Andy - Great post! I understand that it can be a difficult transition, but I also believe that a lot of it depends on you. Big corporations function differently from any other workplace I've seen, but something I've noticed is that you'll get those office politics anywhere. Try to stay neutral and focus on your own tasks -- it's fascinating as the observer, but it can be hell if you're a part of it.

There is A LOT to learn, in any new position. Personally, when I start a new job, I can't wait to learn everything there is because that kind of knowledge provides a kind of comfort level -- you can talk with customers/clients and have confidence in your ability and you become the "go to" person. That being said, it's going to take time and something to remember is that you're never going to know everything (or everyone), and that's always refreshing, too, as it prevents the job from going stale.

Your point about having no credibility being just out of college hit home. When I entered my second job in a large corporation, my boss was very quick to undermine me due to my age and overall inexperience in the workforce. I worked hard and quickly proved my value as an employee, I exceeded everyone's expectations, and showed that age and previous experience has little to do with performance, efficiency, and motivation. Yes, you have to work hard, but that is really what pays off...

Offer your opinion, make suggestions, put your own spin on projects, and have confidence in your abilities. You might be amazed at the results.

Best of luck!

I recommend everyone try daytrading futures from home. No corporate non-sense, you can set your own hours, work from anywhere on your terms and the money is just so nice.

I made more shorting YM futures in the downturn than probably 5 years in a cubicle.

No, Andy, you shouldn't just suck it up! ;)

This is really difficult stuff. Like you said, in college we've been given free reign over our life, our hours, our clothes, our interests, our politics; we've been taught to speak our minds and to express ourselves, only to have it all yanked away in corporate life. I can't even go to an Obama rally because I work for a media company. Talk about losing self-expression.

As to the living stuff, it takes time to adjust. I've been in my position for 18 months (a Gen Y miracle!), and I'm still struggling. I've changed my hours to 9-6 from 8-5, and am swinging back around to 8-5 again. I've had to learn how to pack the kinds of food I like to eat, and no matter what it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day.

In the end, until we're in charge, I'm not sure we'll be comfortable. Until we change the workplace, I think we'll always be struggling against it. And I think that's OK. As long as we realize it. I've learned to embrace it. I don't *want* to fit in with an 8-5 corporate culture that gossips about other depts and represses your free thinking, puts off creative ideas that are too risky, even without costing money. ::sigh:: So, yeah, I feel you.

@Chad - That's about as far away from my ideal job as I can think... But kudos if it works for you.

@Craig - I suppose the problem with not speaking up comes from not understanding the industry/how things work/etc... It's easy to speak up with a great idea, but I find myself being a lot quieter on the day-to-day meetings and discussions. Thanks for the tip.

@Holly - How true! College gave us complete freedom... but it all went out the window when we started working. Weird how that works. And I agree that we need to embrace it this culture while we're in it... but it's much easier to embrace something when there is a pre-defined end in the back of our minds.

@Robert - I don't think you can completely ignore office politics... I think the key is *understanding* office politics, how they work, and when someone is using them... but not activitely engaging in them.

I just finished a corporate training titled "Building Credibility and Influence"; we had to read a book titled "Survival of the Savvy." I hate office politics... but that book puts a lot of things into perspective.

Yes, to some extent we do have to play office politics - one could argue that by not playing we are playing. We're the guy or gal who doesn't get involved, who doesn't socialize, etc. But the forces are at work. How you play them and to what extent is up to you. Not all politicking is bad. "Office politics" doesn't necessarily mean back-stabbing, ends justify the means, gossip, or ass-kissing. It can mean encouraging yourself to participate in water cooler talk about TV (a particular nuisance for me), or even just making a goodwill tour of your office (Hey, so-and-so, how's it going over here? Yeah, we're swamped too!). It can even mean finding a mentor. Really, it ought to be called office social intelligence. It's just a new social circle, like you said, Andy.

Also, I wanted to share something cool. I got a promotion and my mentor at the corporate level told me the hardest thing for me was going to be credibility. So she laid out a game plan: "For the first couple of months, you're going to CC me on every email, and I'm going to back you up and say "Yes, Holly is right. That's how it should go." Then, after a few months, you won't need me. You'll have your credibility." I thought that was cool. All you need is one person with a lot of credibility to back you for a while, then you'll be there.

@Holly - Your mentor sounds brilliant! That's a great idea for building credibilty.

I guess that goes to show how important it is to have a good mentor...

@Lia - Woah... A nurse? Where did that come from? And made you come to that realization? That's quite a change from Corporate America. Feel free to share here or shoot me an email. I'm curious to hear your story...

Andy, I wonder if it would make you feel any better if you knew that ALL of us, regardless of number of years in the workforce, number of days/years in a job, or in a hobby or in any other activity, go through the EXACT same four stages of learning - over and over and over and over again. So, just as you're experiencing:
1. unconscious incompetence (don't even know what you don't know - blissful ignorance!)
2. conscious incompetence (0uch - you're reminded repeatedly about what you don't know)
3. Conscious competence (double ouch - you've learned what to do, but it takes you much longer than everybody else. Time for Tylenol on this one. )
4. Unconscious competence (the glory of autopilot . .. ),

so is everybody else. About some aspect of their job, or in some aspect of their life. Take heart in that what you're experiencing is a very universal human condition. You're in good company!
Great post. Thanks.

So what now Mr Drish? One year on - how is it going?

Have you found your feet, found what you can offer that others can't, brought a fresh perspective to the same old same old, pointed out any unneccessary duplications or pointless processes, improved their new hire integration programme or helped subsequent new hires settle in? I guess you've learnt a lot and bonded with some of your colleagues which should help you feel like you are making a positive contribution now.

I am all ears !!