9 to 5
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Career switch and fitting in
in 9 to 5
After seven years as a teacher, I finally made a career switch into the corporate world. I'm excited about the new opportunity (and the chance to finally work somewhere without seeing teenagers making out in the hallway), but I'm a little nervous about fitting in with people who have spent their whole careers in the corporate world. I'm used to 20 minute lunches, planning out my schedule/lesson plans according to my mood, and only seeing my colleagues during meetings and faculty events.. Has anyone else made the switch from academia to the corporate world? What was the biggest change for you?
Re: Career switch and fitting in
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
I don't have any advice for you but I am a teacher trying to break into the corporate world. Do you have any advice? What industry did you go into? Thanks for any advice!
My corporate survival strategy has been to build my network. IMO, there is nothing more important that relationship building. Not skill nor knowledge. Because if I don't know something or can't do something, I can go to 15 other people who know and seemingly like me who are willing to help me out...because they know that I would do the same for them in an instant.
Each corporation has its own culture. I'm fairly adaptable so I fit in quickly enough and actually found that I was a good fit.
One thing that still irks me is the jargon. All those buzzwords that people throw around in meetings. It quickly becomes clear who knows what they are talking about and who doesn't. And the one who talks the most isn't necessarily the one who has the most valuable things to say.
I think the most pleasant surprise I've had since entering corporate is the accountability: meet your commitments. I work in a meritocracy so those who don't perform highly and contribute something of value are victims of headcount reductions. This may seem logical but coming from other sectors and cultures where people tended to have every excuse under the sun for not completing their work, to me this new expectation was refreshing.
It can be a stressful environment, even competitive, but mostly I see people who are will to support others to help out on a worthwhile project. I like being rewarded and recognized for my work, and I like my work...so working hard for me feels like a natural way to spend my time.
I guess most of things I've listed above are true of work environments apart of corporate as well. I suppose I feel like everything at corporate is intensified. Perhaps because at the end of the day you have stakeholders and stock holders to answer to if the company isn't performing well.
I just wanted to add one more thing.
I worked with a woman who was a teacher and was hiring in to the company I work for 2 years before me. She failed at her job, ended up quitting what was a high-paying job.
Now, this may be a one-off, but I, along with many others, was frustrated with her because of her lack of initiative. She was given a responsibility she didn't know how to execute. So, rather than telling her manager "I need guidance. I need a mentor. I need training," she did the bare minimum, merely scraped by, and mismanaged her role, making each of her stakeholders AND the supplier for whom she was responsible suffer.
I don't know how things work in academia. But I know in my corp world, learning to partner with others who fill the gaps in your expertise and areas of competence is key to success. Perhaps your role will be more autonomous. But, again, speaking from where I work, everything is done in teams. Play well with others and meet your commitments.
I picked up on your comment about perception and wanted to clarify that I would not be a bit concerned about any one's preconceived notions about you coming from a teaching background. You have had time to build communication and other skills that will be a tremendous asset to you in your new role.
FWIW, I attended an internal training giving by an outstanding, engaging instructor. Someone complimented her on her presentation skills and she told us it came from her teaching background. So there ya go.
Good luck!