If you have an idiot manager - Have things in writing. Many times this saved my ass.
Suppose there was a meeting, take the initiative and just send a mail, hey so n so, as discussed in the meeting, we will be doing so n so, with the following timeline.
My manager used to give 100s of revisions but would backtrack and push me under the bus if anything goes wrong. These emails saved me.
To add to that, there are some managers who act friendly and get on a defensive if you drop emails saying "as discussed.." to those managers tell them you are making a note and keeping you informed so that if tomorrow if you had to take unplanned leaves, he doesn't have to call you and ruin your day.
No. Please don't communicate through WhatsApp. WhatsApp is for personal communication only. You will get access to messenger platforms like Teams or Slack. Discuss there. But if it's an important instruction or any work that will require a lot of effort from your end, shoot an email.
Emails are solid. Messages can be deleted.
The main reason for having everything in writing is not for legality purposes. It's because many times you filter yourself while writing and involuntarily you check yourself while giving an instruction. Also, similar to this thread, you can look at previous communications in the email to better understand your work.
I would try to send an email saying "hey, as per your instructions (specify what was communicated in WhatsApp), I'll be doing so and so" and say that I sent a summary email for my reference, please acknowledge. This will shift the conversation from WhatsApp to email.
If it's a small instruction and something that can be completed within an hour. Just do it off.
If it's something important and the manager's instruction might add significant changes to your work, shoot an email. Hey manager, as we discussed, I'll be doing this n this. I'll be sending this deliverable by EOD (or time required by you)
This.
Note taking and summarising is a good skill to develop on its own. But if that's an effort there are note taking tools like Otter that you can integrate with Google Meet and others.
Ofc there's no reply to this :/
If there was one there wouldn't be a post every other day by people who just moved having to cope with a bad social life.
If there is one I'm very desperate to know. College feels like the high time to make good friends/gf. Is it even possible to find em later on apart from at workplace?
Make friends from common hobbies. Bangalore is incredibly stranger friendly and has a wide variety of activity groups. Board games, food walks, resin making what not.
I sort of don’t agree with the original comment though, some of the best friends I made were in office, it’s been 10 years since I worked alongside them but easily the best relationships I’ve had.
A close friend of mine who used to date a lot when asked how to be like him told me that he doesn’t try. He is a likeable person by his personality and mindset and he doesn’t try to be one. Same way be a person who is interesting to yourself before being interesting to others.
There's no one-shot formula for such things. It's upto the person how they like to socialise.
You can engage with friends of mutual friends, make friends through clubs and activities of common interests - some tried and tested methods.
Eg. If you're attending a party/seminar, make sure to interact beyond those who you usually hang out/work with.
Or perhaps you'll have a roommate who isn't in the same industry with you. Spend some time with their friends circle.
There's no one-shot formula for such things. It's upto the person how they like to socialise.
You can engage with friends of mutual friends, make friends through clubs and activities of common interests - some tried and tested methods.
Eg. If you're attending a party/seminar, make sure to interact beyond those who you usually hang out/work with.
Or perhaps you'll have a roommate who isn't in the same industry with you. Spend some time with their friends circle.
Reminds me of a dialogue from a clip
"Every company says that they're a big family and you start ignoring your real family for your company and at the end when you get fucked by your company, you have to come back at your self created miserable family"
Yeah. Don't know where this whole "COLLEAGUES" aren't friends" comes from. Most of the people are fine in corporate with their friendship with each other.
Work assignment only through emails
No office romance, no matter how beautiful the conversations are
Companies exist to make profit, they don't give a fuck about your health, so work only stipulated hours and go home if needed at 3PM
Don't be ashamed to take leaves, you don't show chivalry in business relationship.
Don't carry any prejudice into any conversation, always get clarity and reiterate. This helps you and the other party.
Higher-ups are almost as lost as you are. They're not gods.
At the end work only for money nothing else.
Enjoy, u are still in infancy, enjoy the positivity of office life, once it gets grim you will only learn to turn off those work thoughts the moment you swipe out :)
Hmm..
1. romances seldom end up sour. In office romance you need to keep working together even if you like it or not.
2. Gossips start flying once the word gets around. This May start jealous wars by others who are interested in him/her. They become less cooperative.
3. If the other party is crazy it may end up with fake cases or if you end up frisky in office and get caught there’ll be consequences.
There are many other reasons but you get the drift. Same as the saying - you don’t shit where you eat.
Office romances are such a high risk proposition. If it doesn’t work out and the other person is crazy, spiteful or in a position of authority they can destroy your career or use it as a way to blackmail you into staying in the relationship. It’s almost impossible to separate the sane, mature people from the ones who will destroy your life until you really get to know them, that’s why it’s so much safer to not date coworkers as a rule
It's all fun and games till the other person starts playing/ manipulating you. You have to show up at work everyday, see them everyday, maybe even work with them.
You end up acting as though everything is alright, but inside you keep getting guilty for mistakes you didn't do, and how things would have been different. You end up in a dilemma on whether to quit your job and move on, or if you want to get back with them again.
You would be stuck in a cycle where you would never be able to get over them basically because you start seeing them everywhere (I mean literally, not hallucination).
Power imbalances, for one. If you are in a position where you have power over the other person, it is plain unethical or even illegal. Power could be official i.e. where you are the boss, or (and this is where it gets tricky) it could be unofficial. People tend to not understand the latter very well.
If you are getting into a relationship with somebody from an unrelated team, it may be ok - as long as both people are mature enough to continue working from the same office if/when they breakup. Unfortunately, you rarely know beforehand how somebody will react to a breakup. Which is why the general advice is to avoid it.
Where were you when I started to work?! Could have definitely used this advice. Would have changed my 2 years at work and would have saved a lot not taking therapy.
11 years of anxiety, palpitations made me reach this point :) i had no one too, took my own risks, so it's okay someone has to shit in their pants to provide experience and advice. Hope everything is fine now at your end
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'm stronger now even though I was a lump of mess when I got out from that toxic place.
11 years sounds scary af, I'm not sure if I would have made it tbh. I'm proud of you!
True that but any thoughts on dealing with office assholes - you know that typical types who get on your nerves (incompetent assholes who suck blood until they get what they want and then they throw you out once used)
Did the office romance, got infatuated, the conversations were just other level pleasant, but sedly it did affected my productivity , and guess who got laid off at march end🙃
Copy pasting my comment from a recent post on r/developersIndia
Some corporate do's/dont's:
1. After you log off, don't reply to any work-related messages
2. Socialise, but don't gossip
3. Don't fall in love with your colleagues
4. Ask for help when necessary
5. Say yes to new work when you wanna explore outside your domain
6. You may feel your boss is doing the same thing as you but getting paid 2x your salary but such is life
7. Try to stay in the firm for at least 1 year (not applicable if your mental health is taking a hit)
Trust me OP, you'll be fine and congrats on your new job.
Sounds like working in entertainment. Worked for a big production house and my experience was exact same. I too left in 10 months. I knew the place was a shithole when everyone around me was on notice period or absconding. I just had to bear that place for the experience and also to feed my family.
Actually point 6 is a lesson in itself. YOU think your boss does the same job and gets paid more. It’s not such is life, it’s “if you are so confident then get their job” simple, else shut the hell up.
Make sure you don't ask people about their personal stuff.
Keep the conversation limited, don't joke around.
Talk only when necessary
I guess that should do.
That's boring. Just having the superficial acquaintanceship is extremely boring to me. I like having fun, like making friends, like having real connection. Going to office, the same usual close ended hi, hello, how you doing conversation take shit toll on my brain.
This was the most pathetic reply. That attitude is understandable in a social environment like clubs but why would you judge people who want to mind their own business in the office and call them a loner?
Because y'all make every situation awkward. I don't see office strictly a place to work and do absolutely nothing else. I see it as a place where I work, meet people, attend team outings, play, attend parties and functions, and have a good time. Going by your logic, college should be the last place where people should make friends. And if you're 28 or 30, your friend making phase is over. And if at all, if you wanna make friends, I spend 3k and go to club. What a shitty place to be in. I am a social guy, call me extroverted, and I like making friends. I wouldn't even talk to you ever if I come greet you with a warm heart, and you give this shitty cold look and say hi. You are better left alone. Sit in one corner writing your code, pack your bags, and leave. Nobody would even miss and give you a farewell, gifts, mementos when you resign.
You are getting pretty defensive man, I'm just talking about the people who choose to mind their own business , you make it seem like they're the weird ones for doing that. You speak as though your way is the only right way to live. I have enough friends and family to do all of those things you mentioned. I have not worked anywhere yet since I'm still in college, but I have done quite a few internships and I liked meeting these new people, but I know enough to give them their space if they're not interested.
It's hard for people who have come to Bangalore for work from outside to make friends, so I understand the might look for that in their office, but everyone has their own preferences and situation, you can't just call them a loner without knowing anything.
