To wonder if I'll ever get used to the corporate world?

[neweraunlocked]

I'm currently working in my first corporate/officey kind of job, working in marketing. Previously I had always worked in the NHS in a practical job with no corporate lingo. It had quite intense micromanagement; our breaks were timed to the minute and we had to ask permission before going to the toilet.

I've found working my first ever corporate job quite a culture shock. I've been there for nearly a year and whilst I now know what a stand up meeting is and what EOB means I still feel like it's a world I still don't understand. I remember in my first week I was working from home and I sat wondering whether I needed to message my line manager on Teams to ask permission to go for lunch or to log off at the end of the working day lol. I still can't get my head around the responsibility I have in managing my work and hours, still expecting micromanagement. If I want I can log off a few hours early as long as I let everyone know, and I'm trusted to make up the time later on. I also can't get my head around the perks and feel like they're not for me/I don't deserve them.

I come from a working class background which I think may be part of it; growing up none of my parents or parents friends had this kind of job and none of my friends do either so I haven't really been exposed to this kind of world. I feel like I'll never settle into it and get used to it.

Has anyone experienced a similar kind of adjustment period when entering the corporate world or is it a sign that maybe it's just not the right working environment for me?

Try to work through the sense of class-based impostor syndrome - it will only hold you back. If you’re worth the job, then don’t feel guilty about it - just do it!

It sounds as though you’ve become used to being micromanaged. Perhaps you have some adjusting to do, but try to reframe “being uncomfortable” to “an opportunity to learn how to be more autonomous”.

Imposter syndrome. You are worth it and good enough! Stop doubting yourself x

Hi OP, totally hear you. It’s really weird to be trusted in a job where you’re paid for doing the job rather than paid for your hours. My parents were long term normal 9-5ers - which has its own advantages- and it felt v strange to me to find myself in a different working world. Some advice someone gave me on my first couple of weeks when I was worried I didn’t have enough work/wasn’t working hard enough was ‘it will come’. And it did! I don’t know your field, but you may end up finding yourself working v long hours with no lunch break at all in future, so make the most of the ebbs and flows of work. And don’t worry. You’re there because they hired you - as long as you do what you’re there to do no one will ask any questions (that was hard for
me to get my head round too). Good luck!

I honestly could have wrote this myself. After years of working in retail,I still feel like I'm dossing having coffee sitting while I work. It's crazy

I know what you mean, OP. Similar background, and similar type of job. When I wonder if I’m slacking off I remember all the evenings and weekends I regularly work (the hours are highly unpredictable). But I still feel
weird starting at 10 or finishing at 3, even if I know I’ve worked 7.30am-9pm every other day that week!

I suppose the question is whether you like the autonomy and the trust, or whether you’re actually more comfortable being micromanaged. What are your career aspirations? Or are you happier with a set framework and don’t really need or want more autonomy? But make sure you’re answering on the basis of what you want, not what you think you ought to do/are only good enough for

I have had this sort of job all my life ( 30 years now) . I still have worked 14 days in a row this last two weeks , sow of those days being 10+ hours . This is to finish a very large project before I go on leave on Monday . Tomorrow I will present what I have done on the morning and then finish for the day. I am seriously looking forward to my break 😄

I had that same feeling, as did DP when he started his current job.

It's rather nice to be treated like an intelligent grown up once you start getting used to it - you're probably getting near the point of adjusting; it can come quicker if you need to help somebody new or absolutely know the answer/solution to a situation automatically and it just comes out, rather than keeping quiet because you aren't a high enough pay grade to make those statements.

Congratulations on getting a decent job!

Congratulations and welcome to the grown up table.

Almost everyone has a touch of imposter syndrome. Read up on it and how best to lessen its grip on you.

Now is also a good time to starting thinking about how you can pay your good fortune forward. Are there any local charities you might like to support. Schemes in local schools who light like a speaker to encourage people to follow in your footsteps.

Yup, you really are a role model. Congratulations.

How are you improving ? @neweraunlocked