Taking a crack at the corporate world

In the game of life, the right attitude takes you further than ability.

So, I was one of the few lucky survivors of PLDT’s student camp program. Honestly, though, my experience has taught me that out there in the corporate world, it’s not merely a matter of survival – it’s really what one does next that overrides all the preliminary efforts. These are my some insights that will help one survive (and even excel) in the corporate world:

The cliché is true. Remember that one about loving one’s job? It is true, and it also applies to on-the-job-training. My daily nine-to-six schedule might easily frighten off the unsuspecting undergrad, but I enjoyed my work and that made all the difference. Call me idealistic, but my two-month training in PLDT has definitely taught me that it’s not the pay that counts the most – it’s the fulfillment that comes before it, the fruit of one’s labor of love.

Change can be liberating. Being a communications major, I am aware of the ad agency’s point of view. My work in PLDT has allowed me an undeniably refreshing take on advertising since I became a part of a team, which according to Butch Jimenez – our group’s mentor and VP for media and strategic communications – unintentionally became PLDT’s great in-house agency. Our group even bested actual pitches of PLDT agencies.

Widen your horizon. Having taken mostly advertising electives in school, I had to take a crash course in PR and journalism. For a neophyte, I have amazingly produced an advertorial plus a number of PLDT press releases. Sometimes, one has to learn something new on the spot, whether out of need or sheer interest. Be it in school, work or life in general, it always pays to explore one’s own untapped possibilities.

Be a people person. Aside from the specialization, work is really no different from school – you still can’t choose the people you work with. There will be times when your colleagues get on your nerves, but you’ll also be surprised – and even thankful – with how the exact same people enable you to pull through all the stress at work. Never underestimate what others can do, as well as what you can do for them.

Learn to trust and communicate. Give people a fair chance. Who knows? Their seemingly inane suggestions may actually serve as a springboard to a greater idea.

Respect people. At work, you will come across people of different ages and backgrounds, and therefore different personalities. Start while you’re still in school. Understand why your more-than-middle-aged-teacher acts the way he or she does, and work out a reasonable compromise. The same holds true with your peers.

Have fun. It is always relieving to have a good laugh and some form of entertainment after a hard day’s work. Last summer, the PLDT Student Camp trainees were treated to a healthy mix of work and play – night-outs, free dinners, and an overnight stay in Subic were all part of the holistic training.