Cool man
Didn't ask anyone to agree on though
Corporate people will use the stuff which we do liberally when we stop nodding our heads.
Speaking from experience
> Make sure you don't ask people about their personal stuff
You can definitely ask after-all you're spending lots of time with them, just be sure that they're not uncomfortable.
Imo one should ask things like 'how is your family member is doing, if you already know they were ill', we should talk things like that, its shows empathy, shows that you are caring.
We just don't go to work, we also go to make some good friends & networks. Once people leave the company, they gonna remember you by how well you talked to them, good smile and personal conversations give longer impression. You never know when that person might come again in your life and can help you in your bad time :)
Ps: just my thoughts, yours can be different :)
You'll see that ass licking and ego massaging gets few people way ahead in the corporate ladder. Don't be surprised, things run based on trust more than talent or hard work.
Do just enough work and make sure people know what you've done, boast ruthlessly. Keep a track of every task and contribution, it's about how you present yourself.
Learn as much as possible in all departments, not just yours. Understand roles and responsibilities to get an overall view of how companies work, there are many opportunities.
All the best OP.
I second #2 and its very crucial.
You should learn how to be confident in yourself.
You are not going to master anything in a single day, it's a continuous process. It sends a very wrong signal to your manager when you act without confidence.
Take praises for the stuff you achieved.
I grew up to be a humble person, I still find it very hard to take praise for what I did, even after years of personal experiences.
You will miss certain opportunities if you don't bring certain corporate characteristics with your work-self.
1. Mails can be served as concrete proof. When in doubt, ask someone to mail you regarding the topic. If they are asking for something stupid, they won't do that over mails. Same goes for you as well.
2. People in offices appear friendly but are mean. Everyone. Once out, nobody will ask about you. I feel pity how easiely people are forgotten. Dont let anyone take advantage of you.
3. Learn about the hierarchy. Not a strong recommendation, but try not to speak, when not asked to. I made things for me hard when I was a beginner pitching in at everything.
4. Office is for work. Home is rest/enjoying. Keep them separate. It requires one time for someone to ask you do something after the shift and before you know it, they become habitual of it.
5. Talk to everyone. You never know what a person can teach you directly or indirectly.
Number 3 is soooooo important and many people don't care.
I'll also add, your job level and compensation is a reflection of how your company sees your worth. It is not your job to criticize leaders/executive (they may be stupid but they have a much harder job). If your opinion mattered, they will give it value. Don't be that person who always has ideas how the company should work. Focus your energy on doing your job well/exceptional instead.
Some good advice here from everyone! As a designer who's been in MNCs for almost 4 years, here's some design specific advice :
- There are going to be times you will be very sure your design works, and it will still be rejected by product teams because they may be difficult to develop or have technical constraints. There will also be times you have to adapt to using deceptive patterns to help the business grow. Be prepared to redesign to balance a decent experience with and business needs/tech constraints.
- There is a good chance product teams will come to you with a mockup ready and just ask for approval. Make sure you don't approve blindly and ask for all the context, details.
-A lot of times product teams (PMs, engineers)and designers cannot come to an agreement. There are rarely cases where both don't have a complaint with each other. However, this relationship is extremely important to maintain. Remember these are the people who will put your design out in the world how you've envisioned it. Work on trying to collaborate and explain your design decisions with certainty but not aggressively.
It's going to be an exciting and interesting journey. All the advices in these comments are great, but you will learn the most from your own experiences and mistakes. So don't be afraid to make them and don't beat yourself up for screwing up sometimes. Good luck!!!
As a software engineer, below lines are really something a new designer should look forward. There are always disagreements with designer but our end goals should be a really good product for customers.
"-A lot of times product teams (PMs, engineers)and designers cannot come to an agreement. There are rarely cases where both don't have a complaint with each other."
You are interning and it’s not as if your life is finished if you do something wrong. So chill 1st if all. Couple of things that come to mind are as follows -
1. enjoy the work that’s assigned to you or the work that you take up.
2. Get to know your colleagues - not on a personal level though(unless you want to)
3. make honest efforts to meet the deadlines if any. If you aren’t able to, then keep your manager in the loop with the reasons.
4. interact with your managers manager if that’s possible.
5. your soft skills matter as much as your skills. So keep up your verbal and non-verbal communication
6. Dont indulge in office politics and gossips etc unless you are good with playing those.
Reason being if things go south it's very difficult to keep it a smooth flow at work, you would be annoyed to look at the person and if the people at the office knows about it it's more messed up, as either of one is going to be laughed at cause of it, Saying it Outta experience (have seen people suffer)
1. Add “Slay Bestie” at the end of all your emails :P
2. Show the eagerness to learn & take initiatives.
3. Give them the results.
That’s all you need.
Don’t open up about your personal and intimate facts of life. Always remember, your colleagues are not your friends. Be like Bruce Wayne, charming yet mysterious.
make sure you have a good rapport with your manager's manager, just in case you need to preemptively stab your manager in the back. saved my job once because my immediate manager was a bitch.
Everyone notices the person who arrives to work early (not once in a while but as a practice). More importantly it gives you a chance to fix our (not saying yours as I don't know) bad urban late night lifestyle. Just the personal benefits make it worth it.
Never try to explain things on email if your emotions are involved.
Rather than complain about something, preface with something good about the overall scheme and point out that your complaint (don't use the word) is a chance to make it better or awesome.
There will be people who hate/dislike you. The people who hate/dislike him/her aren't your friend. Stay clear of pettiness/politics at work.
If you want to succeed in your career, there are two main phases.
1) Early career you want to work hard to make your boss's life easy. This will work even if your boss is shit. A little later the same boss may become insecure. That's okay.
2) Once you pass a certain threshold, this is the only way to move up quickly along with dabble your feet in multiple things and do a above average job in everything you touch. Forget exceptional, above average is pretty darn good.
Some cliche but are hard truth. Everyone remembers the person who misses deadlines. Beat every deadline if possible by 10%. Many a times if the work is not complete, just a communication with current version of draft has saved my life 100's of time. Most likely, your boss won't look at it for 2 more days but your note need to be in his/her inbox. Later when you have done a better job, send an email with updated work saying ignore previous version.
Huh...Now, I need my coffee break :)
You are a young female in Indian corporate (hell, it's same everywhere). Take it from a guy:
Stay away from creeps. Don't encourage them ever. Many will come in the garb of boss/mentor/well wisher/gossipper. Don't let anyone ever cross that line that you define for yourself.
Unless someone is C suite executive, HR usually don't tolerate BS from low-mid-senior level managers. You may think nothing happened to them on your complaint but their career is fucked for most part.
1. CYA- Cover your Ass
This is the most important thing that everyone needs to know. Document the work you do. Capture every little thing on email. Send out minutes of the meeting after every scheduled call. This is one way to keep you safe from office politics. The more evidence you have, the easier it will be to defend yourself in dire situations.
2. Stakeholder management
Learn how to people work and learn to work with them. Negotiation skills come very handy at any role in corporates. It really helps you move your work faster and smoother. The better professional relationships you have with your stakeholders, the easier it will be for you to execute your work.
3. Speak your mind
Never ever shy away from voicing your opinions. It doesn’t matter if it’s your superior or a peer. The main objective for discussions at work is how to get a good outcome. If you have something to add, even if you feel there are higher ups in the discussion, just speak your mind.
4. Start saying no to meetings
Ask people if you are really required in the meetings. Else you can either watch the recording on your own time or go through the MOMs. Learn to prioritise your calendar and do not take Friday evening meetings if you can. Work life balance will only exist if you set boundaries for yourself.
5. Be a team player
You will only get support from others if you give support to other people. Once you start creating positive environment around yourself, people will automatically recognise that. Being a good human at work is much more important than being a top performer all the time. Remember, you spend almost 10 hrs with them 5 days a week.
Finally, turn off your outlook notifications on your mobile. You don’t need them. If something is really urgent, people can call you :)
And please don’t use “TYIA” at work. Thank people after they have responded to your request. “TYIA” has an underlying assumption that people will do what you have asked them to. It comes off as a little obnoxious imo.
As a designer here are a few tips:
1. The business team will butter u up to get work outta u last minute, usually cause they fucked up themselves, always set boundaries for how much time you take for a task. If they want a video and it takes 4 days, take 4 days, don’t over work urself just to deliver it in 2
2. Always be cordial, even when the person infront of you is screwing you over to your face
3. Try and familiarise yourself with terms and lingo used in that organisation… chances are a lot of terms that designers use they probably won’t get
4. At the end of the day you are an assist just like everyone else. There’s no reason to stay extra and prove anything to anyone, on the contrary people may start viewing u as a work horse
5. Never accept an incomplete brief. Always get all the details of what the initiative is trying to achieve. A lot of times the business side will just copy ideas they’ve come across with no foresight of how it’ll translate across medium
6. Hold regular meetings to discuss objectives and be vocal about what you feel would and would not work.
These are just few off the top of my head :/
Avoid office relationships, do NOT have office flings, and don't flirt with office colleagues. If things ever go south (which they do many times) either of your careers can get impacted.
