Pressing Pause: Part Six

13 Reflections from my 13 years Corporate World journey

Inspiration for writing this post came from the reflections section of The Shooting Star blog. I wanted to share my learnings here, so that it helps others who are in the early stage of corporate life. 

1. Document your professional life:

Make it a habit of storing the monthly Payslips, ITRs, Form 16, Investment Declarations, PF contributions, LTAs, etc on your personal laptop. Also the yearly Performance Reviews, Learning Certifications, ELC Letters, etc. Make written notes of technologies you have learnt, written notes because you cannot take the online documents as per company's policy. These notes will be helpful for future reference. 

2. Create a professional brand:

Your LinkedIn profile and Naukri profile should speak for you. Share your learnings, certificates, new projects, problem solving case studies, ROTS, achievements, etc on these platforms more than you share photos and reels on Social Media. Join communities and build a strong network by connecting people from the same technologies in other companies. Primary focus should be on soft skills and communication, technology is secondary. 

3. Validate your career worth in the job market every 3 years

Keep your Resume up-to-date as also the Job Portals. Check for the technologies you are working on, are still relevant in the job market. Also check the package worth and make decision of switching or staying. Check for what is trending and learn new skills.  

4. No job is secured, create a second source of income:

By the time you turn 30, you should build a second source of income. It can be buying an asset (house), making your money earn for you (investments), a side job hustle, etc. Save enough to survive at least a year without income (fallback fund). Only layoffs are not the reason to lose a job, there can be health issues, mental burnout, family crisis, etc. 

5. Make hay while the sun shines:

Make the most from opportunities when you get those, or create those to stay longer in a company. Take benefits of the company perks, do not misuse, follow the policies. As an employee, you will have free access to learning courses (paid by the company). Learn and get certified, apply the same in your work. Volunteeringly opt for new seminars, workshops which can boost your career. Enjoy offsites, but try not get into bad habits of smoking and drinking. 

6. Do not share your personal life stories in corporate interiors: 

Neither anyone is your best friend nor anyone is your worst enemy in the corporate world. Well there can be very few close buddies. But talking too much about personal life to those in office can be risky due to eavesdropping. You never know when your weakness are taken advantage of or blackmailed for benefits or used against you during reviews. This even goes for the future plans on career front, relationships, etc. Having said that, keep personal headaches at the office doorstep, pick those up once the day is done.  

7. Climbing the corporate ladder:

You never know what a person has gone through to climb the corporate ladder. There may be hectic sleepless nights working on crucial projects, getting things done from others and showing the end result in your name, etc. Sometimes people are ready to do whatever it takes to increase their salary so as to balance their personal life. Every job comes with its own pros and cons. Climb in the right way, making space for yourself rather than pulling someone else down.  

8. Do not be the person running on the hamster wheel:

For the sake of your career, do not keep doing repetitive or useless work, donkey work, just because higher roles ask you to do so. Automate or Delegate support work asap. You will have to speak for yourself else the same will come as a backlash during performance reviews. Ask for a technology or project or team change every 2 years. Being nice will get you more work and less appreciation. And people may use your work and take the credit. Be a valuable asset.  

9. Learn from the seniors and teach the juniors and vice versa:

Spend quality time with your seniors, learn from their success and failure stories (on career, not personal). Lucky ones may have to deal patiently with arrogant seniors. Take whatever good you can and pass it on to the juniors. Here again, lucky ones have to deal with Gen Z juniors. So give advice only when asked. You should also learn new things from juniors and can also share those with your seniors. Go out with office friends for not only lunch and dinner, but also adventurous activities like trekking, volunteering on CSR, etc.

10. Stop hanging out with idiots:

Your circle at work really matters, you are judged by the people you hang out with from breakfast to commute. If you are a part of gossipers circle, you are labeled as a gossiper too. Keep yourself free from circles, you can occasionally be part of multiple groups. Keep cordial relationship at work.  

11. Ask for help & help others:

When in need, ask for assistance cautiously. Check on these things: is the person genuinely helping you or pretending to help, is the person indirectly benefiting by helping you, is the person creating a scene of helping you and showing that you are useless even after assistance. You must be ready to return the favour (willingly or unwillingly) in whatever way asked. There are people who work on barter system, you help me, I help you (which is acceptable). Help others with a good intention, say it straightforward if you are not in the position to help. Do not nominate your colleagues to help others (without their consent).  

12. Stick to your schedule and set healthy boundaries:

Keep a clock in and out schedule and stick to it on most days. Critical projects and tight deadlines may ask you to extend time occasionally. Do not make it a habit to stay late and work on weekends. Set healthy boundaries on conversations you are okay to have, whether you are willing to take calls post office hours. If you stand for your time, people take you seriously. If you follow suit, people take you for granted.

13. Attachment to the office desk and people:

The company is your family only till the time you are its employee. Nothing beyond that, so do not make your office desk as your second home. Also do not get too attached to colleagues, for when they leave, you may feel the emptiness inside you. Do not get flattered by good words and disappointed by harsh words. Nowadays, people are plugins with an on/off button used as per convenience. Treat everyone with equal respect and humanity, even the housekeeping, office person, security.