Tips for New Corporate Employees

14 years ago in September 2011, I walked into corporate with BIG dreams, not fully knowing the adventure that lay ahead. Here are 𝟭4 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 back then: 1. There is no pride in pulling all-nighters. Your career ⁠is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Pace yourself and refuel often. 2. Take vacations. This is the most underappreciated thing on which I can’t emphasise more. 3. It’s not enough to work hard. Become better at marketing yourself internally and externally. 4. No amount of money or success is worth anything if your health is falling. Prioritise fitness as early as possible. 5. Family always takes precedence. Period. Carve out time to call your loved ones frequently [preferably everyday]. 6. You do not know where your career will go in a few years. Do not be hell-bent / 100% sure of what you think your career path should be. 7. Give interviews as often as possible, even when you’re happy with your job. 8. Learn to manage your manager. Understanding what they value can change the trajectory of your growth. 9. Build your network before you need it. Relationships compound over time just like investments. 10. Don’t chase job titles blindly. Instead, look for roles that expand your skills and perspective. 11. Money is important, but freedom to choose how you spend your time is the ultimate wealth. 12. Mentors accelerate growth. Find them early, and when the time comes, be that mentor for others. 13. Learn to say “no” gracefully. Every yes has a hidden cost. 14. Most importantly, enjoy the ride. You’ll never get these years back, so make sure you’re living, not just working. #Careergrowth #Reflections

Early Lessons That Make a Difference Occasionally, I have the privilege of speaking with new graduates or employees who have just started their first job. The question they most often ask me is, "If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what would it be?" I never have enough time to answer this question fully, and I always leave thinking of things I forgot to mention. With that in mind, I wrote down a few pieces of advice that would have made a difference in my career. - Speak up! Don't let being new stop you. The fact that you are new gives you a unique and valuable perspective. Even if something seems obvious, don't hesitate to call it out and voice your opinion. Having a voice at work will strengthen your influence and get you noticed. - Don't prioritize work over your health. You might feel pressured to skip exercise and sleep to complete more work. This is a lousy tradeoff that will ultimately negatively impact your productivity, work quality, and well-being. Well-rested, healthy people perform better. - If you find yourself stuck, step away and return to it later. Taking a break can help refresh your perspective and give your brain a chance to work on the issue subconsciously. It may seem counterintuitive, but doing something else might be the quickest way to solve your problem. - Talk to everyone you can. Now is the time to invest in building your network. The people at the desks next to you are tomorrow's CEOs and industry leaders. It's easy to do. Most people like it when you are curious about their work and are more than happy to converse. - Your teammates are invaluable resources. Get to know the folks around you. Wisdom abounds, so learn from them. Understanding what has worked and not worked for others can be a big career shortcut. - Start making decisions, and try not to introduce new ones. Only ask if you know you have to. "Can I do x?" introduces a new decision, and you risk getting blocked. Instead, do it. Take ownership. It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission, but always weigh the risks. - The best way to learn (from someone) is to offer help. Find someone you want to learn from and be useful to them. People are more inclined to invest in you if you offer them something in return. - Talk to the executives. As a junior engineer, I felt nervous speaking to senior leaders. As a senior, I notice people are nervous to engage with me. Those who do stand out, and we often have the best conversations where we both learn new things. So, be bold and make high-level connections. - Set clear goals. Having a waypoint on which to focus your career will help clarify what you need to do. The more specific your goals are, the better your chances of achieving them. - Success is a team sport. It's hard to be successful without the support of others. That means it's essential for you to be a good teammate. Listen to what others say, try to make others successful, and most importantly–don't be a jerk.

Advice on how to be most impactful when joining a new company/team. 𝗧𝗟𝗗𝗥: maximize your output/noise ratio from day 1. I've hired hundreds of people in my career and there's a clear pattern for those who successfully land and grow in a new company/team/org. 1) 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, not talking. Before offering opinions or suggestions, deeply understand the company, the problems being solved, what everyone is working on, the culture. Research, read, listen. Make sure everything you do creates minimum interruption and maximum value. Submit a PR on your first day. 2) 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁, 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲. Make decisions with data. Identify problems and solve them. No one likes people who only bring problems. If you see something broken, fix it without anyone needing to notice. 3) 𝗕𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆. You almost never need to claim credit for anything. Let the results speak for themselves. Always empower others. 4) 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽, 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. Have an idea for solving a problem? Great, go do it and come back with results + data. No one wants to work with a random idea generator. 5) 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸. Ask for constructive criticism on how you can do better. Adopt a mindset of continuous learning. Thank people who give you hard truths. 6) 𝗕𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿. If you commit to a deadline, treat it as sacred. Do whatever it takes to deliver. 7) 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼. Understand your strengths and the company's gaps, then fill them proactively. 8) 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. Ask yourself every week: what did I ship? How can I ship more next week? 9) 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆. Don't rely on others to teach you or do things for you. Figure it out. 10) 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲. Just solve problems. 11) 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵�� 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁. Learn how to work with anyone. 12) 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴. Not everything needs to be "fixed" just because it's different from your last company. 13) 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆. Different companies value different communication styles, meeting cultures, and decision-making processes. 14) 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀. Especially early on, share progress and raise flags early. 15) 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂. Find ways to make everyone else more effective. Share your learnings. 16) 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄. Don't burn energy with excessive back-and-forth. Be honest and set expectations correctly from the start. What would you add to this list? What's worked for you when joining a new team? #CareerAdvice

