Rules for Navigating Corporate America.

[Vandelay]

I want this to be a simple thread, with 1-2 liners to be successful in corporate America. No need for long anecdotes or crazy backstories...but feel free to share if you have some.

Hoping I can get this stickied, if enough people participate.

Initially, i was thinking about making a thread for being black in corporate America, especially for black males because we are so fragmented when it comes to being in the corporate world. But i figure why limit it; good advice is good advice regardless of race.

Anyway, i'll start it off...


Never surprise your boss, good or bad...he or she needs to be able to explain any changes significant or small to their co-workers and superiors.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Im guilty of getting shyt piled on me...and then not being able to accomplish it in a timely fashion.

 

[Chris.B]

Make yourself indispensable.

I'm a network engineer for a Satellite company. I sometimes develop an overly complex advanced networks for business...some are so crazy that if it breaks.....if you don't have an experienced engineer...it can never be fixed.

I get treated like royalty sometimes because I'm the only one who can fix something if it breaks.
I asked for a raise a few months ago and it was approved with no objections...
I'm due for my yearly raise as well


make companies your bytches breh

 

[Primetime21]

What I have may be applicable anywhere but I'll drop a few.

Maintaining a good relationship with your manager, understand their expectations.
Be organizationally intelligent. Understand the hierarchy and structure of your department, network, all that jazz.
Last thing is, everyone has heard "its not what you know but who you know". I'd tell you its not what you know, but who knows what you know. Best example of this is probably right above in Chris B's post. you'll be good money if you have people that can speak to your abilities.

 

[Vandelay]

Make yourself indispensable.

I'm a network engineer for a Satellite company. I sometimes develop an overly complex advanced networks for business...some are so crazy that if it breaks.....if you don't have an experienced engineer...it can never be fixed.

I get treated like royalty sometimes because I'm the only one who can fix something if it breaks.
I asked for a raise a few months ago and it was approved with no objections...
I'm due for my yearly raise as well


make companies your bytches breh

Lol to an extent ive done this...i normally develop these incredibly complex procedures for doing something where timing and placement has to be right. It wasnt engineering, but management of employees...my previous 2 jobs one person quit the first day, and at the other job someone got fired 3 months after i left.

 

[Chris.B]

Lol to an extent ive done this...i normally develop these incredibly complex procedures for doing something where timing and placement has to be right. It wasnt engineering, but management of employees...my previous 2 jobs one person quit the first day, and at the other job someone got fired 3 months after i left.

I went into my company and managed to get my boss to replace all the firewalls with something no one else know how to operate but me

My boss is not technical so if I'm able to convince him something works he just writes a check.

 

[ViShawn]

Don't kiss ass.

 

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

Never surprise your boss, good or bad...he or she needs to be able to explain any changes significant or small to their co-workers and superiors.

thats a good one.

Don't trust anyone to progress your career but yourself. You are likley to get support from people if you're managed by them or 'on their team' but realistically its to get the most out of you to STAY where you are. If you want to progress or move up, don't trust someone to do it for you. And don't fall into traps like "well if you ROCK IT OUT for the next [insert time here] we'll look out for you" ...its all a carrot on a string.

 

[Vandelay]

thats a good one.

Don't trust anyone to progress your career but yourself. You are likley to get support from people if you're managed by them or 'on their team' but realistically its to get the most out of you to STAY where you are. If you want to progress or move up, don't trust someone to do it for you. And don't fall into traps like "well if you ROCK IT OUT for the next [insert time here] we'll look out for you" ...its all a carrot on a string.

Good advice.

 

[Vandelay]

I'm currently in a situation where I am going to accept a job, but I am expecting an offer from two other companies.

Trying to figure out how to stall, so I can wait and see.

 

[Ethnic Vagina Finder]

set goals,.
Have a reason for being their in the first place.
What's the end game?


Complacency is your biggest enemy.