3 Years in the Corporate World: Reflections and Advice from an Early-Career Professional

Before I started my professional career, I had no idea what to expect from the corporate world. I mean, growing up, I didn't even know what options were available to me beyond the typical aspirations of becoming a doctor or a lawyer. As I got older, I learned this uncertainty about career planning and navigating these experiences is a shared experience among first-generation college-goers and graduates.

When you've never been around white-collar workers, of course, it makes sense that it'd be hard to imagine what that life could look like or entail. Frankly, I'm still figuring it out, but as I hit my three-year workplace anniversary, I started reflecting on what I've learned about working in a corporate setting and what I've found most valuable to understand. In the end, I hope I can use these reflections to aide in future professional and personal development.

Networking

Networking within and outside of my organization is one of the single most important things I have done for my career. When people say, "It's all about who you know," they aren't kidding. I absolutely would not be in the position I am now had I not taken every opportunity possible to meet with people in various industries and professions. Additionally, meeting with professionals regardless of seniority or career level.

People are people, no matter how high up they are in the organization, and that is something that has enabled me to have great conversations with really anyone!

It can be intimidating talking to people that you may not know, but by doing so, you'll be better for it.

Tips for Networking Internally:

1. Company-Wide Networking: Talk to people within your department and outside of your department. Having conversations with people all over the organization is great practice; you learn about the business and make genuine connections.
2. Find Time for Informal/Formal Mentorship: Don't be afraid to ask for mentorship or guidance from those in the space or role you'd like to be in one day. Most organizations even have mentorship programs; be sure to sign up!
3. Join Employee-Led Groups: ERGs, BRGs, Community Groups, Affinity Groups, Employee Networks- These groups are here for you to meet and build community with your organizations. Depending on your organization, they can be a gem for networking, among other things.
4. Proactively Network: Not sure if the role you are currently in is where you want to be forever? Check your organization's internal job boards regularly and reach out to hiring managers even if you aren't ready to apply. Asking them about what they do and what they look for is a great way to learn about career options and allows you to grow your network.

Tips for Networking Externally:

1. Find Your Niche: I've opened up my calendar to allow for networking with people interested in the climate space through the #opendoorclimate initiative. I've met so many incredibly smart and talented people interested in the climate industry; this has been a really fun experience that has grown my network of environmentally minded professionals.
2. Volunteering: Through many of the volunteering opportunities I've signed up for, I've met professionals from a variety of industries. It's helped me learn more about the community I live in and opened the door to building long-term professional relationships with those in my industry.
3. Cold Connecting: Don't be afraid to search LinkedIn for professionals with skills or backgrounds you are interested in. Simply send a connection request, with a note and explain why you are reaching out to them. Some people may not be open to this, but having empathy goes a long way to understanding it's not personal if that happens. However, more often than not, they say yes!
4. Webinars and Workshops: I've found many ways to meet professionals simply by joining calls related to my industry/role and just ask afterwards if they'd be open to chatting.

I've really come to love networking, and I believe I would not be in the position I'm in now if I didn't actively build the professional network I have today. For those that have supported my career journey, I am eternally grateful, thank you!

Professional Growth, Learning & Development

I've changed roles within my organization three times! That may sound like a lot, but I love that I've gotten the opportunity to mold and shape my career in ways I never foresaw. It's been a wild ride up to this point, but there is so much I've learned by taking my career and future into my own hands.

Tips for Professional Growth:

1. Don't be Afraid to Have Skip-Level Conversations: I learned to ask for these pretty recently. As a remote employee, having visibility can be difficult, but asking the person your manager reports to for a skip-level conversation is so easy and impactful. This is a way to stay informed on what's happening outside of your direct eye-line and to build a relationship with someone who will act as your champion or sponsor throughout your professional career!
2. Being Okay with Ambiguity: You won't always have someone to turn to, and you just gotta roll with that. In the last three years, I've realized that my expectations for the workplace were far different than reality. Just keep this in mind. With that being said, having a curious mind will help with that. Don't be afraid to ask questions and certainly don't be afraid to take the lead; sometimes that's exactly what your manager wants.
3. Use What You Have Access To: Take advantage of the resources available to you. My organization had some great programs, I've gotten my yellow belt in Lean Six Sigma, I've taken the Climate Ambition Accelerator program through the UN Global Compact, and of course, I've taken loads of courses on LinkedIn Learning. All of these things were sponsored by the organization, and I've taken full advantage of them.
4. Take Risks: Get outside your comfort zone. Raise your hand for things that you aren't sure about, but it could help your development. You never know where something will take you. For me, starting the Green Group led to me figuring out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, which was working in climate action.
5. Get Involved: As an early-career professional, working remotely, getting involved in my organization has greatly impacted my life. I've learned so much about large organizations, about the people I work with, how business works, how our business works, how what I'm doing makes a difference, and much more. Be sure to find time to get involved in your organization, even if it's just sitting on a committee or becoming a community representative. You won't regret it.
6. Cultivate Executive Presence: No matter where you are in your career, everyone can work on their executive presence. This is a term I've only heard of recently while networking. By working on your executive presence, you build trust, rapport, and respect with those around you. This is a skill that I'm constantly learning more about and actively working on to grow as a professional.

