Just joined the corporate world?

Musings 1 Minute

Have you just entered the corporate world?
Or in the first few years of your career?

The excitement is palpable: new experiences, new people, and a lot to learn.
However, it can also feel overwhelming. How do you make the right impression? How do you build strong relationships with your manager, seniors, or even peers? How to share your ideas that are very different from others?

Here are a 8 practical tips that can go a long way:
👕 Dress well—even if it’s casual. This isn’t about branded clothes or formal wear. It’s about being neat and tidy. When you take care of yourself, it sends a message: I take my job seriously too.

🤝 Keep your word, Always. If you commit to finishing something or joining a meeting, ensure you do. Be on time: for meetings, deadlines, or catch-ups. If you can’t follow through, inform in advance.

❓ Clarify. Clarify. Clarify If you don’t understand something, ask. There are no stupid questions. What’s worse is assuming, going in the wrong direction, and losing time and credibility. Stay curious.

🔍 Don’t go only with problems, offer a possible solutions. It’s okay to not have all the answers. Before you walk up to your manager with a problem, pause and think: What are a couple of ways I could approach this? Thinking through the problem shows your initiative and ownership.

🗣️ Ask for feedback. Often.
After completing a project or a task, ask: What could I have done differently? It shows maturity, openness, and a willingness to grow.

🏃‍♀️ Don’t let one bad day shake you.
The first few months or years are just the beginning. Everyone stumbles, especially early in their careers. Learn from it. Remember: you’re not running a 100-meter sprint. This is a 40+ year marathon. Pace yourself.

📚 Be a sponge. Learn by observing, reading, asking.
Observe how meetings are run, how decisions are made, how people navigate challenges. Read, ask questions, volunteer to help—it’s all part of your learning.

🧹No task is beneath you.
Whether it’s updating a tracker or preparing minutes of a meeting—do it with sincerity. Every task teaches you something. You’re building habits, not just completing tasks.

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Published by Padma Rajeswari

At the outset, I would like to thank you for stopping by my Blog. I believe that there is nothing right or wrong in this world. What’s right in this moment and context may be wrong in another moment and context. This belief has inspired me to name my blog ‘Perspectives’. Perspectives is a platform for me to share my experiences, thoughts and perspectives on various subjects. You may have a different point of view. I look forward to hearing them, these are the triggers for rich and deep conversations. On personal front, I live in Mumbai, India. I love to read; Somerset Maugham and Nevil Shute are my favorite authors. My favorite books are The Razor’s Edge, Mrs. Craddock, Chequer Board and Gone with the Wind. I am thankful to my father who inculcated the habit of reading in me early on. I am also passionate about traveling, I have been to most parts of India and to several countries across the globe. On professional front, I work in Human Resources function. Over two and half decades, I have worked across multiple industries and cultures. I focus on Leadership Development, Talent Management, Visioning and Culture, Large-scale change, Employee Listening & Engagement, Employee Well-being, Inclusive work culture, HR effectiveness, Behavior and Mind-set shifts through sustained interventions I currently lead Organization Effectiveness Function for Aditya Birla Group, a $44.3 billion conglomerate with 120000 employees across 35 countries. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy reading my blog. I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you!

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