Just Started a New Job? Here’s What I Wish I Knew in My First 90 Days! The first 90 days in a new job feel like a mix of excitement, imposter syndrome, and trying not to mess up. 😅 I’ve been there—fresh out of BBA, stepping into the corporate world as a Research Analyst. And trust me, I learned the hard way that how you start can set the tone for your entire career. Here’s the New Joiner’s 90-Day Checklist that actually works (not just vague advice like “work hard”): 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝟑𝟎 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒: 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍 & 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄 📌 Understand expectations from Day 1. ✔️ Ask your manager: “What does success look like in my first three months?” ✔️ Find out your short-term & long-term goals in the role. 📌 Get the lay of the land. ✔️ Who does what? Who should you reach out to for what? ✔️ Listen more than you speak in meetings—it helps you pick up the company’s work style. 📌 Make friends early. ✔️ Don’t just talk to your team—network across departments. ✔️ Schedule casual coffee chats (virtual or in person) to understand how people work. 📌 Get clarity on tools & processes. ✔️ Every company has its own way of working—learn the systems, software, and shortcuts. ✔️ Don’t wait for someone to teach you everything—ask and explore. 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟑𝟏-𝟔𝟎: 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 📌 Take ownership of small wins. ✔️ Don’t wait to be told what to do—be proactive! ✔️ If you see something that could be done better, suggest improvements. 📌 Build your personal brand within the company. ✔️ Volunteer for projects that align with your strengths. ✔️ Share useful insights in meetings—don’t sit silently. 📌 Start giving value, not just taking notes. ✔️ Offer solutions instead of just pointing out problems. ✔️ Share ideas—even if they’re small, they get noticed. 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟔𝟏-𝟗𝟎: 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 📌 Find a mentor. ✔️ Look for someone senior who can guide you and help navigate challenges. ✔️ Ask for feedback—people who grow fast take feedback well. 📌 Master time management. ✔️ By now, you’ll have more work—prioritize wisely. ✔️ Not everything is urgent. Learn to push back if needed. 📌 Showcase your impact. ✔️ Keep track of what you’ve worked on—it’ll help during performance reviews. ✔️ Ask your manager: “How can I bring more value?” 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟵𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 🔹 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 🔹 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆. 🔹 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻. #NewJob #CareerTips #First90Days #CorporateLife

You graduated college and landed your first real job. Now what? This transition from student to professional can feel like a shock. No one is truly prepared for how different the work world would be. Let me share advice I wish someone told me during my first months as a new grad employee. I hope these tips could help to navigate this exciting yet challenging period. => Set clear goals. The path after college lacks the structure. Ask yourself what do you want to achieve in your career. Then bream big aspirations into smaller achievements. These mini-goals create momentum and show progress. Each small win builds toward larger success. => Document your accomplishments. Your boss will not notice everything you do. Start a work journal now. Record technical wins, collaboration victories, and communication successes. This write up helps during performance reviews and promotion discussions. Your record becomes powerful evidence of your growth. => Learn the promotion criteria at your company. Map your goals to these expectations. Connect your documented achievements to the skills needed for promotion. This approach changes career growth from mysterious to manageable. => Build relationships across teams. Your network matters more than you realize. Schedule coffee chats with colleagues from different departments. These connections provide context about how the company functions. Plus, allies in other areas can champion your work. => Ask questions (without fear). Smart professionals constantly seek knowledge. No one expects you to know everything as a new graduate. Your fresh perspective might help with noticing improvements others miss. => Find the balance between independence and seeking help. Show initiative by attempting solutions before asking for supporr. Then bring specific questions rather than vague / utter confusion. This approach shows both effort and judgment. What other advice helped you during your first job? Feel free to share :)