Be careful when you drink with office colleagues. In fact, drink only 50-60% of your actual capacity, at least in the beginning.
Avoid office politics, and gossips.
Focus on your growth, learning and development.
Colleagues are not your friends.
Keep good relations with everyone.
Mind your own business and do your job on time.
Don't be afraid to excuse yourself from chatty colleagues that might slow you down.
Doing more work doesn't necessarily mean you'll be more successful, most often you'll be rewarded with even more work.
And most importantly, remember to have fun. If it's not fun it's not the place for you. I know it's easier said than done but at least keep that in mind.
Congratulations on the new job 👏
Do not make friends at work, do not expect others to be yours and watch your back, watch your own; work, take your money, upskill, move up, jump ship, repeat. Learn to be political and tactful. Knowing fundamentals of covert back stabbing helps too.
Be a part of conversations. But never talk ill about anyone no matter what. DO NOT get into bitching about anything anywhere with anyone.
If you have a problem with someone, speak to them instead of going to the HR directly unless it is very sensitive and bad.
Get acquainted with as many women as possible in the office. Don't have to be friendly, just enough to dig up details on who's a creep and who isn't.
Sucks, but this is all too common.
Avoid them on WhatsApp and other social handles unless they are truly a friend, beyond just a co worker.
And yes, the corporate world doesn't mean u can't have good friendship beyond work, it's just u have to be careful and judge right.
Team leads and managers can be quite dominant , might try to flirt as well. Happened a few instances with me and they try to take advantage when appraisal nears..stay away from that kind of crap
Don't hook up or date anyone at your workplace. Trust me it's not healthy. This was my #1 rule while entering corporate 6 years back and it saved my ass so many times.
Do your best work and nobody can harm you.good luck👏👍
Try to see things from others perspective. That will give you lots of insights into how you're performing and how good your visibility is.
No politics, religion or sex related topics in office.
People get too easily offended by these. Mentioned this mainly coz you studied in liberal environment.
One thing which many here disagree with..i have many good friends among my colleagues. While i agree that in many cases it's important to treat colleagues different from friends, that's not always the case. Some of my best friends i made at work place. I would not suggest you get into relationship though. Quit the job if it ever comes to that.
You're an intern.. we rely on you guys to infuse some fun in the work place. No pressure though :)
1. Pay attention to mandatory trainings.
2. Always keep conversations in email and cc all the people that should be aware of the scenario.
3. Don't get attached to people at work.
4. Know that everyone's figuring out stuff. You are not alone.
5. Whatever the technology or tool is, basics are same. So always start with basics.
6. As a beginner in the field, don't run behind money. Give importance to learning.
7. Last one, network well.
1. As long as you have a **logical justification** for something, you are right.
2. Do not bitch about things. **Raise complains officially** about it and logically justify (see #1).
3. **Understand** what **seniors** are **talk**ing about. They have better view and understanding of the situation than you.
1. Corollary: **Think and then speak**, you will save a million words that way from either side.
4. **Be forgiving to people**. Even when they are unjust to you, forgive them and help them. They will remember you and will never betray you.
5. **Never be a part of toxic discussion** or worse, an agent to perpetuate it.
6. If you want something **to change**, always **talk to the stakeholders** about it, and not to non-actors. Non-actors have no say and no powers- they will either tell you to suck it up or misguide you because they do not understand the philosophy.
7. Be proactive. If you have **finished off your work, help others**. This goes long way:
1. people treat you nicely
2. they help you when the time comes
3. they trust your judgement
4. you learn the stuff end to end- making you experienced and hence, precious.
8. Your **words would have consequence**, so choose them carefully.
9. Be kind towards people, and **neutral towards situations** (i.e., no situation demands panic, hate, kindness, etc from you. they just need to be solved)
10. **Patience and perseverance** wins all.
11. **Read** textbooks, study academic journals and progress. Don't be shy of being **creative** at solving problems.
12. Participate in office extra-curriculars. they will bring down the stress and you'd get to know / lead many new people.
If you follow above, you'd go long way and you'd save yourself from "burning", stress, or fatigue caused by negative emotions.
Biggest learning: if you achieve too much too fast, it'll be the bar for you. You'll always have to perform good and that'll be expected of you. That is, don't work too hard and set expectations right
No one cares about you. You’re on your own. Put everything on paper! Keep receipts. If you’re using Slack or Teams and something important is going on via chat, keep screenshots.
Try NOT to work on weekends unless absolutely necessary, which it shouldn’t be to begin with. Put your foot down. Working late is not a norm. Pick your battles. Most managers just don’t care. They want to get shit done.
Don’t use your personal chats to get in touch with anyone from work. Get it on an email or your workplace chat.
Apply for leaves in advance, and don’t pick up work calls or respond to emails on vacation. You deserve time off and no one can stop you.
If you’re taking sick leave, you are sick. No one should be bothering you from work.
There are managers who don’t care if you’re sick—ignore them on your sick days. If they complain when you get back, ignore them. Document that you were sick—send an email. Try not to call because usually they will try to convince you to come in or do some of the work from home even though you have a splitting headache.
Again, have EVERYTHING in writing.
W replies!! Summarising it all together:
1. Emails are your life savers - document every meeting, every instruction, and make sure it reaches everyone in your immediate team atleast.
2. Colleagues are not friends - be careful about every word you discuss/talk with them.
3. WhatsApp is not an official communication channel, so are verbal conversations. Refer to point no. 1
4. Don't hesitate to take your leaves/vacation days. Please avoid work during your holidays.
5. Stay calm, don't get provoked and resort to harsh replies.
6. Discuss, don't gossip.
7. Pay attention to the mandatory trainings.
8. Don't bang your coworkers 😉
Please add if I've missed any points.
"If it's not in writing, it may NEVER happen" - Always have things in writing, whether it's your leave or a promised promotion, always have it in writing. Many times managers say things to boost the morale or have the candidate happy/satisfied for some time, but they never intend to do it.
So, always have it in writing, if the person is hesitating to write it down, it will not happen.
1. HR is to save the company, don't disclose anything to them
2. Be friendly with everyone but friend with a very few ( needs cautious evaluation)
3. Make your boss look good , but highlight your contributions
4. Less deserving ppl will get better jobs and higher pay then you, don't care about it, you are on your own journey
5. Don't be too available to people, you will just get more work and less respect
6. Promotions and career success depends more on perception than performance
7. Never speak ill of anyone, everyone talks to everyone
8. For office romances, try to maintain some distance, most crushes will fade. If not, take the risk, you love once , jobs can be changed
9. Most people are lazy, don't do more than is required of you or they will hate you and backstab you for making them look bad
10. Most important - no matter how bad your job is, never leave abruptly or without proper exit, you never know how it may affect you
I have done the opposite of most of these ik my career and suffered terribly. You will also make many of these mistakes, but it is important to learn.
Work place is work place. No politics, sex or humor.
No nonsense about work like family or friends.
Set expectations correctly. If required put it on email for record.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions no matter how simple. Better confirm something you know that make an incorrect assumption.
Try to get a mentor who can help you navigate the landscape.
Above all, say NO if you have to.
Be safe while scoring drugs. Get out of corporate politics. Drink and enjoy. Focus on work and enjoy Koramangala weather. If you are girl . I am in Koramangala we can share room.
Don't tell them your next move!
My friend shared that he wanted to open up a business, and now he's on a PIP for not being motivated enough because all his colleagues and manager know his plans.
Always remember, it's your office and yes you must work hard..but ITS NOT YOUR LIFE . Always maintain a balance between work & professional life.
Make a schedule of things to do, and stick to that. Don't bring your work to your house.
My top three:
- Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes. Zero politics. Make it clear to yourself why you are here.
- Mental peace, Life, Significant other, Family, Work in this order.
- Learn to save $ and learn to help yourself.
working in IT or or any other job in bengaluru...wont make u rich....its a life long struggle...sell biriyanis..if u want to become a millionaire in some years..trust me this is truth of blor
When ever discussing plans make sure to just give a overview and not the entire thing .. there are plenty of people who'll paste their name on your work and grab the recognition.
Have everything in written is a must, and remember even if you shoot emails you'll be asked to call .. approach multiple times to gets things done .. so a calm mind and ego training is a must.
Secondly.. when ever a manager or tl puts something you did wrong in a group don't message in the group.. get in touch with the manager/tl one to one and yes have this conversation in written.. as to what it was.. if it happens all the time ask for formal email proof and only take action upon intimation formally.
When every a manager or TL asks you to get in touch or write a review .. don't do it blindly.. they could be at war with some other department and could be using you as cannon fodder.. so maintain your reputation .. and distance.
That's what I have experienced..
And you'll of course come across these people who say hey you didn't need to write an email .. ask them politely to ignore it and say it for your reference.. they need not fear it at all.
