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Trading in Your Backpack for a Briefcase

By Jean Jones
Community View writer

Corporate America is the source of income for the majority of adults in our nation and individuals entering this arena, out of college, should know how to survive

How do you envision corporate America? "Fakes, backbiters, and self-interested people?" Maybe these views of corporate America seem negative; how about another picture? Does it represent an office with a view of the city, shirts and ties and business suits? Add an expense account for company travel, as well as, a company car. That probably sounds like a better picture to look forward to after working so hard in college for the last four to five years.

Here is some advice from a business consultant, Tennessee State University graduates who have entered the business world, and a current student majoring in business administration that may help college graduates get a feel for what to expect as they transition into corporate America.

"Create a strong, positive first impression," said Dr. Louis Miller, a professor at TSU in the college of business who focuses on the psychological aspects of organizations. He is also a business consultant in Nashville.

"Creating this impression is simply doing what is required of you on your job, behaving yourself, and not trying to change the organization by doing things radical. Avoid making a bad first impression because it will take you ten times as long to make up for it. Once you create a good impression, if you make a mistake, the organization will view you as a good soul that is fitting into the organization and they are likely to forgive you."

There is more to being successful than just knowing how to do your job, Miller said that an individual must have social and personal competence. This includes good self-management, being on time for work, being dressed properly, and meeting deadlines for work assignments.

"Most people fail early in their career because they do not know how to get along with others," Miller said. "Social competence involves being able to listen to people, having empathy with others, and being considerate. This way people may not know or be able to figure out if you are doing a good job, but they know it was pleasant interacting with you...and that is critical."

Miller suggested that organizations will have continual barriers for its employees that each individual must internalize and learn to deal with.

"We must face the fact that these organizations are not built for our happiness...but for the welfare and benefit of the senior people in the company," he said. "They want the company to make a profit so they can get their big bonuses.

You will not be hired unless you can help senior management obtain their goals.... As the employee, you must be meek, cooperative, obedient and respectful.

"If you have been a good corporate citizen for a number of years and want to criticize some aspects of the organization, people will listen because you have been a good citizen all this time. So, when you voice your concerns, you will be seen as having the best interest of the organization at heart," he said.

There is a glass ceiling for women and also obstacles for Blacks preventing them from top management positions, but "you are going to face the reality of the world out there, just live with it," Miller said. "Remember when you are transitioning from college you must learn to fit into somebody else�s world that is imperfect. That world will have a certain amount of discrimination, discomfort, things that are wrong, and you cannot expect to come in and change things the first day you arrive."

When selecting a mentor, Miller explained that you must first prove you are worthy of someone�s time because mentors will benefit or suffer based on what type of person they are mentors to. He said mentors are very careful whom they help with their careers and to qualify for a mentor you must be a good corporate citizen. He suggested doing something unusual to show your talent and competency, which separates you from the rest of the people who are just coming to work for the paycheck.

Chris Berry, a 2001 graduate of TSU is currently a technology generalist at Caterpillar Financial in Nashville. His transition into corporate America was rather smooth, which may have resulted from his three internships with the company before becoming a full-time employee.

"Get into the habit of creating thorough work," Berry said. "Surround yourself with people that are progressive and are about achievement. When you surround yourself with people like that it will make you sharper; Proverbs 27:17."

He also believes that organizational, social and networking skills are a priority. Berry suggested that newcomers find a mentor in the company. "This person needs to be someone you can relate to and who will not only share personal obstacles, but is a person who wants you to succeed."

Michael Jones, a securities income administrator at Deutsche Bank graduated from TSU in 1996 with a degree in business administration with a marketing concentration.

"I encountered the reality of workplace politics," he said. "Corporate America has its own personal �chess game� functioning, meaning that some employees receive titles of diplomacy without having true knowledge of the job responsibilities."

To stay focused, Jones said he networked with employees who had knowledge of their jobs even though they had not been promoted due to the �workplace political chess game."

"Knowledge of my job was the only thing that helped me keep my position as a pawn in the game," he said. "Many people have unrealistic expectations about quickly moving up in a company and are not prepared to do what is necessary to keep their current job."

Felecia Shaw, a business analyst at Dell Computer, graduated from TSU in 1994. After being in the workforce for sometime, she still encounters barriers.

"I am older and wiser and know how to play the game," she said. Her first job at an architectural engineering firm in Nashville was a somewhat difficult adjustment.

"I was the only African American working there for over a year, which took some getting used to, graduating from a historically Black institution," Shaw said. "Being the only female in the position I had to constantly overachieve to prove myself. Also, I learned that you can�t trust everyone. Everyone is out for themselves, and you can easily be replaced."

Shaw learned to let her work speak for itself. She did not have a mentor, but learned the value of establishing a good relationship with her manager to help with career development.

"I suggest that students co-op or intern if all possible. This will give them a taste of the real world. I had the opportunity to co-op several times, and it was a very rewarding experience," Shaw said.

Arita Sandford, a customer service representative of Primus Automotive Financial Services and a 1994 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, reiterates many points of the current environment of corporate America.

"Indeed, I agree with... the effects of workplace politics." she said. "It was an eye-opener to see that in some cases your job skills did not necessarily accelerate your position in the company. It was, and still is, more or less who you know that will get you the promotion.

"I feel that there will always be barriers in the workforce whether political, social or racial. We just have to continue to increase our knowledge in the position we want to pursue," Sanford said.

Continue to improve job skills, get advice from peers with more seniority and increase your knowledge of the position you are pursuing are Sandford�s suggestions to succeeding in the business world.

"I believe you must be professional at all times in the workplace," said Johnica Armstrong, a business major at TSU and a guest services agent at Doubletree Hotel.

"Professional is not doing what you do on a regular basis, not what you are comfortable with, not your street thing. Professionalism includes how you dress, as well as, how you interact with co-workers and customers," she said.

Armstrong feels that she will not have any issues working with people when entering corporate America on a full-time basis. She said that theresometimes are organizational issues where companies have a lack of structure; this can result in unstable employees who are not correctly trained on how to effectively do their job.

"There seems to be a lack of morale in people who have been on the job five or six years because companies do not provide sufficient training," Armstrong said.

She said her biggest barrier so far, has been encountering people with arrogant and elite attitudes. These experiences have helped her identify characteristics she does not want to possess as she enters the business world.

With so many words of guidance from those with on the job experience, perhaps the only thing left to say is, "welcome to corporate America!"