Over the last 3 years, I've not only expanded my skill set but also discovered my passion for climate action. As I continue to evolve, I encourage others to proactively drive their professional development, seizing every opportunity to learn and grow.

Remember, your journey is uniquely yours, and the possibilities for growth are endless when you take control of your career trajectory.

Resiliency

I've faced loads of change throughout my time in the corporate sector. I think it speaks volumes about my character and how I adapt to those changes. Change is never easy, but with change comes new understandings, connections, and personal growth. I've been through a lot in my early career and more recently went through what I hope is the worst of it, but finding ways to build resilience has proven most useful.

Tips for Maintaining Professional Resilience:

1. Stay Positive and Manage Stress: While I'm a big supporter of feeling your emotions and don't participate in toxic positivity, I do believe that focusing on the positives in your career and life help tremendously. When I do feel negative emotions, I create a new playlist to listen to while I'm out on my walks; I try to pick up new hobbies, and I do other things that help me lower my stress levels.
2. Keep Your Resume and LinkedIn Up to Date: Going through tough changes and challenges at work can really take a toll, but being prepared is something that we can all do to give us the peace of mind we need if something were to happen. This is another reason why networking to build connections is so important as well.
3. Develop a Growth Mindset: Actively make time to reflect and identify areas of improvement and acquire new skills. Be sure to talk to your team and share the areas you've identified to take on opportunities to hone in on those areas.
4. Cultivate Good Habits: Maintain a healthy work-life balance, being sure to set boundaries and practice self-care. Things that help me is time-blocking my calendar at work and when I'm not working, making sure to have notifications turned off. Many phones help you create schedules for work too. Protecting your personal time is vital to helping you disconnect from work.

Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the corporate sector has been a journey filled with change, challenges, and growth. Embracing resilience has become a cornerstone of my professional approach.

Personal Growth

As a first-generation college graduate, it feels amazing no longer living paycheck to paycheck, worrying about how to put gas in my car to get to work to pay my bills, taking odd jobs to cover basic living needs, or the stress-induced anxiety I'd get from going to the doctor!

I remember those days vividly; financial security and stability were a dream. Now here I am, actively paying off my student loans, investing, saving for retirement, planning vacations, having savings accounts- plural! It's wild to think about, and I couldn't be more happy for the life I've created.

Graduating and working in the corporate world has given me these opportunities. As my 20's come to an end, I've learned a lot about myself and I've discovered many ways that have led to my personal development.

Tips for personal growth

1. Financial Planning: Make this a priority from day one. Think about what you want out of life and start planning for those things. Create a budget, review purchasing, plan for future big life purchases, invest in yourself in ways that make sense for you, and learn about finances to better equip you for the future. Adulting is hard, but once I started earning and saving, I realized I enjoyed financial planning a lot!
2. Experiences Over Things: Many of these things are truly opinions, but I find more enjoyment spending my money on things that I'll remember forever. I've probably gone a little overboard here, as I don't purchase things I don't need as much anymore. That means I'm not spending frivolously, and this allows me to save more quickly to spend on life experiences over fads or trends.
3. Community Involvement: While getting involved in my organization is great, I wanted to get more involved in my community. I've learned so much by volunteering, showing up for community events, voting, and asking our local representatives questions and so much more!

Cheers to My Three Year Work Anniversary

Reflecting on the last three years, my journey through the corporate sector has been a profound exploration of change, challenges, and personal and professional growth. Embracing resilience has become an unexpected practice that has shaped my approach, allowing me to further navigate the ever-evolving corporate landscape.

As a first-generation college graduate, the shift from paycheck-to-paycheck living to financial stability has been transformative. Graduating and entering the corporate world opened doors to a real future I'm excited about, enabling me to live a stable and good life.

Approaching the end of my twenties, this period has not only been a time of personal development but has also fueled a passion for climate action, discovered through the changes I've endured and the risks I've taken. As I embark on the next phase of my career, I am proud of the challenges faced, the lessons learned, and the continuous evolution both personally and professionally.

Thank you for reading!

About Me:

Sara Singh is a sustainability professional living in Chicago, IL, and enjoys discussing environmental sustainability, and is always looking to make positive change. She is currently on a lifelong journey to live a more sustainable life and is a strong believer that individual action leads to systemic change.