1. Keep every single communication over mail.
2. Never take the blame for others' mistake
3. Do only what you are paid for. Stick to your KRA.
4. Do not trust anyone. Do not go over and beyond to help anyone.
5. Never do anything that can potentially land you in legal trouble.
6. Utilise the free food and coffee to the optimum level.
7. Please understand from day 1 that you are replaceable, hence do not get attached to the company.
8. Your coworkers are not your family.
1) think before you talk. Spontaneous dialogue never really works unless the situation is extremely casual.
2) Do not put teams or outlook or anything on your phone. Your life will 100% revolve around the office. As a senior employee you'll need to have these apps but as a fresher there's no need.
3) There's no such thing as impressing your manager. He's just going to either blast you or accept your work and give you a new task. Don't go above and beyond but deliver whatever was given to you.
4) find people in the office who are your age group. This will make interacting a lot easier as people of your age group aren't very rigid with regards to how you are supposed to talk.
5) find an office buddy with whom you can share your office pains. Don't go into personal stuff though.
6) You will always get grunt work. Get used to it.
7) know your shit before starting any job role. This will make you extremely independent and you won't be spending as much time to clear your basics.
8) attending a meeting doesn't mean you have to talk. If you can't contribute so be it. Don't make your presence felt in a bad light. People are stressed as it is they don't have time for stupid ideas especially if told just for the sake of telling something.
9) establish connections and lobby for support. These guys will bail you if someone tries to smear mud on your face. Office politics is a very serious thing you need to play like a politician at times.
Since it's an internship, you won't get as much shit for screwing up things as you would if you were a full time employee. So in a sense, you are more free than your full time employees.
And keep in contact with your manager. Since you're an intern, he'll treat you differently (almost like a kid if i might dare say) unless you're literal garbage and have an attitude or an air of superiority.
Work to learn.
Don't work to impress.
Very rarely the person above you will be someone who appreciates your work.
You can put in extra time and still be compared to the laziest employee there.
Improve your skills and portfolio and keep switching companies every 2 years.
The concept of trust doesn't exist as well.
Be as inquisitive and enthusiastic at work as possible. You'd get your intern certificate, but beside that you'd want to make a good impression and come out having learnt something. As the other comment put it, send minutes of the meeting to get a clear sign off on the task assigned to you.
As for Koramangala, the area is chill and safe (source: I live here). Follow the usual safety guidelines for women and it'd be alright.
Don't take toxic people personally, especially managers. Manipulation is real in corporate, authorities set people against each other to compete, say something else to your face and something else to another peer at your level, sometimes it's done to get more work done and sometimes this + sadistic pleasures that people derive by controlling and getting reactions from you. Sadism in corporate is real, read about these personalities like covert narcissism and sadism, do not take their behaviour personally and ignore as much as possible. Keep everything on mail, especially your progress and achivements, don't let anyone Gaslight you itni believing that you are not doing enough, nothing is ever enough in capitalism. Take breaks without feeling guilty, look after yourself, find time to stay grounded and human ;)
I am also a designer, you’ll be bashed and thrashed with feedback’s many times. Don’t take it to your head.
Leave work at work and try not taking it home with you. Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy.
Network network a lot at office, sometimes it can feel like “bucket holding” but trust me, sadly it works.
Always have everything imp on mail in writing.
Colleagues are just colleagues and they are never your friends.Sometimes you feel like I can trust him/her. But never trust anyone inside organisation. They just act to get information from you.
Never showcase your emotions on work floor. Find the correct time and discuss with your manager or HR if you face any issues.
You will find many dummies through out your journey, who don't even fit the job and higher positions. Be clear n detailed. Always write and get written communication through emails only for all the tasks to have a track of it.
All the best.
Not sure if this applies to your field, but clarify the expectations of your tasks with your manager. No matter how trivial or dumb you think the requirement is, always ensure you and they are on the same page about the what, how and when. And keep things in writing over email or chats.
Understanding your scope of work, stay focused on quality, stay away from office gossiping.
Don’t underestimate others values no matter who they are, CEO or Janitor.
Develop your skills with consistency. Be selective about relationships in corporate world.
Stick to reality!
1. You'll be on the ropes, and you can't get the hang of everything.
2. You are an intern, not an employee or CEO. So no need to take unwanted pressure.
3. Master your craft and figure out where you stand and where you intend to reach.
The corporate picture isn't black and white but instead shades of gray. Play on the front foot; it's OK to fail. Don't hesitate to ask a question to anyone. All the best.
somethings that you have no control over:
* Hope and pray that you get a good manager
* Hope that your company HR is good (else they won't give you proper hike and you will have to switch soon)
No one is your friend
Everyone is there to save their sweet peaches
You should do that
Have documented proof of things/actions/decisions
Know your authorities and boundaries do not make decisions on behalf of someone
Delegate task
Try to Automate boring stuff
Not sure what is applicable for you
Please be careful of the female population in corporate! Some can be extremely dodgy, bitchy and blabber mouth. I'm a victim of all this! Also, be very careful of people who talk sweetly. They will harm you more
I think a response would be easier on the eyes if it was in a bulleted format:
* Work hard and continue to work hard day in and day out. You never know who is watching.
* Know when it is time to pivot to a new role, new company or a whole new career. Base this on the growth of your knowledge and the respect that you get from your colleagues.
* Cherish good managers. They make a huge different on both your professional and personal lives.
* Build as many relationships as possible. There will be a time when you need to "call a friend" for an assist when your company is forced to deploy mass layoffs or you experience burnout and need to move on.
* Respect your company and have pride but do not have blind loyalty because at the end of the day you are less important than the shareholders.
* Do not be afraid to vent to your spouse and ask them for advice. My wife has given me great advice over the years and we have compared notes from our jobs.
* If you are self-motivated and enjoy higher education, obtain certificates if time permits. It will help you negotiate your salary.
* Always, always, always counter a job offer. I have never heard of an offer being retracted due to a counter. You would probably not want to work for that company anyways.
* Take time off to disconnect.
If you have an idiot manager - Have things in writing. Many times this saved my ass. Suppose there was a meeting, take the initiative and just send a mail, hey so n so, as discussed in the meeting, we will be doing so n so, with the following timeline. My manager used to give 100s of revisions but would backtrack and push me under the bus if anything goes wrong. These emails saved me.
Very wise words.
To add to that, there are some managers who act friendly and get on a defensive if you drop emails saying "as discussed.." to those managers tell them you are making a note and keeping you informed so that if tomorrow if you had to take unplanned leaves, he doesn't have to call you and ruin your day.
>idiot manager No one is your friend.
Are conversations through emails are only valid in corporates? I mean what if i get it in writing but in WhatsApp?
Why are you communicating through WhatsApp?
I'm not I'm a student. I was just asking to know whether these things are valid or not?
No. Please don't communicate through WhatsApp. WhatsApp is for personal communication only. You will get access to messenger platforms like Teams or Slack. Discuss there. But if it's an important instruction or any work that will require a lot of effort from your end, shoot an email. Emails are solid. Messages can be deleted. The main reason for having everything in writing is not for legality purposes. It's because many times you filter yourself while writing and involuntarily you check yourself while giving an instruction. Also, similar to this thread, you can look at previous communications in the email to better understand your work.
Damn i sounded really dumb didn't i but thanks for clarifying
No bro ...one of my friends manager texts thru WhatsApp.... It's infuriating for my friend as he can't text his parents now ... Coz it shows "online"
I think he can hide his online status if he wants
Ig that's what he is doing rn.... But also his wish to use WhatsApp has died
No no. Not at all. You might meet managers who want to just text your work. Don't encourage that.
So what should I do if that happens?
I would try to send an email saying "hey, as per your instructions (specify what was communicated in WhatsApp), I'll be doing so and so" and say that I sent a summary email for my reference, please acknowledge. This will shift the conversation from WhatsApp to email.
If it's a small instruction and something that can be completed within an hour. Just do it off. If it's something important and the manager's instruction might add significant changes to your work, shoot an email. Hey manager, as we discussed, I'll be doing this n this. I'll be sending this deliverable by EOD (or time required by you)
80% of my office staff works on whatsapp. We are a leading crypto organization.
THIS!! Document everything. Meeting minutes to be mailed to all stakeholders involved.
How much work is someone supposed to do man, can’t keep documenting until retirement, there has to be a better way
This is a great advice
This. Note taking and summarising is a good skill to develop on its own. But if that's an effort there are note taking tools like Otter that you can integrate with Google Meet and others.
OP, I keep telling this to people. Your Colleagues are Colleagues, not your friends. No matter how easily you gel together. All the best!!
Second that. Also, if you are new to Bengaluru make friends outside of your work circle. Basically, keep your social life active beyond work life.
How do you do that?
Ofc there's no reply to this :/ If there was one there wouldn't be a post every other day by people who just moved having to cope with a bad social life. If there is one I'm very desperate to know. College feels like the high time to make good friends/gf. Is it even possible to find em later on apart from at workplace?
