Campus to Corporate: Five Crucial Steps

Many of my own friends from my MBA School are transitioning from their student life from campuses to a real Corporate life. Every one of you out there graduating in the year of '15 and the years to come are going to deal with things beyond case studies, and interact with flesh & blood and face the reality bites.

In what I’d call a mature behaviour among candidates in working organization and without displaying behaviour of childish acts, it is necessary that we follow the etiquette to behave like professionals and not like children. Pay heed to these five crucial things. Follow these and you’ll scale up, ignore these and you’d see yourself going through an abyss.

Life Span at your 1^st Organization

Your tenure at your first organization sets your track record. If you have done a mistake in choosing your organization or job role, learn to pay for it now. This is a very crucial stage of your life. You need to make sure you stay at your first organization at least for three years. That’s when you would have been completely trained and your organization would have taken a valuable return from you. This is also creates an image of stability in your track record, failing which your future prospective employers will lose hope.

Social Media Etiquette

I’ve personally seen some of my colleagues encounter troubles by posting various unpleasant things about the organization over social media. Even a statement such as, “Job Unmanageable” or “It’s Monday Again” on your social media can invite you trouble. Never use #Hashtags of your organization and demoralize it. It might cost you your job. Remember, you paid fees at your institution. But, at the organization, they’re paying you. You aren’t the boss here.

Small Talks

This is probably the most dangerous and easy way to put yourself in trouble. Consequences could cost your job or disciplinary actions. Stay away as far as possible. Talk what’s necessary and relevant to your organization/process. No more. When you spot a gossip, just walk away. Even a spectator invites troubles in this case.

Performance Appraisals

Believe me, your appraisals are what purely matters in your career span, in any organization. Know what your KPIs are. Make sure you crack ways (positive ones) to achieve them. There are no more ranks or grades here. You are monitored for your quality of your input & efficiency of your output. Your appraisal ratings are directly correlation to the value you add to your system. Remember the values that one creates are not part of your KPI. To what extent would one contributes to the smooth functioning of the process, ownership, reliability and willingness to be accountable and the ability to innovate matters with regards to gaining a positive and desired appraisal.

Vibrate Confidence

Your appearance, your attire, attitude, ability to speak what’s right – in a tone that conveys the meaning, building good rapport with your team members and the line of superiors above you has a long term impact on how your mistakes would be forgiven.

That said, I believe you’re ready for a smooth transition in to your corporate life. Wishing you all the best!

Got questions or something to add? Post your comments below!

- Karthik Vengatesan

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