CYA- Cover.Your.Azz, They are some sneaky mf'ers with their 'eat what you kill' mentality, they will sell you out just to keep theirs. make sure you get all communications in writing. Document any discussions, details, deadlines... etc. If you have a telephone call - make sure you document said call with a follow up email listing exactly what you discussed. Do not destroy or shed any info that could potentially affect you later - scheduled time off, performance reviews, job description, promotions, professional development information. If you have to obtain approvals- keep those emails. Organize your outlook into subfolder categories so that important info is kept in different folders- they don't tell you, but companies will archive any general emails for a scheduled deletion time- usually 90 days. So by default, a lot of your info will be unrecoverable; or you can set up rules to automatically send certain impt emails to the folder.
Verify - if you are given instructions or directives, send an email to the person you spoke with listing out the details and have them respond back with verification. They will not hesitate to lie when sh8t hits the fan, so it's important to have all your shyt in order.
Leverage - Don't give them any. Don't discuss personal issues or expect any sympathy (it will be used against you eventually). Don't engage in any office gossip or hearsay. Just stay on task, focus. That way no one can put your name into anything and can't use anything against you. Don't expect to get the same treatment as they do. Your time is your time - I don't do those happy hours or extracurricular office events- that's their way of getting to know you when they don't need to; Let the work speak for itself. Don't get dejected - even if we work our azz off, it won't get recognized. We can do 100 things right, but guaranteed, that 1 time where there's a mistake.. it will be known and used to justify whatever they do to you. They won't try to hear your side of the story.. which is a big reason for my first point - C.Y. A.
Coworkers - Your coworkers are not your friend. No matter how 'down to earth' they seem; people are nosy af, and want to get in your business because they are either bored, have nothing going on in their lives, are a kiss-azz, or just want to conflict. Especially if you're a hard worker, they will view you as competition. Just remain a mystery. say enough to be cordial but keep it professional. Don't ever disclose any medical conditions. family or any personal issues that may affect your job performance - (if entirely necessary, go to HR to c.y.a. just in case you need short term disability or medical leave). Treat your office - like an office, not a personal home away from home.
Don't expect your black coworkers to you have your back - most are c00ns or they too will view you as competition or hate on you. Just take it at face value and assess. You may come across a few genuinely helpful blacks, but like I said - just evaluate for yourself when you interact. Eventually, they will reveal what they are about. In my 10+ yrs of being in corporate, IT and law, I had about 2 blacks in upper mgmt. that I could say were alright. (says a lot). They are mostly equivalent to their white counterparts but have black faces, they sold out to get where they are.
Just maintain your pace, get the experience and time in.. (or promotion, hopefully), then use that to either get a new job or transition to a new career path. Never get comfortable with any job or assume that you're a lifer. Always be prepared for the next move and plan ahead.
