35 answers
Andrew
Student
1
Question
Asked
1943 views
Being successful at a big company
Hello! I will be starting a new software engineering position at a very big company. What are some ways that I can be successful in communicating with others on my team and what are some things to avoid doing?
#programming #technology #CS
35 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1590
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Andrew during your early days in your new job, your employer will look for confirmation that you are a good fit for the position and for the organization. After all, the decision to hire a new employee is based on relatively limited information: how you performed in the interview, and, in some cases, what your references said about you. Your employer is going to be watching to ensure that you're fitting in well. Once you start the job, make it a priority to gain the trust of your supervisor and your colleagues, establish positive relationships within your own department and outside of it, and ensure you are in a position to do your best work. This will create a very healthy foundation for your future with the company. It's important to be the new employee who listens carefully, asks questions, and engages with coworkers. Remember, that everyone else has been in your position at one point, and most people are happy to help ensure a smooth transition for the new person on the job.
• Engage strategically in meetings and conversations – It’s understandable that you’ll have a lot to catch up on in a new job and may not have insights and opinions to share right out of the gate. However, sitting silently in meeting after meeting won’t make a great impression, either. Instead, aim to strike a balance between listening carefully (which will be extremely important in getting oriented) and speaking up or asking smart questions.
• Keep your supervisor apprised of the status of your projects, so he or she is aware of the value that you’re adding to your department. Seek input and assistance when you are stumped, but try to avoid coming across as needy by asking numerous questions. Try to solve as many problems as possible on your own or with input from colleagues at your own level. If you do need to ask a question, preface it with the steps you’ve already taken to solve it on your own.
• Establish open communication channels with your supervisor and key team members – Not only will this give you the opportunity to keep your supervisor up-to-date with your accomplishments, but you’ll be able to group questions together so you can ask them all at once rather than sporadically throughout the day or week. Solicit feedback periodically and respond positively to constructive criticism. Make it clear to your supervisor and other staff that you are all about self-improvement.
• Identify potential mentors within your organization and get to know them – Consider senior staff as well as strong performers in positions at your level and/or one level above you. Develop positive working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization, with particular emphasis on the people with whom you’ll be working regularly. Not only will strong relationships enhance your overall work experience, but most organizations perform 360-degree evaluations of staff, so it is important to be on good terms with colleagues who may be evaluating you.
• Associate with positive people – Stay away from complainers and slackers at all costs. Avoid griping to fellow employees since you never know who will quote you or cast you in a negative light. If someone starts complaining or gossiping directly to you, try to stay “neutral” if at all possible. If you can’t deflect or switch topics, then ask constructive questions instead. Identify star performers at your level and analyze what has made them successful in their roles. This can give you an idea of what skills, abilities, or accomplishments are valued at the organization.
• Participate in office activities – Do your best to ingratiate yourself into the organization’s social happenings so you can get to know your colleagues on a personal level. That being said, starting a new job can be exhausting, and if attending numerous group activities simply feels like too much, focus on the most important and/or required events. If you find you connect better in one-on-one situations, ask a colleague to grab coffee or lunch instead.
• Take care of yourself – Starting a new job can be mentally and physically taxing. However, you don’t want to burn yourself out in your early days. Be sure to take care of your health and spend some time doing activities that invigorate you. While you may feel like you have to dedicate every waking hour to this new position, doing so can quickly degrade your health and have a negative impact on your performance. Strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance right out of the gate.
Good Luck Andrew
• Engage strategically in meetings and conversations – It’s understandable that you’ll have a lot to catch up on in a new job and may not have insights and opinions to share right out of the gate. However, sitting silently in meeting after meeting won’t make a great impression, either. Instead, aim to strike a balance between listening carefully (which will be extremely important in getting oriented) and speaking up or asking smart questions.
• Keep your supervisor apprised of the status of your projects, so he or she is aware of the value that you’re adding to your department. Seek input and assistance when you are stumped, but try to avoid coming across as needy by asking numerous questions. Try to solve as many problems as possible on your own or with input from colleagues at your own level. If you do need to ask a question, preface it with the steps you’ve already taken to solve it on your own.
• Establish open communication channels with your supervisor and key team members – Not only will this give you the opportunity to keep your supervisor up-to-date with your accomplishments, but you’ll be able to group questions together so you can ask them all at once rather than sporadically throughout the day or week. Solicit feedback periodically and respond positively to constructive criticism. Make it clear to your supervisor and other staff that you are all about self-improvement.
• Identify potential mentors within your organization and get to know them – Consider senior staff as well as strong performers in positions at your level and/or one level above you. Develop positive working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization, with particular emphasis on the people with whom you’ll be working regularly. Not only will strong relationships enhance your overall work experience, but most organizations perform 360-degree evaluations of staff, so it is important to be on good terms with colleagues who may be evaluating you.
• Associate with positive people – Stay away from complainers and slackers at all costs. Avoid griping to fellow employees since you never know who will quote you or cast you in a negative light. If someone starts complaining or gossiping directly to you, try to stay “neutral” if at all possible. If you can’t deflect or switch topics, then ask constructive questions instead. Identify star performers at your level and analyze what has made them successful in their roles. This can give you an idea of what skills, abilities, or accomplishments are valued at the organization.
• Participate in office activities – Do your best to ingratiate yourself into the organization’s social happenings so you can get to know your colleagues on a personal level. That being said, starting a new job can be exhausting, and if attending numerous group activities simply feels like too much, focus on the most important and/or required events. If you find you connect better in one-on-one situations, ask a colleague to grab coffee or lunch instead.
