The campus recruitment agenda is the leading manner by which corporate today acquires fresh graduates (in engineering and MBA) for employment. The companies, who do not adopt this, go for the more ad hoc method, recruiting as and when required. But the common link to both methods is that graduates are employed and added to the existing work group & culture, expecting them to adapt congenially. The question that poses to this millennial generation (generation Y) is how to transform from being a student to a corporate member? It is of vital importance that the individual concerned understands and adapts to the change that will take place from being a part of the student/university culture to now being a part of hard core corporate culture. A strong, early showing can give your career a rocket boost. To understand this better we can break down the necessary transformation into three main categories namely
Traits, Habits and Skills.
In the early onset of the job it is very important for the individual to be receptive, flexible and adaptable to the new work culture and surroundings. He/she must spend maximum time in absorbing all the details of his/her environment, the workings, dealings, important people, key areas and functions and also the geography of the work place. Getting the lay of the land is the simplest technique to adopt which will give you definite positive results.
Coming back to the three main categories one must be aware of how to transform into a corporate culture. Starting with individual positive habits which will help you get a firm footing in your job with a sense of discipline. The employee should be prepared to take on any task that is assigned to him/her. Reading about his/her job and industry will only prepare him/her better to take on more responsibility. Also, maintaining a healthy lifestyle will only make him/her alert and enthusiastic on the job. Having an enthusiastic and positive approach makes even the most cynical hands want to help. It creates an overall productive work environment. To have a healthy lifestyle, one must eat healthy, exercise regularly and get sufficient rest so that the mind is fresh at the beginning of each new day.
The traits possessed or inculcated by the working individual will determine his/her success in the long run. He/she must be responsible for his/her actions and performance. The role assigned to him/her must be fulfilled to a cent percent of his/her capability. The employee must have an adaptable approach to the work culture and must blend in with the protocol of the corporate. Adjustments according to the rules and regulations of the company must be made with a positive approach. Also it is very important to get accustomed to the workings of your team and make your mark by familiarizing yourself with the group. It is essential in any job that one must work efficiently in a team. Though the corporate world can be very demanding, it is crucial for any working individual to develop and maintain a positive attitude on the job. One must always remember that there is no substitute to sincerity and hard work and that this will always pay off. Once the individual is fairly acclimated to the work culture, he/she starts developing a sense of autonomy & independence. He/she is more aware of his/her sense of self and capability. He/she starts earning a living for himself/herself and learns to manage his/her life as a whole. This gradually is seen in his/her clarity in mind and thoughts. He/she will cultivate maturity which is appropriate in the corporate world. The individual now can begin to introspect on his/her job and visualize what he/she wants his/her career to develop into. This is a very important milestone as one must never just treat a job per say, in fact it should be treated as a platform for learning and career building. This clarity will help you focus and choose your next career move wisely, like choosing a function for career in marketing, HR, logistics, finance, project management, R&D, engineering, IT, manufacturing etc.
The third category that needs discussion is the skills possessed by the employee. One must never forget the basics. Be it numerical skills, basic engineering or management skills learnt in college, mathematical aptitude, one’s reasoning and logic skills, basic IT skills or interpersonal and communication skills. All these skills have indispensable value which helps you build your career on the right track. Also you can earn extra credit if you are good at multi-tasking. Additionally being a team player will always help you get good credentials in you work group. In the new corporate culture, it is essential to make friends and have people who you can turn to for advice or help, people who will have your back. So every employee must make the extra effort to get to know the people from his/her department as well as other departments.
Lastly, the key to a fast start to your transformation into your new job is to make yourself visible by positive contribution outside of the daily job and routine. This could be by improving the quality of the job, putting in the extra effort and adding creativity to the assignment you are given, showcasing your leadership and presentation skills whenever there is an opportunity, finding and suggesting solutions to problems i.e. being a part of the solution not problem. The trick is to always say yes to any assignment that is delegated to you. One can always find a way to go about it later. Any individual should always look up to a mentor for guidance, this will help him/her in times when he/she is unsure of any task assigned. If you want to make your mark on the job, you must learn to be thorough with the plan of action you present before your boss/leader. Do not present half-baked, voluminous agendas. Complete each task given to you in such a manner that it will be just have to be approved. Remember the effort you put in to rise in your job is directly proportional to your aim being higher to succeed.
To survive in the competitive corporate world and emerge successful, it is necessary to have a sound value system. If as an individual you are strong, sincere and high in integrity, it is easy to merge your value system into your work culture. A helping attitude, respect for seniors and colleagues, ability and desire to build little savings from your earnings, acknowledgment and contribution to your family and the people who helped you achieve the status you now have, all these qualities make you a well rounded individual aptly fitting in the corporate environment.
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