What they never taught you in college

I've always said nothing will provide a lesson better than experience itself. College can help you with a lot of areas in the business world. One thing it can't truly prepare you for is the corporate world.

If you have noticed my lack of posts lately, it is due in part to a new position I accepted. I currently work as the lead IT for Results - Galax. The company is an XM Radio call center based out of Galax, VA. It's a nice mix for yours truly - fast paced job in a slow paced living environment.

Enough venturing off the subject though. Results has reminded me of what Alpha Kappa Psi was intended to prepare me for: Corporate America. Granted, my fraternity did wonders, but I feel in as little as two weeks I have learned a few things that I can pass along to those yet to reach the cubicle or conference room.

The Go-Getter will receive responsibility
Nothing impresses a supervisor or your peers more than being able to tackle the job and the lack of fear to jump in and get your feet wet. This isn't kissing up - it's showcasing you have a desire to help the company. Don't overdo it though - sometimes stepping up and taking more work than you're required will give others the notion that you will do their job for them. Only do this if you're going to be making their salary ;).

Get used to the Microsoft Office Suite
There are plenty out there that probably hate Microsoft and its Office Suite. The fact is though, businesses use this suit like a preacher uses a bible. Excel will become your best friend for data manipulation! Practice with the suite now for best results in the future!

Promotions happen.. and then they don't
Promotions are a tricky thing in the real world. They come fast to others and at times they don't come at all. Don't down yourself if it doesn't come at the pace you'd like. If you feel you're going nowhere - look into other options.

It's a new world from when your parents were there
Granted, my parents never did the whole office gig. But from what I've been told by their friends, the real world work has changed greatly. Why is that? We're a media driven generation. We can send files in the matter of a seconds with only a few clicks. No need to walk a folder to someone! It's also becoming evident that work productivity isn't as great when you sit at a computer from 8 to 5. In the future, maybe the work week won't start at 8am. Who knows, maybe it will only be 4 hours a day, 3 days a week!

Be social.
It's a no-brainer. Where you go is because of the people you know. Also, being social brings out a more team friendly environment and increases company morale.

That's a few of my tips I thought I'd share from my first two weeks working in the corporate world. If anyone has anymore, feel free to post them as a comment.