• Take care of yourself – Starting a new job can be mentally and physically taxing. However, you don’t want to burn yourself out in your early days. Be sure to take care of your health and spend some time doing activities that invigorate you. While you may feel like you have to dedicate every waking hour to this new position, doing so can quickly degrade your health and have a negative impact on your performance. Strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance right out of the gate.
Good Luck Andrew
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Kiran Rane
Senior Manager - Technology Consulting in Financial Services
10
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Kiran’s Answer
Andrew T. - Congratulations for your new job! Here are few things for a starter:
1. Be proactive
2. Spend time to learn about the firm, it's offering, core principles & values
3. Meet your time and get to know them - network
4. Understand your role, day to day responsibilities, reporting structure and preferred way of communication with your direct reports
5. Go through any assigned learning paths or mandatory trainings
Good luck!
1. Be proactive
2. Spend time to learn about the firm, it's offering, core principles & values
3. Meet your time and get to know them - network
4. Understand your role, day to day responsibilities, reporting structure and preferred way of communication with your direct reports
5. Go through any assigned learning paths or mandatory trainings
Good luck!
Julie Baker
vice president uk&i operations
5
Answers
Twickenham, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Julie’s Answer
Hey Andrew, many congrats! Best of luck with the new role!
For me, the key things I look for when someone starts a new role is that they demonstrate real passion for the job, energy and commitment to get things done, a want to learn (continuous improvement mindset) and that they are a team player. Ask loads of questions (none are stupid, particularly in the first few months as people know that you're new) and it will show you're interested and ensure you understand. If you don't understand why something is done a certain way - question it. People become blind to why they do things a certain way and it's often only when someone new comes in and challenges it that they can step back and think "I don't know why we do it that way - I agree, let's do it differently - that's better".
Don't worry about not understanding the company language - each company has its own 3 letter acronyms and naming conventions - it will take a while before it becomes familiar.
Check in with your supervisor frequently to ask for feedback as to how you're doing. Share your ideas, show what you're working on, how you're doing against your goals (and if they haven't given you any, suggest them).
Enjoy! It's a great learning experience.
For me, the key things I look for when someone starts a new role is that they demonstrate real passion for the job, energy and commitment to get things done, a want to learn (continuous improvement mindset) and that they are a team player. Ask loads of questions (none are stupid, particularly in the first few months as people know that you're new) and it will show you're interested and ensure you understand. If you don't understand why something is done a certain way - question it. People become blind to why they do things a certain way and it's often only when someone new comes in and challenges it that they can step back and think "I don't know why we do it that way - I agree, let's do it differently - that's better".
Don't worry about not understanding the company language - each company has its own 3 letter acronyms and naming conventions - it will take a while before it becomes familiar.
Check in with your supervisor frequently to ask for feedback as to how you're doing. Share your ideas, show what you're working on, how you're doing against your goals (and if they haven't given you any, suggest them).
Enjoy! It's a great learning experience.
Paul Anthony Dzik
Manager, Analytics
11
Answers
Lansing, Michigan
Updated
Paul Anthony’s Answer
If you've ever heard the phrase "It's not what you know, it's who you know", it's half right in this situation. You still need to know your stuff, and prove your competence so you have something to build on. After that it's all about building your professional network, especially within your company. At a large company, hardly any project gets completed alone. Make friends (professional and/or social) with people across your enterprise. Eventually that will pay off as you will be able to help them complete their work, and they will be able to help you do the same. Develop key contacts in as many different departments as you can, and try to at least have a rudimentary understanding of what they do. The more you can understand how the business works, how money is made, the more likely you are to be chosen for special projects, because you can bring extra prospective. Those special projects are a springboard for your career, because they help to expand your network, and showcase to your employer that you are capable of bringing more value to your company.
Blake H.
Business
478
Answers
Updated
Blake’s Answer
Hey Andrew,
Whether it's a big or small company I would recommend the same thing. First and foremost, be yourself. If you try and be someone that you're not it will never feel authentic. Second, be open and honest about what you're looking for when communicating and be direct. If you're looking for X and you're asking about Y, it will only lead to further confusion. Finally, do what you say you're going to do. If you tell someone that you will help them at 8:00am, be there to help them at 7:59am (or don't tell them you can help because you won't make it on time). It is very easy to over commit in the work force and as a result you will end up under delivering. Hope this helps!
Thanks,
Blake
Whether it's a big or small company I would recommend the same thing. First and foremost, be yourself. If you try and be someone that you're not it will never feel authentic. Second, be open and honest about what you're looking for when communicating and be direct. If you're looking for X and you're asking about Y, it will only lead to further confusion. Finally, do what you say you're going to do. If you tell someone that you will help them at 8:00am, be there to help them at 7:59am (or don't tell them you can help because you won't make it on time). It is very easy to over commit in the work force and as a result you will end up under delivering. Hope this helps!
