J
Jeff Hayward
Guest
6 takeaways to carry with you on your career journey
Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash
I hadnโt actually meant to land the job. I was putting out feelers. But after three video interviews and a writing test, there I was, part of a corporate team again.
The remote position had me feeling nervous and excited. It had been roughly 10 years since I decided to make my parental leave from my last corporate job permanent.
But as ChatGPT ate up my most recent clients, I needed to make a change. I needed something that drew on my experience with AI and copy editing. Without giving too much away about the job (because NDA), Iโll say the position involved both. So I felt optimistic it was going to work out.
Day 1 was quite breezy. I learned the basics, and set up my accounts. By Day 2, I was thrown into the pool headfirst. I found myself trying to learn the workflow while also not falling behind. Asana kept reminding me that I had work due soon.
Speaking of Asana, a project management tool, I learned my older Mac cannot install the newest desktop version. The same goes for Slack, a team messaging tool. So I had to use both of these programs in my browser, and they ran slowly. Not ideal.
Lesson #1: Make sure your computer/laptop is running the latest operating system. Otherwise, it becomes a tech nightmare. Half of my struggle at the start wasnโt the work itself, but getting the programs to run smoothly.
The following week involved some trial by fire. I was too focused on productivity, which I keep reading is the most important thing to businesses. As a result, admittedly, my work was not to the level it should have been. I was called out for it during a video chat with the boss.
To their credit, they gave me another chance to get my act together. I was determined to balance my newbie eagerness with my experience. Remember, though, it had been 10 years since I worked for a business, within a team environment. I am used to juggling tasks on my own, and setting terms directly with clients.
I applied my knowledge of AI prompting to speed up some of the process, tips which I passed along to my colleagues. Aside from a few hiccups, I was on track. Or, so I thought.
The work was soon coming in hot and heavy, which I liked. Because of the remote nature of the job, I spaced out the tasks throughout the day. Which is when I learnedโฆ
Lesson #2: Having a flexible schedule does not mean being unreachable for hours at a time during regular business hours. Iโm specifically referring to Slack. I missed a message from my boss that I answered that evening when I resumed work.
Apparently, thatโs not acceptable. If youโre working a remote job and using a team app, make sure to inform your team youโll be away for an hour or more. Otherwise, it might be seen as apathy, as in my case. (It was not apathy, for the record.)
Suddenly, I had two strikes against me. I had one last swing at it. I pulled up my pants, tightened my belt, and buttoned up my dress shirt. Then I took a deep breath, knowing I was on parole.
Lesson #3: You never know when youโll be called into a virtual meeting for a remote job. Itโs probably frowned upon to wear a stained t-shirt with an unmade bed in the background.
Even if you decide not to wear pants during these meetings, itโs good to project an image of cleanliness and professionalism. Make sure you donโt have any shocking artwork on the wall behind you, or use the video conferencing platformโs filters.
The end of the month was approaching after a few weeks at the job. I had just been assigned a pile of work before a weekend, so I took that as a green light. Except in a meeting after regular hours, I was told I โjust wasnโt there yet,โ and that it would be best to part ways.
I was taken aback at first. But they had to make a decision, and they made it. I stared at the blank screen for a minute after the brief interaction with the boss, feeling a little numb.
I do not have any ill will towards the company; I like what they are doing, which is how the job ad caught my eye. While it felt like a punch in the stomach, I recovered quickly. I accept that some of the outcome was due to me specificallyโโโI was not ready to take another corporate ride.
Lesson #4: Shed your ego, regardless of whether things are going well. Always try, even if you feel like youโve mastered the work. Thereโs always something new to learn, and something to double-check.
Thereโs a chance I may have been replaced by someone younger and more agile, but I donโt have any direct proof (itโs a hunch based on some interactions.) The company as a whole has a youthful vibe, and with me nearing 50, perhaps I didnโt mesh.
Remember that itโs not just the boss who calls the shots. There are sometimes investors behind the scenes who want to see quick results.
Thatโs what brings me toโฆ
Lesson #5: When it comes to leading-edge tech companies, experience may not always be an asset. Employers are looking for younger people entering the industry who have the energy to juggle multiple expectations for sometimes modest pay.
If youโre my age, then youโve probably paid your dues already. However, sometimes employers aim to maintain a certain work culture, or want to train new hires from scratch. I consider myself pretty agreeable, but maybe Iโm not as flexible as I believe.
Maybe my aging computer played a factor, making me look even older. When we parted ways, I was a day away from buying a new machine, which I still might do to be ready for the next opportunity.
I wished the company well, and meant it. Instead of dwelling on it as the first time Iโve been let go from a company, I chose to focus on what I learned. That includes newer AI tools that will look good on my resume. I also learned to avoid corporate faux pas, for example, not answering messages quickly enough.
Lesson #6: The current business landscape is not only fiercely competitive among candidates, but also among tech startups. Donโt take it personally if youโre not a good fit. Thereโs certainly something out there for youโโโand if thereโs not, it could be a sign to try something newโor become your own boss.
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What I Learned From My First Corporate Gig in a Decade was originally published in Psychology of Workplaces on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
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