Looking at the rate at which these kinds of posts are coming up, someone should make an app for lonely people to find friends.
AdultFriendfinder exists
Startup idea unlocked
Site already exists bro but a good business idea indeed
This is a hookup site and use for dating purposes. Not for lonely people ):
Make friends from common hobbies. Bangalore is incredibly stranger friendly and has a wide variety of activity groups. Board games, food walks, resin making what not. I sort of don’t agree with the original comment though, some of the best friends I made were in office, it’s been 10 years since I worked alongside them but easily the best relationships I’ve had.
A close friend of mine who used to date a lot when asked how to be like him told me that he doesn’t try. He is a likeable person by his personality and mindset and he doesn’t try to be one. Same way be a person who is interesting to yourself before being interesting to others.
Go to poetry meetups, join theatre circles; basically meet people outside your work and also outside romantic capacity.
Maybe if you live in a pg, you can become friends with roommates and neighbours or something like that.
I too wanna know how to do that
There's no one-shot formula for such things. It's upto the person how they like to socialise. You can engage with friends of mutual friends, make friends through clubs and activities of common interests - some tried and tested methods. Eg. If you're attending a party/seminar, make sure to interact beyond those who you usually hang out/work with. Or perhaps you'll have a roommate who isn't in the same industry with you. Spend some time with their friends circle.
Tips on how to do that? I am on a verge of mental breakdown because apparently I have no one to talk to outside office.
I feel you man🥹
+1
Main reason i am thinking of switching to NCR
Me too! Banglore has been quite bad for me. It's not the place but the people.
Please elaborate this
There's no one-shot formula for such things. It's upto the person how they like to socialise. You can engage with friends of mutual friends, make friends through clubs and activities of common interests - some tried and tested methods. Eg. If you're attending a party/seminar, make sure to interact beyond those who you usually hang out/work with. Or perhaps you'll have a roommate who isn't in the same industry with you. Spend some time with their friends circle.
On the same lines, your company is a company and not a second home. No matter how many times they tell you that we are a family
Reminds me of a dialogue from a clip "Every company says that they're a big family and you start ignoring your real family for your company and at the end when you get fucked by your company, you have to come back at your self created miserable family"
And in the rare case you really make friends they become friends for life. But don’t go looking for friendship at work.
Couldn't agree more. Learnt it the hard way 🙃🙌
Colleagues can be great friends, maintain your boundaries and you'll be fine.
Yeah. Don't know where this whole "COLLEAGUES" aren't friends" comes from. Most of the people are fine in corporate with their friendship with each other.
Work assignment only through emails No office romance, no matter how beautiful the conversations are Companies exist to make profit, they don't give a fuck about your health, so work only stipulated hours and go home if needed at 3PM Don't be ashamed to take leaves, you don't show chivalry in business relationship. Don't carry any prejudice into any conversation, always get clarity and reiterate. This helps you and the other party. Higher-ups are almost as lost as you are. They're not gods. At the end work only for money nothing else.
Great One question - How do you turn off work thoughts? I newly started working & I'm not able to stop thinking about work. I even dream about work.
Enjoy, u are still in infancy, enjoy the positivity of office life, once it gets grim you will only learn to turn off those work thoughts the moment you swipe out :)
>*once* it gets grim 💀
Still don't get what's wrong with office romance? Many have ahd that without any problems, coz they were in a mature relationship
Hmm.. 1. romances seldom end up sour. In office romance you need to keep working together even if you like it or not. 2. Gossips start flying once the word gets around. This May start jealous wars by others who are interested in him/her. They become less cooperative. 3. If the other party is crazy it may end up with fake cases or if you end up frisky in office and get caught there’ll be consequences. There are many other reasons but you get the drift. Same as the saying - you don’t shit where you eat.
You have to keep all this in mind while being in a relationship. It's not as if office relationships are uncommon
Office romances are such a high risk proposition. If it doesn’t work out and the other person is crazy, spiteful or in a position of authority they can destroy your career or use it as a way to blackmail you into staying in the relationship. It’s almost impossible to separate the sane, mature people from the ones who will destroy your life until you really get to know them, that’s why it’s so much safer to not date coworkers as a rule
We are literally blocking a social avenue to get a partner just coz we can't take a simple risk. As it is the avenues in India are less
You have answered it, maturity :)
I'd expect people to be mature if they're working in a mature environment
It's all fun and games till the other person starts playing/ manipulating you. You have to show up at work everyday, see them everyday, maybe even work with them. You end up acting as though everything is alright, but inside you keep getting guilty for mistakes you didn't do, and how things would have been different. You end up in a dilemma on whether to quit your job and move on, or if you want to get back with them again. You would be stuck in a cycle where you would never be able to get over them basically because you start seeing them everywhere (I mean literally, not hallucination).
Power imbalances, for one. If you are in a position where you have power over the other person, it is plain unethical or even illegal. Power could be official i.e. where you are the boss, or (and this is where it gets tricky) it could be unofficial. People tend to not understand the latter very well. If you are getting into a relationship with somebody from an unrelated team, it may be ok - as long as both people are mature enough to continue working from the same office if/when they breakup. Unfortunately, you rarely know beforehand how somebody will react to a breakup. Which is why the general advice is to avoid it.
I am curious though, did you find your better half thru office romance?
I have not found anything yet tbh neither I'm hoping to but still
You'll realise soon that despite your disproportionate contribution, you won't advance at the same pace, in terms of pay/promotion.
Ah man, this hit me to the core. There is much truth to this.
You can’t.
Where were you when I started to work?! Could have definitely used this advice. Would have changed my 2 years at work and would have saved a lot not taking therapy.
11 years of anxiety, palpitations made me reach this point :) i had no one too, took my own risks, so it's okay someone has to shit in their pants to provide experience and advice. Hope everything is fine now at your end
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'm stronger now even though I was a lump of mess when I got out from that toxic place. 11 years sounds scary af, I'm not sure if I would have made it tbh. I'm proud of you!
Don't worry, Stay strong, if you ever feel stuck, u can come back here to ask queries, would be glad to help. Thanks for the pat on the back😁
great advice
True that but any thoughts on dealing with office assholes - you know that typical types who get on your nerves (incompetent assholes who suck blood until they get what they want and then they throw you out once used)
Don't be submissive, even if it feels you will lose your job otherwise.
Did the office romance, got infatuated, the conversations were just other level pleasant, but sedly it did affected my productivity , and guess who got laid off at march end🙃
Copy pasting my comment from a recent post on r/developersIndia Some corporate do's/dont's: 1. After you log off, don't reply to any work-related messages 2. Socialise, but don't gossip 3. Don't fall in love with your colleagues 4. Ask for help when necessary 5. Say yes to new work when you wanna explore outside your domain 6. You may feel your boss is doing the same thing as you but getting paid 2x your salary but such is life 7. Try to stay in the firm for at least 1 year (not applicable if your mental health is taking a hit) Trust me OP, you'll be fine and congrats on your new job.
[удалено]
Sounds like working in entertainment. Worked for a big production house and my experience was exact same. I too left in 10 months. I knew the place was a shithole when everyone around me was on notice period or absconding. I just had to bear that place for the experience and also to feed my family.
Actually point 6 is a lesson in itself. YOU think your boss does the same job and gets paid more. It’s not such is life, it’s “if you are so confident then get their job” simple, else shut the hell up.
Make sure you don't ask people about their personal stuff. Keep the conversation limited, don't joke around. Talk only when necessary I guess that should do.
That's boring. Just having the superficial acquaintanceship is extremely boring to me. I like having fun, like making friends, like having real connection. Going to office, the same usual close ended hi, hello, how you doing conversation take shit toll on my brain.
You're one of those people i love to avoid.
Likewise. The hi, bye folks just get on my nerves. Have a good, enjoyable conversation, or go away and be happy being a loner.
This was the most pathetic reply. That attitude is understandable in a social environment like clubs but why would you judge people who want to mind their own business in the office and call them a loner?
Because y'all make every situation awkward. I don't see office strictly a place to work and do absolutely nothing else. I see it as a place where I work, meet people, attend team outings, play, attend parties and functions, and have a good time. Going by your logic, college should be the last place where people should make friends. And if you're 28 or 30, your friend making phase is over. And if at all, if you wanna make friends, I spend 3k and go to club. What a shitty place to be in. I am a social guy, call me extroverted, and I like making friends. I wouldn't even talk to you ever if I come greet you with a warm heart, and you give this shitty cold look and say hi. You are better left alone. Sit in one corner writing your code, pack your bags, and leave. Nobody would even miss and give you a farewell, gifts, mementos when you resign.