Thanks,
Blake
Raghunandan Manchenahalli
Software Development
12
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Raghunandan’s Answer
Few key things that works well;
a) Always be inquisitive to learn from Day 1; about current product, team members, group you are in and most importantly what is the company's landscape in the overall industry
b) Network with a large number of people
c) Learn elements of communication; what works and what doesn't
d) Do not feel disheartened about failures. They are your true learning opportunities.
e) Be disciplined on a daily basis. Do not feel that you are dragging your feet to work
f) Have fun and figure out ways to motivate yourself. No one can inject motivation levels for you and there wont be any vaccine :)
Best Wishes
Raghunandan
a) Always be inquisitive to learn from Day 1; about current product, team members, group you are in and most importantly what is the company's landscape in the overall industry
b) Network with a large number of people
c) Learn elements of communication; what works and what doesn't
d) Do not feel disheartened about failures. They are your true learning opportunities.
e) Be disciplined on a daily basis. Do not feel that you are dragging your feet to work
f) Have fun and figure out ways to motivate yourself. No one can inject motivation levels for you and there wont be any vaccine :)
Best Wishes
Raghunandan
Evan North
9
Answers
New Jersey, New Jersey
Updated
Evan’s Answer
Andrew, this is a great question, and there isn't one answer, however multiple answers. The first thing I would suggest is to build your network. You really need to understand who does what and how your job will impact (good or bad) their job. Second, be intentional about your actions (attitude, decisions) and work (projects, skillsets). Make sure you're talking about, sharing, and keeping the teams you work with updated on your work. In a bigger company, stakeholdering is very important - it ensures alignment and allows people to have input, as you likely won't be the single owner of something. The last piece I'll add, is keep your head up while working hard. You need to advocate for yourself, and bring your network to do the same. I hope this helps - and you'll find your own ways to be successful.
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
845
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Andrew,
Congratulations on your job. It can be exciting and challenging to work at a large company. I certainly know the feeling. I would start with making sure that you know what you want out of your career and your company. Is your goal to stay with this company for a long time? To move up into higher roles? Make more money? Whatever direction you take, you should think about what you want right now. Your desires can and will change over time, so I would say that you start there. Once you have a direction, you should focus on building a network around you that supports that direction. One person in that network should be a mentor. You should find someone who already has what you want to achieve and learn from them how they did it. It may take a few tries to find the right mentor, but make sure that you find one that you can trust to be honest with you. Network with people who are good at what they do and are also moving in the direction that you want. I have always grown stronger in my skills when I am surrounded by talented people who make me want to be better. If you are the best at what you do in a group, move to another group. You learn more from the people who you chase than from those who are behind you.
So what is networking? Meeting and engaging with a variety of people, especially people who do what you do for a living. My company makes it very easy since we have a lot of employee groups. Join groups at your company. Go to events that are in shared spaces and meet people you have never before. Volunteer for charities where you know nothing about them. Volunteer at work to be on cross-functional projects that allow you to learn more about the business. All of these things have one thing in common - connections to people.
Good luck in your new employment. And have fun.
Gloria
Congratulations on your job. It can be exciting and challenging to work at a large company. I certainly know the feeling. I would start with making sure that you know what you want out of your career and your company. Is your goal to stay with this company for a long time? To move up into higher roles? Make more money? Whatever direction you take, you should think about what you want right now. Your desires can and will change over time, so I would say that you start there. Once you have a direction, you should focus on building a network around you that supports that direction. One person in that network should be a mentor. You should find someone who already has what you want to achieve and learn from them how they did it. It may take a few tries to find the right mentor, but make sure that you find one that you can trust to be honest with you. Network with people who are good at what they do and are also moving in the direction that you want. I have always grown stronger in my skills when I am surrounded by talented people who make me want to be better. If you are the best at what you do in a group, move to another group. You learn more from the people who you chase than from those who are behind you.
So what is networking? Meeting and engaging with a variety of people, especially people who do what you do for a living. My company makes it very easy since we have a lot of employee groups. Join groups at your company. Go to events that are in shared spaces and meet people you have never before. Volunteer for charities where you know nothing about them. Volunteer at work to be on cross-functional projects that allow you to learn more about the business. All of these things have one thing in common - connections to people.
Good luck in your new employment. And have fun.
Gloria
Krantisinh Deshmukh
Software Engineer
2
Answers
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Updated
Krantisinh’s Answer
Hi,
Welcome to the tech world! Since this industry is composed of people who like very high professionalism, communication is a key skill that one should possess in order to succeed. Here are some key things that will help you communicate better -
1) Whether it's verbal communication or written, be prompt in responses. Make the other person feel that he is important and the question he has asked is important for you to answer
2) Keep your answers crisp and to the point
3) Avoid the usage of strong words. Be polite. Many of the battles can be solved quickly if we choose our words wisely.
4) Ask timely questions and clear your doubts
5) Seek feedback about your work from your colleagues and managers regularly. Take the feedback positively and work on things that can be improved
6) Express gratitude for the help that you may have received from someone. Appreciate others for their good work
7) Be proactive and embrace challenging opportunities. That's how you'll grow faster
Wish you all the very best for your career :)
Welcome to the tech world! Since this industry is composed of people who like very high professionalism, communication is a key skill that one should possess in order to succeed. Here are some key things that will help you communicate better -
1) Whether it's verbal communication or written, be prompt in responses. Make the other person feel that he is important and the question he has asked is important for you to answer
2) Keep your answers crisp and to the point
3) Avoid the usage of strong words. Be polite. Many of the battles can be solved quickly if we choose our words wisely.
4) Ask timely questions and clear your doubts
5) Seek feedback about your work from your colleagues and managers regularly. Take the feedback positively and work on things that can be improved
6) Express gratitude for the help that you may have received from someone. Appreciate others for their good work
7) Be proactive and embrace challenging opportunities. That's how you'll grow faster
Wish you all the very best for your career :)
Melisa Cameron
Sr. Project Program Mgr., AT&T Community Engagement
167
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Melisa’s Answer
Andrew,
Congratulations to you in your new job and career ahead of you! What a great opportunity you've been given and I hope you enjoy learning and growing in your experience.
To just add to a few of the already great suggestions you have here, I'll share some of my personal suggestions for working for a big company.
1. NETWORKING. Take time to network and get to know others. Whether that is in meetings, informal lunches and volunteer opportunities, you can continue to grow your list of contacts who can help you in your career goals.