💡 How to Make an Impact and Stand Out in Your First 30-60 Days in a New Role 💡 Starting a new job can be overwhelming, but it's also the perfect time to set the tone for your success and build meaningful relationships. In my past roles, I’ve been able to make an impact quickly and build genuine connection, many of which have become lifelong relationships. I want to share a few strategies that have helped me along the way: 1️⃣ Understand the Culture: Start by asking your manager and colleagues about the company’s culture, how people communicate, collaborate, and make decisions. Learn the unwritten rules and norms that shape day-to-day interactions. Use this insight to guide your approach as you settle in and contribute. 2️⃣ Build Personal Connections: Take the time to set up 1:1s with teammates, not just to understand their roles but to get to know them as individuals. By week 3 of my newest role, I’ve had 17+ 1:1s with colleagues ranging from ICs to directors. These conversations not only deepen relationships but also provide invaluable insights into the team dynamic and shared goals. I literally pinged folks on Slack and shared my request for a sync and included the goal and agenda in the cal invite. 3️⃣ Engage with ERGs or Employee Communities: If your company has ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) or similar communities, get involved! They’re a great way to expand your network, gain support, and contribute to fostering an inclusive workplace. 4️⃣ Set Goals for Yourself: What do you want to achieve in your first 90 days? Break it down into actionable steps. Proactively align with your manager on expectations and success metrics. 5️⃣ Take Advantage of Company Benefits: Build a self-care plan that integrates perks or benefits your company offer. Whether it’s mental health resources, fitness programs, or PTO policies. A healthy you is a productive you! 6️⃣ Create a Brag Bank: Start saving kudos and positive feedback from the start. In just a few weeks, I’ve already collected 3 screenshots of kind words from teammates that highlight my impact. Not only is this a great motivator, but it’s also incredibly valuable for performance reviews, advocating for a raise, or building your impact kit (check out my previous post for more on impact kits). 7️⃣ Understand Your KPIs: Get clear on your key performance indicators (KPIs) and create cheat sheets or trackers to stay on top of them. This helps you focus on what truly matters to your role. Starting strong is about curiosity, connection, and intentionality. What strategies have worked for you in a new role? 👀 Drop them in the comments! ⬇️ #hiring #interviewing #interviewprocess #territhetechie #blackwomenintech #careeradvice

Things I would tell my YOUNGER self before starting my first job. It has been almost 6 months since my first job started and to say the least, IT HAS BEEN A RIDE. ✅ It's okay if it takes you time to get accustomed to the role. You are not only learning how to do the job itself, you are also learning how to transition into the world of work generally! ✅ It's okay if it takes you longer to complete tasks which others appear to fly through. It's better to produce high quality work instead of rushing. ✅ Nobody expects you to be an expert from day one. There will be so much you don't know. As long as you show up, take responsibility and display enthu to learn, you will be absolutely fine. ✅ There is only one of you. If you have no time or capacity to take on new work, communicate that. It's impossible for you to be in 5 places at once. Prioritising is key. ✅ There is nothing wrong with asking questions. If you do not understand a task or a transaction, you are allowed to ask for clarification. We are not in the business of being mind readers. ✅ If you're stressed or overwhelmed, go for some different task after work. Even if it's the last thing you want to do. Even if it's just for 15 mins. ✅ Enjoy your time! You've already made it so far since the beginning of the process. You should stop to celebrate the wins no matter how small 🫶🏼 Corporate people, how is it going for you so far?

When you join a new job, it's easy to feel the pressure of proving yourself. You might think you need to take big wins, work extra hours, and push yourself hard to show your value. But this approach can quickly lead to burnout. Instead, focus on learning, adapting to the new environment, and making small, meaningful contributions. Here are some things to keep in mind (Actually I am telling these to myself loudly; so in a way, I am creating my own accountability here :-)): * Your first few months need to be about understanding the company, its culture, and how things work. Take time to absorb knowledge instead of rushing to impress. * Connect with your teammates, ask questions, and learn from their experiences. * Instead of trying to make a huge impact right away, look for small ways to add value. Maybe it's improving a process, helping a teammate, or solving a minor issue. These little wins build up over time. * Working extra hours or pushing too hard may seem like a good idea, but it’s not sustainable. A fresh mind and steady progress will get you further than burnout. * focus on learning and getting better. Your work will speak for itself in the long run. Add more to the list in the comments please, so that we can help each other to remove unnecessary stresses from our lives 😊

Tips for anyone in a new job: ✨ I have 3 for you. I started my current position at Sage in April. To me, it’s always interesting to experience the arc of being new. We go from “I’m completely clueless” to “Now I’m getting comfortable” to “What can I do to stretch myself?” rather quickly. We feel a range of emotions along the way. Here are a few things I’d share: 1.) Ask questions. Use your fresh eyes to your advantage. People respect curiosity. They’re willing to help if you show genuine interest in ramping up as quickly as possible. Asking questions is a sign of healthy ambition, too. 2.) Respect what was built before you. Sometimes, there’s a pull to suggest changes to processes or the shape of your job based on what you’ve experienced before. (It never hurts to suggest changes. I’ve done it in recent months.) But approach possible changes with a sense of respect. You represent the continuation of a story, not the beginning of one. 3.) Don’t place too much pressure on yourself to produce right away. The 90-day mark can linger over us in a way that isn’t constructive. But if you’re in a healthy environment, you’ll feel that your manager and teammates want you to succeed. Learn and progress at a pace that’s healthy for you. What would you add?