There are a few things to look forward to once you are gainfully employed. They include a steady paycheck, less of a social life and waking up before 10 a.m., just to name a few. Having jobs during college is a great preview for life thereafter, but I don’t think that it can fully prepare you for the life of working in a professional setting. There are certain social cues that are specific to a corporate environment.
Office politics and professional decorum were something that was totally new for me once I entered the post-baccalaureate world. I had always worked in more relaxed environments with supervisors that were either friends or at least friendly. At my internship over the summer, I experienced a crash course in professionalism. I had supervisors, coworkers, vice presidents and other forms of higher-ups breathing down my neck in a variety of capacities. The corporate ladder was 50 feet in front of me and I had to navigate a professional-social minefield to reach it. I tried my best to get out unscathed, but I think I need a little more practice in this department.
The one positive side with having employers that have a very hands-on management style, is that they make their expectations and objectives known.
I have also been faced with the opposite situation of being micromanaged. I have been in the situation of having supervisors that are very hands-off, almost to the point of neglect. These situations are almost harder to deal with than the managers that breath down your neck. Being in the position of having no direction can lead to a decrease in motivation and productivity. It is frustrating to go to work and have to guess what you are supposed to be doing. Everyone needs at least the most basic level of direction and support to thrive in a work environment.
Having this lack of management creates the need for self-motivation and the concept of “managing up.” This is a term that means performing your job in a way that can lead to your success through working with your supervisor, and getting an end result that can suit both of your purposes. This is a hard lesson to learn, and I am still trying to figure it out. The qualities that are developed by learning to manage up are highly regarded in a professional environment, and give someone the tools to become highly employable and successful.
The article, “Managing Your Boss: 12 things you need to know,” from MySalary.com has some really great tips for personal and professional development when dealing with an unruly and unorganized superior.