2. VOLUNTEERING. As others shared, make time for volunteering and helping others in your community. Get to know your company's mission and values and sure you are doing what you can to represent those too.
3. BENEFITING. Learn all you can about the benefits and resources you have as an employee and lean into those opportunities. They can include tuition reimbursement, free seminars or training, voluntary benefits to enroll in, employee discounts and so much more!
4. LEARNING. Become a "life long learner." Always take the opportunity to keep learning. Ask questions. Set-up time with people who are not in your immediate work group or department to find out more about your company and other parts of the business.
5. HAVE FUN! Especially during the year we've had, find ways to keep stress under control and get to know your colleagues and company too. We spend so much time working, why not enjoy ourselves too!?
Best wishes to you in your career journey.
Get to know your company's mission and values. To see more about AT&T's mission and values, check out this site https://www.att.jobs/culture/
Congratulations to you in your new job and career ahead of you! What a great opportunity you've been given and I hope you enjoy learning and growing in your experience.
To just add to a few of the already great suggestions you have here, I'll share some of my personal suggestions for working for a big company.
1. NETWORKING. Take time to network and get to know others. Whether that is in meetings, informal lunches and volunteer opportunities, you can continue to grow your list of contacts who can help you in your career goals.
2. VOLUNTEERING. As others shared, make time for volunteering and helping others in your community. Get to know your company's mission and values and sure you are doing what you can to represent those too.
3. BENEFITING. Learn all you can about the benefits and resources you have as an employee and lean into those opportunities. They can include tuition reimbursement, free seminars or training, voluntary benefits to enroll in, employee discounts and so much more!
4. LEARNING. Become a "life long learner." Always take the opportunity to keep learning. Ask questions. Set-up time with people who are not in your immediate work group or department to find out more about your company and other parts of the business.
5. HAVE FUN! Especially during the year we've had, find ways to keep stress under control and get to know your colleagues and company too. We spend so much time working, why not enjoy ourselves too!?
Best wishes to you in your career journey.
Melisa recommends the following next steps:
Christine Ciccone
Director Digital Marketing Transformation
2
Answers
Summit, New Jersey
Updated
Christine’s Answer
Exciting times are ahead for you! I recommend establishing a 90 day plan so you can thoughtfully approach what may seem like a daunting endeavor. Starting a new job ,especially at a large company can feel like you are drinking from a firehose - however I find that if you lay out a thoughtful plan in partnership with your leader your onboarding will be much smoother. Investing time to get to know your immediate peers and others you will be working with cross-functionally - prior to diving into the job itself will provide to be helpful as cultivating strong relationships will be key to your success. Ask your leader for guidance on who you should meet with in the near and longer term and then set up 30 minute meetings to get to know folks, understand their career journeys as well as their roles. This will provide you with great context and also give you a chance to share your experiences with others - so you can demonstrate how you seek to collaborate with them. A a helpful book to guide you both now and in future career moves is : https://www.amazon.com/s?k=book+the+first+90+days&gclid=CjwKCAjw9r-DBhBxEiwA9qYUpUyO08JECHwrPHgaUfoj4bN7nOoZ1F2qh3EMEpETVICsyImAZW7MtRoCL6QQAvD_BwE&hvadid=241900257993&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9003732&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11819363253371072382&hvtargid=kwd-12364618525&hydadcr=22562_10346325&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_80jay2fut_e
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
Brian Wei
Web Operations Manager
2
Answers
George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Updated
Brian’s Answer
Congratulations Andrew for the new job opportunity! Working in giant company is about understanding the company's purpose, mission statement and culture. Every organization & team has their own values and goals to achieve. Communication is the key with your leader and peers. Be genuine and be yourself.
Ryan Regalado
Software Engineer
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
To better communicate to your colleagues, be honest and direct in a respectful way. Whenever you have questions or issues, it is best to address it with the colleague directly. If you need advice, see if your manager can assist you. Communication is key in being successful despite the work itself.
Laurel Bonsack
Sales Enablement
1
Answer
San Francisco, California
Updated
Laurel’s Answer
Hi Andrew!! Congratulations on your new role - how exciting!
Take ownership of your work and be open to feedback. One of the best ways to grow your network is to be open and communicative with your teammates and beyond. Try to meet as many people both inside and outside your function.
Seek out a mentor either in your team or with a team that you work with. The real value of a mentor is that you can ask questions and get advice from someone who is not your manager. This way you can get advice without any sort of pressure. A great first step to finding a mentor is to find someone that you want to emulate or someone who has a skillset that you admire. Be naturally curious and ask them if they're open to answering some of your questions.
Be open to failure and not knowing all of the answers. The answer "I don't know, but I will go find out for you," is important and respected. Just make sure you follow through.
There is value in connecting with others outside of your team. It's likely that you won't be on your current team or in this role forever so try your best to meet people outside of your team and learn about their roles.
Take ownership of your work and be open to feedback. One of the best ways to grow your network is to be open and communicative with your teammates and beyond. Try to meet as many people both inside and outside your function.
Seek out a mentor either in your team or with a team that you work with. The real value of a mentor is that you can ask questions and get advice from someone who is not your manager. This way you can get advice without any sort of pressure. A great first step to finding a mentor is to find someone that you want to emulate or someone who has a skillset that you admire. Be naturally curious and ask them if they're open to answering some of your questions.
Be open to failure and not knowing all of the answers. The answer "I don't know, but I will go find out for you," is important and respected. Just make sure you follow through.
There is value in connecting with others outside of your team. It's likely that you won't be on your current team or in this role forever so try your best to meet people outside of your team and learn about their roles.