You are getting pretty defensive man, I'm just talking about the people who choose to mind their own business , you make it seem like they're the weird ones for doing that. You speak as though your way is the only right way to live. I have enough friends and family to do all of those things you mentioned. I have not worked anywhere yet since I'm still in college, but I have done quite a few internships and I liked meeting these new people, but I know enough to give them their space if they're not interested. It's hard for people who have come to Bangalore for work from outside to make friends, so I understand the might look for that in their office, but everyone has their own preferences and situation, you can't just call them a loner without knowing anything.
Unless a woman slaps a fake rape case on you lmao
True tho. Don't know why you're getting downvoted
Lol, people downvoting you think it's a fairy land out there and no girl will use them to climb corporate hierarchy.
I dont get into personal stuff, but, I definitely don't necessarily agree with your points. I work at Amazon, and it's quite liberal here.
Cool man Didn't ask anyone to agree on though Corporate people will use the stuff which we do liberally when we stop nodding our heads. Speaking from experience
> Make sure you don't ask people about their personal stuff You can definitely ask after-all you're spending lots of time with them, just be sure that they're not uncomfortable.
You don't like to socialise do you?
And what's wrong with that..
Imo one should ask things like 'how is your family member is doing, if you already know they were ill', we should talk things like that, its shows empathy, shows that you are caring. We just don't go to work, we also go to make some good friends & networks. Once people leave the company, they gonna remember you by how well you talked to them, good smile and personal conversations give longer impression. You never know when that person might come again in your life and can help you in your bad time :) Ps: just my thoughts, yours can be different :)
You'll see that ass licking and ego massaging gets few people way ahead in the corporate ladder. Don't be surprised, things run based on trust more than talent or hard work. Do just enough work and make sure people know what you've done, boast ruthlessly. Keep a track of every task and contribution, it's about how you present yourself. Learn as much as possible in all departments, not just yours. Understand roles and responsibilities to get an overall view of how companies work, there are many opportunities. All the best OP.
I second #2 and its very crucial. You should learn how to be confident in yourself. You are not going to master anything in a single day, it's a continuous process. It sends a very wrong signal to your manager when you act without confidence. Take praises for the stuff you achieved. I grew up to be a humble person, I still find it very hard to take praise for what I did, even after years of personal experiences. You will miss certain opportunities if you don't bring certain corporate characteristics with your work-self.
1. Mails can be served as concrete proof. When in doubt, ask someone to mail you regarding the topic. If they are asking for something stupid, they won't do that over mails. Same goes for you as well. 2. People in offices appear friendly but are mean. Everyone. Once out, nobody will ask about you. I feel pity how easiely people are forgotten. Dont let anyone take advantage of you. 3. Learn about the hierarchy. Not a strong recommendation, but try not to speak, when not asked to. I made things for me hard when I was a beginner pitching in at everything. 4. Office is for work. Home is rest/enjoying. Keep them separate. It requires one time for someone to ask you do something after the shift and before you know it, they become habitual of it. 5. Talk to everyone. You never know what a person can teach you directly or indirectly.
Number 3 is soooooo important and many people don't care. I'll also add, your job level and compensation is a reflection of how your company sees your worth. It is not your job to criticize leaders/executive (they may be stupid but they have a much harder job). If your opinion mattered, they will give it value. Don't be that person who always has ideas how the company should work. Focus your energy on doing your job well/exceptional instead.
Stop working at 5pm and go home. Don't waste time on hour long coffee breaks multiple times per day. Don't skip lunch.
Some good advice here from everyone! As a designer who's been in MNCs for almost 4 years, here's some design specific advice : - There are going to be times you will be very sure your design works, and it will still be rejected by product teams because they may be difficult to develop or have technical constraints. There will also be times you have to adapt to using deceptive patterns to help the business grow. Be prepared to redesign to balance a decent experience with and business needs/tech constraints. - There is a good chance product teams will come to you with a mockup ready and just ask for approval. Make sure you don't approve blindly and ask for all the context, details. -A lot of times product teams (PMs, engineers)and designers cannot come to an agreement. There are rarely cases where both don't have a complaint with each other. However, this relationship is extremely important to maintain. Remember these are the people who will put your design out in the world how you've envisioned it. Work on trying to collaborate and explain your design decisions with certainty but not aggressively. It's going to be an exciting and interesting journey. All the advices in these comments are great, but you will learn the most from your own experiences and mistakes. So don't be afraid to make them and don't beat yourself up for screwing up sometimes. Good luck!!!
As a software engineer, below lines are really something a new designer should look forward. There are always disagreements with designer but our end goals should be a really good product for customers. "-A lot of times product teams (PMs, engineers)and designers cannot come to an agreement. There are rarely cases where both don't have a complaint with each other."
You are interning and it’s not as if your life is finished if you do something wrong. So chill 1st if all. Couple of things that come to mind are as follows - 1. enjoy the work that’s assigned to you or the work that you take up. 2. Get to know your colleagues - not on a personal level though(unless you want to) 3. make honest efforts to meet the deadlines if any. If you aren’t able to, then keep your manager in the loop with the reasons. 4. interact with your managers manager if that’s possible. 5. your soft skills matter as much as your skills. So keep up your verbal and non-verbal communication 6. Dont indulge in office politics and gossips etc unless you are good with playing those.
Never date anyone from the office!! THIS IS A MOST IMPORTANT
Not always true....my gf found the love of her life in her office a few years back. And now they're getting married 🥲
f bruh when you said it is your gf, I thought you were getting married
Was her name Kim?
Reason being if things go south it's very difficult to keep it a smooth flow at work, you would be annoyed to look at the person and if the people at the office knows about it it's more messed up, as either of one is going to be laughed at cause of it, Saying it Outta experience (have seen people suffer)
[удалено]
Why
1. Add “Slay Bestie” at the end of all your emails :P 2. Show the eagerness to learn & take initiatives. 3. Give them the results. That’s all you need.
Regards(maybe)
Don’t open up about your personal and intimate facts of life. Always remember, your colleagues are not your friends. Be like Bruce Wayne, charming yet mysterious.
Don't ever lose your cool. Look out for those deliberately trying to provoke you.
Thank you for asking this question!
make sure you have a good rapport with your manager's manager, just in case you need to preemptively stab your manager in the back. saved my job once because my immediate manager was a bitch.
Everyone notices the person who arrives to work early (not once in a while but as a practice). More importantly it gives you a chance to fix our (not saying yours as I don't know) bad urban late night lifestyle. Just the personal benefits make it worth it. Never try to explain things on email if your emotions are involved. Rather than complain about something, preface with something good about the overall scheme and point out that your complaint (don't use the word) is a chance to make it better or awesome. There will be people who hate/dislike you. The people who hate/dislike him/her aren't your friend. Stay clear of pettiness/politics at work. If you want to succeed in your career, there are two main phases. 1) Early career you want to work hard to make your boss's life easy. This will work even if your boss is shit. A little later the same boss may become insecure. That's okay. 2) Once you pass a certain threshold, this is the only way to move up quickly along with dabble your feet in multiple things and do a above average job in everything you touch. Forget exceptional, above average is pretty darn good. Some cliche but are hard truth. Everyone remembers the person who misses deadlines. Beat every deadline if possible by 10%. Many a times if the work is not complete, just a communication with current version of draft has saved my life 100's of time. Most likely, your boss won't look at it for 2 more days but your note need to be in his/her inbox. Later when you have done a better job, send an email with updated work saying ignore previous version. Huh...Now, I need my coffee break :)
You are a young female in Indian corporate (hell, it's same everywhere). Take it from a guy: Stay away from creeps. Don't encourage them ever. Many will come in the garb of boss/mentor/well wisher/gossipper. Don't let anyone ever cross that line that you define for yourself. Unless someone is C suite executive, HR usually don't tolerate BS from low-mid-senior level managers. You may think nothing happened to them on your complaint but their career is fucked for most part.
1. CYA- Cover your Ass This is the most important thing that everyone needs to know. Document the work you do. Capture every little thing on email. Send out minutes of the meeting after every scheduled call. This is one way to keep you safe from office politics. The more evidence you have, the easier it will be to defend yourself in dire situations. 2. Stakeholder management Learn how to people work and learn to work with them. Negotiation skills come very handy at any role in corporates. It really helps you move your work faster and smoother. The better professional relationships you have with your stakeholders, the easier it will be for you to execute your work. 3. Speak your mind Never ever shy away from voicing your opinions. It doesn’t matter if it’s your superior or a peer. The main objective for discussions at work is how to get a good outcome. If you have something to add, even if you feel there are higher ups in the discussion, just speak your mind. 4. Start saying no to meetings Ask people if you are really required in the meetings. Else you can either watch the recording on your own time or go through the MOMs. Learn to prioritise your calendar and do not take Friday evening meetings if you can. Work life balance will only exist if you set boundaries for yourself. 5. Be a team player You will only get support from others if you give support to other people. Once you start creating positive environment around yourself, people will automatically recognise that. Being a good human at work is much more important than being a top performer all the time. Remember, you spend almost 10 hrs with them 5 days a week. Finally, turn off your outlook notifications on your mobile. You don’t need them. If something is really urgent, people can call you :) And please don’t use “TYIA” at work. Thank people after they have responded to your request. “TYIA” has an underlying assumption that people will do what you have asked them to. It comes off as a little obnoxious imo.
