Welcome to the Real World (Susan Van Vleet)

I thought this article was quite truthful and valuable after having spent 10 years in the "real world". There's only one more thing I would add: try to remain who you are even as you climb the corporate ladder. If you feel like you must sacrifice who you are in order to get ahead, is it worth it then? In some companies it seems like you have to fit some kind of mold in order to be successful, and that you have to become really good at the politics to get ahead. If you're OK with that go ahead knock yourself out, but if it makes you uncomfortable, DON'T DO IT. It's almost the equivalent of teen peer pressure but in the "real world". Don't fall into the trap.

Getting Ready for The Real World
by Susan Van Vleet

For over 28 years I have worked with very successful women in corporations worldwide like P&G, IBM, J&J, HP and Dell. They often say to me, “If I only knew at 15 what I know now I could have saved myself a lot of trouble.”

Now I have the wonderful opportunity to tell you what these great women wish they had known at your age:

1) Expect to make mistakes at work and expect to be corrected for making them.
Don’t worry about making mistakes accept that you will make mistakes and build in an ability to hear bad things about yourself that a boss or co-workers will say. Practice apologizing and be ready for any and all correction. When people correct you they are doing you a wonderful service. They are telling you how they see you. This is invaluable feedback for you to have. So be ready to not always be right!

2) Not everything will go your way all the time.
Lower your acceptance lines for your company not taking your suggestions or conditions and not implementing them. In fact, if you have a 25-50% batting average (that is 25-50% of the time your boss/company takes your suggestions and implements them) you are doing well. Develop an acceptance for someone else’s way of doing things now because once you get out in the work world you better be able to do your job the way other’s (boss, company, etc.) have defined it. If you practice giving up some control now over how things will be done it will be easier for you later. Most work these days is organized around projects that are run by multi disciplinary teams. Some of the women I work with are on two to three teams and must use “Influencing Skills” more the any other skill set. These skills include; listening, confronting, clarifying and brain storming. If you learn these skills now you will be ahead of the game.

3) Temper your loyalty to your company with loyalty to yourself and your family.
Work hard to establish yourself when you are in your first job but don’t forget your friends, family and hobbies. In other words, balance your life. Make sure you spend time with and on your friends, family and hobbies. Don’t work all the time. Make sure you have downtime. Make sure you take care of yourself spiritually, emotionally and physically and make sure you are a whole person, multi-faceted not just defined as your job.

4) Finally, the women I work with recommend you prepare yourself now for your first full time job.
The best way I know for you to do this is to take a part time job or internship while you are in high school. If you can do this only in the summer, that’s fine, but do try out your wings now.

Most of all, I and the women I work with are excited for you because you have so much to look forward to in your life. All of the growth you go through in the next few years will help prepare you for a wonderful, exciting future.

I warn you it goes quickly, so make sure you enjoy yourself and celebrate yourself as you go.

I wish you all the best for a successful and satisfying life.

Susan Van Vleet, MSW, CMC