Adam Heugh
Medical Bill Reciew
24
Answers
Lansing, Michigan
Updated
Adam’s Answer
Congratulations on your new position!
From my experience, I find that the easiest way to begin acclimating to a new job is the following:
1. Understand the expectations of your Supervisor. In the beginning, don't feel uncomfortable asking questions if something is unclear.
2. Hopefully, your Supervisor sets-up 30/60/90 day reviews to go over your progress and how you are doing. These are great opportunities to learn how your Supervisor is perceiving your work and give opportunity to learn where you can improve.
3. Develop relationships with your co-workers. As you will potentially be spending a lot of time with them, you will need to learn how to communicate with them to achieve the best results.
For my employees, I promote the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. The first step is to develop trust with your new co-workers. Without this, it is hard to build a working relationship.
Starting a new job is exciting and little nerve racking all at once. Go in, examine the surroundings, see where you fit in and build from there. As this is new, you have plenty of time to show them what you are made of.
Good luck!
From my experience, I find that the easiest way to begin acclimating to a new job is the following:
1. Understand the expectations of your Supervisor. In the beginning, don't feel uncomfortable asking questions if something is unclear.
2. Hopefully, your Supervisor sets-up 30/60/90 day reviews to go over your progress and how you are doing. These are great opportunities to learn how your Supervisor is perceiving your work and give opportunity to learn where you can improve.
3. Develop relationships with your co-workers. As you will potentially be spending a lot of time with them, you will need to learn how to communicate with them to achieve the best results.
For my employees, I promote the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. The first step is to develop trust with your new co-workers. Without this, it is hard to build a working relationship.
Starting a new job is exciting and little nerve racking all at once. Go in, examine the surroundings, see where you fit in and build from there. As this is new, you have plenty of time to show them what you are made of.
Good luck!
Peregrin Gilman
Product Owner
44
Answers
Reston, Virginia
Updated
Peregrin’s Answer
You've gotten a lot of great advice here, as someone who has worked both in a small start up and then spent most of my professional career in a very large company, I thought I would share some advice that I have given to others that have joined my company from other companies (which were much smaller).
First, large companies can be very bureaucratic, they have built out processes to manage the size. That can be burdensome and seem counter-productive (and it often is), but with size comes constraints.
The next thing that comes with size is opportunity. You could spend your entire career in one large company, fulfilling many different opportunities. I have worked for the same company for the last 23 years. I have had 3 very distinctive career paths within it, and lots of variety.
To get those opportunities, as has been stated, you need to network, find mentors, and develop champions who will look out for you and help identify good opportunities. To do that, you need to be true to yourself, competent in your work (Not necessarily the best, but someone who is seen as dependable and solid), and you need to speak up.
Some of the most senior executives I've sat in meetings with and learned from had some great observations about being in meetings. It is important that you have a point of view, as if asked your opinion, it is important to have one. You may not know something or you might need to learn more (and that is good to be able to articulate), but you should have an opinion, otherwise... why are you in the meeting? If there to observe, fine, you may have some of that early on, but even when there to observe, if an executive asks your opinion... have one!
There are some ups and downs with large companies that you will face. Employees are part of the enterprise. If the enterprise needs to shrink, there will likely be layoffs... That can be stressful. In the company I have worked for, I would say there is probably anywhere from 3 - 5 different rounds of layoffs in any given year as parts of the business try to right size what they need. I have even been impacted personally in a Reduction in Force, but that leads to the other aspect of large companies... There is also always opportunities for something else in there, so if you do as mentioned above, you are likely to do very well.
Best of luck in your new adventure.
First, large companies can be very bureaucratic, they have built out processes to manage the size. That can be burdensome and seem counter-productive (and it often is), but with size comes constraints.
The next thing that comes with size is opportunity. You could spend your entire career in one large company, fulfilling many different opportunities. I have worked for the same company for the last 23 years. I have had 3 very distinctive career paths within it, and lots of variety.
To get those opportunities, as has been stated, you need to network, find mentors, and develop champions who will look out for you and help identify good opportunities. To do that, you need to be true to yourself, competent in your work (Not necessarily the best, but someone who is seen as dependable and solid), and you need to speak up.
Some of the most senior executives I've sat in meetings with and learned from had some great observations about being in meetings. It is important that you have a point of view, as if asked your opinion, it is important to have one. You may not know something or you might need to learn more (and that is good to be able to articulate), but you should have an opinion, otherwise... why are you in the meeting? If there to observe, fine, you may have some of that early on, but even when there to observe, if an executive asks your opinion... have one!
There are some ups and downs with large companies that you will face. Employees are part of the enterprise. If the enterprise needs to shrink, there will likely be layoffs... That can be stressful. In the company I have worked for, I would say there is probably anywhere from 3 - 5 different rounds of layoffs in any given year as parts of the business try to right size what they need. I have even been impacted personally in a Reduction in Force, but that leads to the other aspect of large companies... There is also always opportunities for something else in there, so if you do as mentioned above, you are likely to do very well.
Best of luck in your new adventure.
Jai Kumar
Software engineering leader
4
Answers
Pleasanton, California
Updated
Jai’s Answer
First of all, many congratulations on getting the new job.
Regarding effective communication within the team, I would recommend you first understand what is the existing communication tools or processes are there, and then learn how to efficiently use them. However, the best way could be to find a buddy in the team and take his/her help to learn the tricks that work there, that would be the easiest and faster way to become familiar with the new team.
Things to avoid -
Every company is different and have different culture and people, so there is no absolute way to say what to avoid. However in general you should be careful about saying "yes" to things which you are not comfortable with and be transparent in your actions and communications. Trust me that goes long way and will help you to build good relationships with the team members.
