-life adulthood. And if you want to have a spouse, children, and a healthy 401k, you don’t have a decade to wait. Every personal and professional decision you make now should relate to the goal of getting your own place as soon as possible.
    Whether you live with your parents or not, they are probably your friends, and you may well speak to them multiple times a day. It’s terrific to have this kind of support system when you’re getting a career off the ground, but do not let it go too far.
    I am fond of the true story of an HR rep who had to throw out an application because the candidate’s mother had accidentally written her name on it instead of the candidate’s. Your parents should not be filling out your job applications, guys. They should also not be accompanying you to interviews, calling hiring managers to negotiate your salary, or stepping in when you have a problem with a colleague. In fact, as far as employers are concerned, your parents should be completely invisible.
    If you are in the habit of asking your parents for advice on every major and minor decision, you should practice stepping away from the smartphone. As we’ll talk about in Chapter 5 , effective problem-solving is an important part of a successful career, and the longer your parents serve as a crutch, the longer you’ll delay your development.
What I Wish I’d Known
    One of my past jobs was at a retail behemoth with a cutthroat culture. During the interview, I kept noticing current staff being curt with each other, but I put it out of my mind because the company was really prestigious. I just wanted them to like me, and I didn’t stop to think about whether I liked them. Of course I took the position and regretted it when, after a month or so, they began to treat me like they treated everyone else. Today I’d tell my 25-year-old self to pay closer attention to signals that a company isn’t going to be a great place to work, and to remember that interviewing for fit should be done on both sides.
    Luke, 38, Kentucky
Take-Home Points
    Explore your career options. Before putting yourself on the job market, take the time to fully investigate career options that will utilize your skills, interests, and personal mission.
    Promote yourself. Think of yourself as a publicist with the task of promoting you. Learn to capitalize on your skills and succinctly assert your achievements.
    Learn to network. Don’t base your job search solely on advertised openings. Increase your chances of landing interviews by personally connecting with individuals within your target companies.
    Create a professional persona. Project a strong persona (your most mature, competent, and friendly face) throughout the job search, application, interview, and negotiation processes.

Chapter 2

Congratulations, You’re Hired!
    What a relief! Your job search is officially over. You’ve accepted an offer and have agreed to start the following Monday. Resist the urge to become complacent. Between now and the end of your first month on the job, it is critical that you skillfully wield your professional persona to make a stellar impression. Although it may sound intimidating, transitioning into a new work situation is fairly easy once you know what you need to do. This chapter will walk you through the actions you should take prior to your start date and during your first few weeks on the new job. Here I’ll also cover some new-employee essentials that will help you be successful, such as decoding office lingo and getting past human resources.
The Start Before the Start
    Maybe you’re thinking, “There’s nothing I can do until I actually get there, right?” Not true. If you didn’t interview with the person who will be your immediate supervisor, contact her immediately. Send an