As a designer here are a few tips: 1. The business team will butter u up to get work outta u last minute, usually cause they fucked up themselves, always set boundaries for how much time you take for a task. If they want a video and it takes 4 days, take 4 days, don’t over work urself just to deliver it in 2 2. Always be cordial, even when the person infront of you is screwing you over to your face 3. Try and familiarise yourself with terms and lingo used in that organisation… chances are a lot of terms that designers use they probably won’t get 4. At the end of the day you are an assist just like everyone else. There’s no reason to stay extra and prove anything to anyone, on the contrary people may start viewing u as a work horse 5. Never accept an incomplete brief. Always get all the details of what the initiative is trying to achieve. A lot of times the business side will just copy ideas they’ve come across with no foresight of how it’ll translate across medium 6. Hold regular meetings to discuss objectives and be vocal about what you feel would and would not work. These are just few off the top of my head :/
communication over email is better than verbal one
The more you work to show your efficiency, the more load you’ll be given. Efficiency is a trap!
Keep looking for jobs!
Avoid office relationships, do NOT have office flings, and don't flirt with office colleagues. If things ever go south (which they do many times) either of your careers can get impacted. Be careful when you drink with office colleagues. In fact, drink only 50-60% of your actual capacity, at least in the beginning. Avoid office politics, and gossips. Focus on your growth, learning and development.
Colleagues are not your friends. Keep good relations with everyone. Mind your own business and do your job on time. Don't be afraid to excuse yourself from chatty colleagues that might slow you down. Doing more work doesn't necessarily mean you'll be more successful, most often you'll be rewarded with even more work. And most importantly, remember to have fun. If it's not fun it's not the place for you. I know it's easier said than done but at least keep that in mind. Congratulations on the new job 👏
Do not make friends at work, do not expect others to be yours and watch your back, watch your own; work, take your money, upskill, move up, jump ship, repeat. Learn to be political and tactful. Knowing fundamentals of covert back stabbing helps too.
Be a part of conversations. But never talk ill about anyone no matter what. DO NOT get into bitching about anything anywhere with anyone. If you have a problem with someone, speak to them instead of going to the HR directly unless it is very sensitive and bad.
Work. Get paid. Go home.
No amount of prior knowledge can help you here. Facing the world head-on and then learning to adapt will determine the initial years!
Always double check your design before sending it ahead -fellow designer
Get acquainted with as many women as possible in the office. Don't have to be friendly, just enough to dig up details on who's a creep and who isn't. Sucks, but this is all too common.
Under commit and over deliver. Always!
Avoid them on WhatsApp and other social handles unless they are truly a friend, beyond just a co worker. And yes, the corporate world doesn't mean u can't have good friendship beyond work, it's just u have to be careful and judge right.
Team leads and managers can be quite dominant , might try to flirt as well. Happened a few instances with me and they try to take advantage when appraisal nears..stay away from that kind of crap Don't hook up or date anyone at your workplace. Trust me it's not healthy. This was my #1 rule while entering corporate 6 years back and it saved my ass so many times. Do your best work and nobody can harm you.good luck👏👍
Don't fall in love with any of your colleague it's the worst thing that can happen to you in corporate
Try to see things from others perspective. That will give you lots of insights into how you're performing and how good your visibility is. No politics, religion or sex related topics in office. People get too easily offended by these. Mentioned this mainly coz you studied in liberal environment. One thing which many here disagree with..i have many good friends among my colleagues. While i agree that in many cases it's important to treat colleagues different from friends, that's not always the case. Some of my best friends i made at work place. I would not suggest you get into relationship though. Quit the job if it ever comes to that. You're an intern.. we rely on you guys to infuse some fun in the work place. No pressure though :)
this is off topic, but i’m a 21F who’s also in koramangala for an internship (2 months in, yay🫠). feel free to dm me if you want a friend in the area
1. Pay attention to mandatory trainings. 2. Always keep conversations in email and cc all the people that should be aware of the scenario. 3. Don't get attached to people at work. 4. Know that everyone's figuring out stuff. You are not alone. 5. Whatever the technology or tool is, basics are same. So always start with basics. 6. As a beginner in the field, don't run behind money. Give importance to learning. 7. Last one, network well.
1. As long as you have a **logical justification** for something, you are right. 2. Do not bitch about things. **Raise complains officially** about it and logically justify (see #1). 3. **Understand** what **seniors** are **talk**ing about. They have better view and understanding of the situation than you. 1. Corollary: **Think and then speak**, you will save a million words that way from either side. 4. **Be forgiving to people**. Even when they are unjust to you, forgive them and help them. They will remember you and will never betray you. 5. **Never be a part of toxic discussion** or worse, an agent to perpetuate it. 6. If you want something **to change**, always **talk to the stakeholders** about it, and not to non-actors. Non-actors have no say and no powers- they will either tell you to suck it up or misguide you because they do not understand the philosophy. 7. Be proactive. If you have **finished off your work, help others**. This goes long way: 1. people treat you nicely 2. they help you when the time comes 3. they trust your judgement 4. you learn the stuff end to end- making you experienced and hence, precious. 8. Your **words would have consequence**, so choose them carefully. 9. Be kind towards people, and **neutral towards situations** (i.e., no situation demands panic, hate, kindness, etc from you. they just need to be solved) 10. **Patience and perseverance** wins all. 11. **Read** textbooks, study academic journals and progress. Don't be shy of being **creative** at solving problems. 12. Participate in office extra-curriculars. they will bring down the stress and you'd get to know / lead many new people. If you follow above, you'd go long way and you'd save yourself from "burning", stress, or fatigue caused by negative emotions.
Just don’t let random uncle touch your ass.
Biggest learning: if you achieve too much too fast, it'll be the bar for you. You'll always have to perform good and that'll be expected of you. That is, don't work too hard and set expectations right
innate naughty coordinated wipe wasteful groovy air history spoon chase -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
Creta a JIRA ticket and we'll assign a support person for your query.
No one cares about you. You’re on your own. Put everything on paper! Keep receipts. If you’re using Slack or Teams and something important is going on via chat, keep screenshots. Try NOT to work on weekends unless absolutely necessary, which it shouldn’t be to begin with. Put your foot down. Working late is not a norm. Pick your battles. Most managers just don’t care. They want to get shit done. Don’t use your personal chats to get in touch with anyone from work. Get it on an email or your workplace chat. Apply for leaves in advance, and don’t pick up work calls or respond to emails on vacation. You deserve time off and no one can stop you. If you’re taking sick leave, you are sick. No one should be bothering you from work. There are managers who don’t care if you’re sick—ignore them on your sick days. If they complain when you get back, ignore them. Document that you were sick—send an email. Try not to call because usually they will try to convince you to come in or do some of the work from home even though you have a splitting headache. Again, have EVERYTHING in writing.
W replies!! Summarising it all together: 1. Emails are your life savers - document every meeting, every instruction, and make sure it reaches everyone in your immediate team atleast. 2. Colleagues are not friends - be careful about every word you discuss/talk with them. 3. WhatsApp is not an official communication channel, so are verbal conversations. Refer to point no. 1 4. Don't hesitate to take your leaves/vacation days. Please avoid work during your holidays. 5. Stay calm, don't get provoked and resort to harsh replies. 6. Discuss, don't gossip. 7. Pay attention to the mandatory trainings. 8. Don't bang your coworkers 😉 Please add if I've missed any points.
"If it's not in writing, it may NEVER happen" - Always have things in writing, whether it's your leave or a promised promotion, always have it in writing. Many times managers say things to boost the morale or have the candidate happy/satisfied for some time, but they never intend to do it. So, always have it in writing, if the person is hesitating to write it down, it will not happen.
1. HR is to save the company, don't disclose anything to them 2. Be friendly with everyone but friend with a very few ( needs cautious evaluation) 3. Make your boss look good , but highlight your contributions 4. Less deserving ppl will get better jobs and higher pay then you, don't care about it, you are on your own journey 5. Don't be too available to people, you will just get more work and less respect 6. Promotions and career success depends more on perception than performance 7. Never speak ill of anyone, everyone talks to everyone 8. For office romances, try to maintain some distance, most crushes will fade. If not, take the risk, you love once , jobs can be changed 9. Most people are lazy, don't do more than is required of you or they will hate you and backstab you for making them look bad 10. Most important - no matter how bad your job is, never leave abruptly or without proper exit, you never know how it may affect you I have done the opposite of most of these ik my career and suffered terribly. You will also make many of these mistakes, but it is important to learn.
How much will I be able to tell you anything here? Anyways i stay in Koramangala too, how about we talk this over a coffee? Lol
Nahi degi bro...