Good luck!
Regarding effective communication within the team, I would recommend you first understand what is the existing communication tools or processes are there, and then learn how to efficiently use them. However, the best way could be to find a buddy in the team and take his/her help to learn the tricks that work there, that would be the easiest and faster way to become familiar with the new team.
Things to avoid -
Every company is different and have different culture and people, so there is no absolute way to say what to avoid. However in general you should be careful about saying "yes" to things which you are not comfortable with and be transparent in your actions and communications. Trust me that goes long way and will help you to build good relationships with the team members.
Good luck!
Subathra Ganesan
Technical Writer
9
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Subathra’s Answer
Hi Andrew,
Here are my tips:
Be proactive.
Have a good rapport with your colleagues especially with your manager/immediate supervisor.
Take responsibility.
Volunteer for tasks.
Excel in your domain.
Last but not the least, integrity is an utmost important characteristic.
Best wishes!
Here are my tips:
Be proactive.
Have a good rapport with your colleagues especially with your manager/immediate supervisor.
Take responsibility.
Volunteer for tasks.
Excel in your domain.
Last but not the least, integrity is an utmost important characteristic.
Best wishes!
Faez Morad
11
Answers
Updated
Faez’s Answer
So many great answers on here. Only thing I will say is ask lots of questions, even if they seem silly to you. There is no such thing as a bad or dumb question. It shows you are interested in the topic and asking clarifying questions gives you more clarity on what you are supposed to do.
I'll add one more thing. Raise your hand to do any special projects. It will raise your profile and give you experience with working with colleagues that you may not necessarily work with on a regular basis.
Good luck!
I'll add one more thing. Raise your hand to do any special projects. It will raise your profile and give you experience with working with colleagues that you may not necessarily work with on a regular basis.
Good luck!
Latoya Johnson
2
Answers
Updated
Latoya’s Answer
Congrats on the new career, My advice would be to put your best foot forward each day, hone in on your craft and passion to create best work. Just know that the happier you at doing something, the better you are at doing it. Don't forget to just be you natural great self. Hope this helps someone.
Richard Ahmed
5
Answers
Updated
Richard’s Answer
Andrew,
There are many good answers to your post and one extra thing to consider and learning and adopting the culture of the organization you are going to be apart of. Some organizations also have credo's and if they do, learn and operate by it and you should be very successful in your new role at a big company.
There are many good answers to your post and one extra thing to consider and learning and adopting the culture of the organization you are going to be apart of. Some organizations also have credo's and if they do, learn and operate by it and you should be very successful in your new role at a big company.
Apurva Parikh
Customer Success Management
15
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Apurva’s Answer
Hi!
Lot of good advice on this thread. I would say the following things are generally good ideas:
1. Find out who you will be working with and setup 1-1's with everyone. Get to know your team and establish close friendships/relationships there
2. Understand the reporting structure at a big company is a good idea - to understand how you fit and where you fit in the larger scheme of things
3. Join any social groups that the company provides - most companies do this now - and you will get to meet folks outside of your team with similar interests
4. Be proactive - if there's a leader or someone above you in your org - reach out to them! You'll be surprised.
5. Ask questions! Above all else - be curious and try to learn more about the place you are working at, don't expect people to come to you with all the answers
Lot of good advice on this thread. I would say the following things are generally good ideas:
1. Find out who you will be working with and setup 1-1's with everyone. Get to know your team and establish close friendships/relationships there
2. Understand the reporting structure at a big company is a good idea - to understand how you fit and where you fit in the larger scheme of things
3. Join any social groups that the company provides - most companies do this now - and you will get to meet folks outside of your team with similar interests
4. Be proactive - if there's a leader or someone above you in your org - reach out to them! You'll be surprised.
5. Ask questions! Above all else - be curious and try to learn more about the place you are working at, don't expect people to come to you with all the answers
Swaroop Butala
Director, Mobile Engineering
1
Answer
Redwood City, California
Updated
Swaroop’s Answer
Congratulations on your new role!
In the context of communication, from my personal experience, put yourself in a position where you are interacting with more of your peers on a recurring basis. You can do so by setting up informal 1-1s / coffee chats to get to know them/ learn from them and even form an organic mentoring relationships with them. Things to talk about it in these chats:
1. You can start with questions like this one and ask them how they approached it early in their career.
2. Be vulnerable and share what you are struggling with and ask them how they think about it.
3. If you see someone who is really good in a specific area, generally it's not an accident, they have put in work to get there. So reach out to them, appreciate them for what they are good at and ask them how they got there.
Generally, people are love to talk about themselves and are always happy to help. :)
I truly wish I had done more of this early in my career. Forming and investing in these relationships goes a long way and that is what I have learned to value more as I have progressed in my career.
Setup your first 1-1 with a peer and think about one area you think they are good at and ask them how they got there.
In the context of communication, from my personal experience, put yourself in a position where you are interacting with more of your peers on a recurring basis. You can do so by setting up informal 1-1s / coffee chats to get to know them/ learn from them and even form an organic mentoring relationships with them. Things to talk about it in these chats:
1. You can start with questions like this one and ask them how they approached it early in their career.
2. Be vulnerable and share what you are struggling with and ask them how they think about it.
3. If you see someone who is really good in a specific area, generally it's not an accident, they have put in work to get there. So reach out to them, appreciate them for what they are good at and ask them how they got there.
Generally, people are love to talk about themselves and are always happy to help. :)
I truly wish I had done more of this early in my career. Forming and investing in these relationships goes a long way and that is what I have learned to value more as I have progressed in my career.
