I worked in a fortune 100 tech company for 7 years. I did REALLY well. At 27 years old I was managing a few of our largest customers and making 6 figures to do so. I left right before the Great Resignation happened and I wanted to share how I really feel – but know if I post it on LinkedIn that everyone in the corp world will get up in arms about it.
Here is what I learned – please, take this advice and save yourself some time if you're in the corp world now:
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Ego is way more powerful in decision making than you think. I've seen HORRIBLE decisions made because they were recommended by someone who people liked and didn't want to shoot down. When they left our company, the entire strategy immediately shifted to the more logical idea. They weren't bad people, it was just that others didn't want to hurt the relationship by challenging their idea. I'm sure things were changed after I left, and I was SUPER nice and easy to work with.
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The corporation does not care about you. I watched people carted out in a gurney and their job was posted before their seat was cold. Heart attack killed a 20-years-at-the-company employee and he was replaced within 2 weeks. Replaced. Not “well, we hired a new guy, but it'll take a long time to fill Bob's shoes” – no, some kid comes in and does his job 2x faster and was paid half. Never even knew who he replaced. So don't sweat it if you need to take the morning off to go to the doctor. It won't matter. At all. You think it does, but it doesn't.
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Take your time off. No reward for “perfect attendance.” Go to the doctor and take sick time to do it (yes that's a normal use of sick time). Take your vacation. Your co-workers will survive without you. Don't work on your vacation either. You'll burn out.
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Stress really will kill you. There was a point where I forgot my social security number. I blanked. For days. I used to know it as if it was my phone number. But I was so stressed I lost that very important piece of information. I also wasn't driving safely or remembering any of my important information. It was around that point when I realized I needed to change careers.
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You don't owe your boss an explanation. No explanation needed for why you're out sick, not for where you're going on vacation, not for a personal day. The less you say, the better. One time my husband confided in his boss that he was depressed and that he was 2-5m late every day because he was battling depression and couldn't sleep (which was true). He came up for promotion… And didn't get it – because the boss (who really loved my husband as an employee) felt like depressed people aren't 100% reliable… So he passed him up for the promotion – that he was more than qualified for.
Be careful out there in the corporate world. I'm not bitter. It's a cool wave to ride – But it can take ugly turns if you aren't playing the game properly.
If I help even one person with this post, I'll be so happy. Best of luck out there!
p.s. – extremely happy in my current job – freelancing in the creative world. I am just not built for Corp (even if I was really good at it).
Please ask me any questions – I'm happy to share what I've learned and help you navigate the complexities of the corporate environment.