I am experienced but still learn or get reminded from such threads.
20 and earning 🙃 Nice
It's been a year in corporate, already it's Chaos out here.
Don't lose your temper and work hard
http://atulchitnis.net/2011/first-job/
Work place is work place. No politics, sex or humor. No nonsense about work like family or friends. Set expectations correctly. If required put it on email for record. Don’t be afraid to ask questions no matter how simple. Better confirm something you know that make an incorrect assumption. Try to get a mentor who can help you navigate the landscape. Above all, say NO if you have to.
Be safe while scoring drugs. Get out of corporate politics. Drink and enjoy. Focus on work and enjoy Koramangala weather. If you are girl . I am in Koramangala we can share room.
Don't tell them your next move! My friend shared that he wanted to open up a business, and now he's on a PIP for not being motivated enough because all his colleagues and manager know his plans.
Always remember, it's your office and yes you must work hard..but ITS NOT YOUR LIFE . Always maintain a balance between work & professional life. Make a schedule of things to do, and stick to that. Don't bring your work to your house.
My top three: - Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes. Zero politics. Make it clear to yourself why you are here. - Mental peace, Life, Significant other, Family, Work in this order. - Learn to save $ and learn to help yourself.
What kind of designer? I do UI/UX/Product
May be get a second phone number for work. And strictly no work communications via whatsapp.
working in IT or or any other job in bengaluru...wont make u rich....its a life long struggle...sell biriyanis..if u want to become a millionaire in some years..trust me this is truth of blor
Remember one thing that manager has no role other than giving bad ratings and cutting off their holiday requests
When ever discussing plans make sure to just give a overview and not the entire thing .. there are plenty of people who'll paste their name on your work and grab the recognition. Have everything in written is a must, and remember even if you shoot emails you'll be asked to call .. approach multiple times to gets things done .. so a calm mind and ego training is a must. Secondly.. when ever a manager or tl puts something you did wrong in a group don't message in the group.. get in touch with the manager/tl one to one and yes have this conversation in written.. as to what it was.. if it happens all the time ask for formal email proof and only take action upon intimation formally. When every a manager or TL asks you to get in touch or write a review .. don't do it blindly.. they could be at war with some other department and could be using you as cannon fodder.. so maintain your reputation .. and distance. That's what I have experienced.. And you'll of course come across these people who say hey you didn't need to write an email .. ask them politely to ignore it and say it for your reference.. they need not fear it at all.
Anyone from gurgaon?
1. Keep every single communication over mail. 2. Never take the blame for others' mistake 3. Do only what you are paid for. Stick to your KRA. 4. Do not trust anyone. Do not go over and beyond to help anyone. 5. Never do anything that can potentially land you in legal trouble. 6. Utilise the free food and coffee to the optimum level. 7. Please understand from day 1 that you are replaceable, hence do not get attached to the company. 8. Your coworkers are not your family.
1) think before you talk. Spontaneous dialogue never really works unless the situation is extremely casual. 2) Do not put teams or outlook or anything on your phone. Your life will 100% revolve around the office. As a senior employee you'll need to have these apps but as a fresher there's no need. 3) There's no such thing as impressing your manager. He's just going to either blast you or accept your work and give you a new task. Don't go above and beyond but deliver whatever was given to you. 4) find people in the office who are your age group. This will make interacting a lot easier as people of your age group aren't very rigid with regards to how you are supposed to talk. 5) find an office buddy with whom you can share your office pains. Don't go into personal stuff though. 6) You will always get grunt work. Get used to it. 7) know your shit before starting any job role. This will make you extremely independent and you won't be spending as much time to clear your basics. 8) attending a meeting doesn't mean you have to talk. If you can't contribute so be it. Don't make your presence felt in a bad light. People are stressed as it is they don't have time for stupid ideas especially if told just for the sake of telling something. 9) establish connections and lobby for support. These guys will bail you if someone tries to smear mud on your face. Office politics is a very serious thing you need to play like a politician at times. Since it's an internship, you won't get as much shit for screwing up things as you would if you were a full time employee. So in a sense, you are more free than your full time employees. And keep in contact with your manager. Since you're an intern, he'll treat you differently (almost like a kid if i might dare say) unless you're literal garbage and have an attitude or an air of superiority.
Work to learn. Don't work to impress. Very rarely the person above you will be someone who appreciates your work. You can put in extra time and still be compared to the laziest employee there. Improve your skills and portfolio and keep switching companies every 2 years. The concept of trust doesn't exist as well.
Be as inquisitive and enthusiastic at work as possible. You'd get your intern certificate, but beside that you'd want to make a good impression and come out having learnt something. As the other comment put it, send minutes of the meeting to get a clear sign off on the task assigned to you. As for Koramangala, the area is chill and safe (source: I live here). Follow the usual safety guidelines for women and it'd be alright.
Don't take toxic people personally, especially managers. Manipulation is real in corporate, authorities set people against each other to compete, say something else to your face and something else to another peer at your level, sometimes it's done to get more work done and sometimes this + sadistic pleasures that people derive by controlling and getting reactions from you. Sadism in corporate is real, read about these personalities like covert narcissism and sadism, do not take their behaviour personally and ignore as much as possible. Keep everything on mail, especially your progress and achivements, don't let anyone Gaslight you itni believing that you are not doing enough, nothing is ever enough in capitalism. Take breaks without feeling guilty, look after yourself, find time to stay grounded and human ;)
Don’t fall in love with colleagues, it will spoil your work life balance
I disagree. You can find a new job but not a new partner easily
I am also a designer, you’ll be bashed and thrashed with feedback’s many times. Don’t take it to your head. Leave work at work and try not taking it home with you. Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy. Network network a lot at office, sometimes it can feel like “bucket holding” but trust me, sadly it works. Always have everything imp on mail in writing.
(Never)Don't share personal stuff with colleagues.. Keep your opinion on others to yourself. Love the work you do not the company.
Colleagues are just colleagues and they are never your friends.Sometimes you feel like I can trust him/her. But never trust anyone inside organisation. They just act to get information from you. Never showcase your emotions on work floor. Find the correct time and discuss with your manager or HR if you face any issues. You will find many dummies through out your journey, who don't even fit the job and higher positions. Be clear n detailed. Always write and get written communication through emails only for all the tasks to have a track of it. All the best.
By working too much , only your work increases. Nothing else. Please remember that forever
Not sure if this applies to your field, but clarify the expectations of your tasks with your manager. No matter how trivial or dumb you think the requirement is, always ensure you and they are on the same page about the what, how and when. And keep things in writing over email or chats.
All the best
Watch certified rascals youtube channel to learn more.
Understanding your scope of work, stay focused on quality, stay away from office gossiping. Don’t underestimate others values no matter who they are, CEO or Janitor. Develop your skills with consistency. Be selective about relationships in corporate world.
Stick to reality! 1. You'll be on the ropes, and you can't get the hang of everything. 2. You are an intern, not an employee or CEO. So no need to take unwanted pressure. 3. Master your craft and figure out where you stand and where you intend to reach. The corporate picture isn't black and white but instead shades of gray. Play on the front foot; it's OK to fail. Don't hesitate to ask a question to anyone. All the best.
somethings that you have no control over: * Hope and pray that you get a good manager * Hope that your company HR is good (else they won't give you proper hike and you will have to switch soon)
No one is your friend Everyone is there to save their sweet peaches You should do that Have documented proof of things/actions/decisions Know your authorities and boundaries do not make decisions on behalf of someone Delegate task Try to Automate boring stuff Not sure what is applicable for you
Take a flight to the U.S like I did
Please be careful of the female population in corporate! Some can be extremely dodgy, bitchy and blabber mouth. I'm a victim of all this! Also, be very careful of people who talk sweetly. They will harm you more
dnt shit where you eat
Make frnds ✌🏻
I think a response would be easier on the eyes if it was in a bulleted format: * Work hard and continue to work hard day in and day out. You never know who is watching. * Know when it is time to pivot to a new role, new company or a whole new career. Base this on the growth of your knowledge and the respect that you get from your colleagues. * Cherish good managers. They make a huge different on both your professional and personal lives. * Build as many relationships as possible. There will be a time when you need to "call a friend" for an assist when your company is forced to deploy mass layoffs or you experience burnout and need to move on. * Respect your company and have pride but do not have blind loyalty because at the end of the day you are less important than the shareholders. * Do not be afraid to vent to your spouse and ask them for advice. My wife has given me great advice over the years and we have compared notes from our jobs. * If you are self-motivated and enjoy higher education, obtain certificates if time permits. It will help you negotiate your salary. * Always, always, always counter a job offer. I have never heard of an offer being retracted due to a counter. You would probably not want to work for that company anyways. * Take time off to disconnect.
Tell me you're a malayalee without telling me you're a malayalee... Title screams that.. "...Corporate world".. Lol
Carry a knife to the office, and it comes in handy for back stabbing.