Swaroop recommends the following next steps:
Trent Romans
Sales Manager
2
Answers
Nashville, Tennessee
Updated
Trent’s Answer
Andrew- First, congrats on the new position. You're going to find all kinds of opportunities to get involved in smaller projects or teams, and you need to be prepared to seize those opportunities. Fox example: there will be organizations based on stage of career, technical growth, and focused teaming. You will also have chances to mentor other new members of your company. That will help you hone your own skills, make others successful and form relationships that can span your career within your company and beyond.
Nadia Ramharakh
Director, FP&A
5
Answers
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Nadia’s Answer
Congrats on your new job!
When starting at a new company it is important to understand the culture of the company itself and also of the department that you are working in. It can be different. Take the time to network and understand what part everyone plays in the company’s success and how that person can impact your role. If you’re taking a problem to someone always have a suggested solution. Learn the job and be willing to do more as you learn.
Good luck!
When starting at a new company it is important to understand the culture of the company itself and also of the department that you are working in. It can be different. Take the time to network and understand what part everyone plays in the company’s success and how that person can impact your role. If you’re taking a problem to someone always have a suggested solution. Learn the job and be willing to do more as you learn.
Good luck!
Victoria Cipolla
Financial Analyst
2
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Victoria’s Answer
Hi Andrew, congrats on the new role!
1. Always ask questions, no matter how silly you may think it is, is will show you interest in the subject matter and your eagerness to continue to learn new things.
2. Get to know others on your team on a personal level, building relationships and a strong network of people around you will help you long term in your career.
3. Be open to try new things and being comfortable with the uncomfortable. Participate in any side projects or opportunities of interest even if its in another area of the business you are not familiar with. It will help grow your knowledge base and help you meet new people you wouldn't typically work with on a daily basis.
Best of luck!
1. Always ask questions, no matter how silly you may think it is, is will show you interest in the subject matter and your eagerness to continue to learn new things.
2. Get to know others on your team on a personal level, building relationships and a strong network of people around you will help you long term in your career.
3. Be open to try new things and being comfortable with the uncomfortable. Participate in any side projects or opportunities of interest even if its in another area of the business you are not familiar with. It will help grow your knowledge base and help you meet new people you wouldn't typically work with on a daily basis.
Best of luck!
Kevin Coleman
Field Engineer
4
Answers
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
Congratulations Andrew,
Show up on time, don't leave early, and show a great interest in what you're working on. Ask questions...I've worked with people that would rather do something wrong rather than ask a question, to which they think they're already expected to know the answer too. Truth is asking questions is invaluable, especially if you ask the right people (another important part of asking questions). They can give you invaluable insight to your co-workers and new company's strategies and values and also provide a great opportunity to be proactive and engaging in conversations or meetings. Asking questions doesn't mean you're ignorant or inferior, it means you are interested in learning about company processes and values.
Be somebody, others want to work with. Be friendly and don't let others' comments influence your opinion about people in the office. Be an active listener by making eye contact in meetings, taking notes, asking questions, etc.. Be genuine, honest, and give constructive feedback. Be confident, but not arrogant. When you see an opportunity where improvement can be made, whether it's with a certain process or product, humbly bring it forth and if they don't like it, don't get discouraged. And don't take constructive criticism to personal. Best of luck in your new job!
Show up on time, don't leave early, and show a great interest in what you're working on. Ask questions...I've worked with people that would rather do something wrong rather than ask a question, to which they think they're already expected to know the answer too. Truth is asking questions is invaluable, especially if you ask the right people (another important part of asking questions). They can give you invaluable insight to your co-workers and new company's strategies and values and also provide a great opportunity to be proactive and engaging in conversations or meetings. Asking questions doesn't mean you're ignorant or inferior, it means you are interested in learning about company processes and values.
Be somebody, others want to work with. Be friendly and don't let others' comments influence your opinion about people in the office. Be an active listener by making eye contact in meetings, taking notes, asking questions, etc.. Be genuine, honest, and give constructive feedback. Be confident, but not arrogant. When you see an opportunity where improvement can be made, whether it's with a certain process or product, humbly bring it forth and if they don't like it, don't get discouraged. And don't take constructive criticism to personal. Best of luck in your new job!
Monica Mercado
Retired
5
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
Monica’s Answer
Congrats!
(1) Be willing and open to learn new things and receive feedback. Take advantage of corporate training offerings.
(2) Be kind, even if it feels like you are short on time or under pressure.
(3) Ask questions and meet as many people as you can so that you can learn from their journeys.
(4) Learn about your 401(k) investment options.
(1) Be willing and open to learn new things and receive feedback. Take advantage of corporate training offerings.
(2) Be kind, even if it feels like you are short on time or under pressure.
(3) Ask questions and meet as many people as you can so that you can learn from their journeys.
(4) Learn about your 401(k) investment options.
Hendrik P
2
Answers
Berlin, Germany
Updated
Hendrik’s Answer
Hi, good attitude to think already about this before starting.
Be open and try reaching out to others quite often and make sure you see always the big picture and not get stuck in silos.
Be open and try reaching out to others quite often and make sure you see always the big picture and not get stuck in silos.
Tina D
Attorney
6
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Tina’s Answer
Sometimes it can feel hard to get noticed working in a large company. The best way to get noticed (outside of doing your job well) is to get involved and make connections that build the foundation for strong relationships with others in the company. Join committees or resource groups, volunteer for "extras" that show you care about the company's success and your value. The relationships and networking will lead to success and ultimately other positions at the company. It may take some time, and there may be ups and downs, but ultimately putting in the extra effort will lead to success in the end.
