Things I HAVE learned from Corporate America

There are many things I don’t like about corporate, cubicle, office culture. Many. But for every bad thing, I have learned something good. Here are a few:

• You can be tough and nice. There’s no reason to be a bully at work in order to get things done. A mature, grown adult is able to make hard decisions, work with difficult people, and change people’s minds without being bitchy, obnoxious, or manipulative. The ones who aren’t nice look like they are successful at first, but you’ll soon realize that no one in the office respects them. When you have people’s respect, you can do a lot more. So be nice.
• 9-5 can work in your favor. When I hear my roommate come home at 1 or 2 in the morning, I am very thankful for a 9-5 job. It is sometimes boring or tedious, but at 5pm, I’m free to go and live the rest of my life. Furthermore, a set schedule has taught me to prioritize my time so that I complete my day’s work by the time I leave everyday. That means I don’t have to take any work home with me, and enjoy my evenings guilt-free.
• Lunch breaks are absolutely necessary. Even if a full hour is not feasible everyday, take some time out for yourself. Some states now require non-exempt employees to take at least 30 minutes of break time. It’s good for refreshing your mind, stretching your body, and calming your nerves if you’re having a stressful day.
• Corporate benefits are amazing. I’m a temp right now, so my benefits stink, so maybe that’s why I appreciate corporate-sponsored insurance plans now. The company I temp for has amazing benefits. If I worked for them right now, I’d get medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for about $10 a month. That is insanely good, but even if you can’t get something that cheap, it’s still a lot better than private insurance. If you’ve got a family to take care of, then this is sometimes the difference between staying in a cubicle farm and going out and chasing a long-forgotten dream job.
• People are weird; adapt. I’ve met the weirdest, most awkward, most idiotic, and most evil people through corporate jobs. But I’ve also met the smartest, kindest, most wonderful people too. And that has forced me to adapt to all sorts of people. No one is perfect. Some aren’t even remotely nice. But once you’re exposed to them long enough, you’ll figure out how to work with them. If you learn to adapt to any type of person, you’ll work well anywhere you go.

That’s what I’ve learned. What about you?