Steve Nikolovski
Business Intelligence Tools Manager
10
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Steve’s Answer
One piece of advice I learned from a tough professor in graduate school for my MBA was participate in meetings! Prepare for meetings , ask questions and give suggestions. In big companies - people notice! He was right.
Colleen Marks
Head of Creative Strategy
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Colleen’s Answer
A large company comes with a lot of opportunity, but the size can also be really intimidating! A lot of other people have already shared great advice. An additional thing that I would note - large companies often have a lot of internal committees or task forces. Consider joining an Employee Resource Group or task force to connect to - and help drive - the culture of the company, and also to help you gain internal contacts and advocates outside of your day-to-day role. Oftentimes, growth within large companies may come from jumping between teams or divisions, so knowing people outside of your immediate role can ultimately aid you with career growth opportunities down the road.
Research internal committees, task forces, or Employee Resource Groups
Colleen recommends the following next steps:
Elise Jones
Human Resources Advisor
7
Answers
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Updated
Elise’s Answer
Hi Andrew,
Congrats on the new role! Great question and lots of fantastic responses on this thread. I would emphasize networking. Take advantage of being at a large company to get to know as many people as you can. Not just on your team but also in the surrounding organizations and any other areas you may be interested. Get to know your team by scheduling one-on-ones with them. Especially in a virtual environment, this helps getting to know colleagues on a professional and personal level.
Congrats on the new role! Great question and lots of fantastic responses on this thread. I would emphasize networking. Take advantage of being at a large company to get to know as many people as you can. Not just on your team but also in the surrounding organizations and any other areas you may be interested. Get to know your team by scheduling one-on-ones with them. Especially in a virtual environment, this helps getting to know colleagues on a professional and personal level.
Shubhankar Keluskar
Software designing and development
19
Answers
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Updated
Shubhankar’s Answer
Hi, Congratulations on your new job.
Few basic things you may do as you start your career
1. Always demonstrate the will to learn and to grow. This means taking initiatives whenever you have an opportunity.
2. Try to talk to senior members in the team about their experience with the project and work. This may be an informal over a coffee conversation. Focus on what you can learn technically as well as functionally or business wise.
3. Avoid talking about money and promotions straightaway. If you have to , you may ask about growth or progression to the next role.
I hope these pointers would give you some direction. Good Luck !!
Few basic things you may do as you start your career
1. Always demonstrate the will to learn and to grow. This means taking initiatives whenever you have an opportunity.
2. Try to talk to senior members in the team about their experience with the project and work. This may be an informal over a coffee conversation. Focus on what you can learn technically as well as functionally or business wise.
3. Avoid talking about money and promotions straightaway. If you have to , you may ask about growth or progression to the next role.
I hope these pointers would give you some direction. Good Luck !!
Judy Lynn Opinaldo
Learning & Development Consultant
3
Answers
Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
Updated
Judy Lynn’s Answer
Hi Andrew,
Congratulations on getting the role! I'm happy to see that you're in a platform like this to get advice - this is a good sign of humility and motivation to do well. :)
I was just in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with principal engineers at my organization this morning and this was one of the things we were talking about. Here are a few gold nuggets I got from them that I would also like to share with you:
1. Be open to learning new things. Often times when we just graduated from school, we continue to have an academic mindset and feel that we need to give the best output the first time to get a high grade. When you start working in the corporate world, you'll realize that trying to get the job perfectly the first time isn't always going to work - and will sometimes even lead to rework because it wasn't what was needed for the project. Make it about learning - ask for feedback from peers and mentors and be willing to modify and adjust your output to fit the needs of the project.
2. Surround yourself with trusted peers and mentors. "If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room." Learn from people who have the wisdom and experience - they will be more than happy to share with you their personal learnings and journey that you can learn from. Receiving feedback and guidance from them will also help you shorten your own learning curve. Be courageous to open up discussions and to ask for help.
3. Be proactive. While others may have the tenure and the experience, it doesn't mean your ideas do not count. Having a fresh set of eyes will always do wonders for a project! Do not be afraid to voice your opinions, to share your ideas, and to brainstorm with colleagues. If your ideas aren't taken on for a project this time, don't take it personally - this is not a reflection of you. But continue to share your ideas and to look for solutions.
I wish you all the best!
Congratulations on getting the role! I'm happy to see that you're in a platform like this to get advice - this is a good sign of humility and motivation to do well. :)
I was just in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with principal engineers at my organization this morning and this was one of the things we were talking about. Here are a few gold nuggets I got from them that I would also like to share with you:
1. Be open to learning new things. Often times when we just graduated from school, we continue to have an academic mindset and feel that we need to give the best output the first time to get a high grade. When you start working in the corporate world, you'll realize that trying to get the job perfectly the first time isn't always going to work - and will sometimes even lead to rework because it wasn't what was needed for the project. Make it about learning - ask for feedback from peers and mentors and be willing to modify and adjust your output to fit the needs of the project.
2. Surround yourself with trusted peers and mentors. "If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room." Learn from people who have the wisdom and experience - they will be more than happy to share with you their personal learnings and journey that you can learn from. Receiving feedback and guidance from them will also help you shorten your own learning curve. Be courageous to open up discussions and to ask for help.
3. Be proactive. While others may have the tenure and the experience, it doesn't mean your ideas do not count. Having a fresh set of eyes will always do wonders for a project! Do not be afraid to voice your opinions, to share your ideas, and to brainstorm with colleagues. If your ideas aren't taken on for a project this time, don't take it personally - this is not a reflection of you. But continue to share your ideas and to look for solutions.
I wish you all the best!
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