The transition from campus to corporate life is difficult. It is a big change that may affect you in a bad way if you’re unprepared and unaware. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you dive head first into the corporate world!

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Life in college/university has a structure and you know what to expect. Be it exams, classes, conferences, etc, you know the outcome. Corporate life is the exact opposite. It is fast paced and you often face deadlines and tight schedules. No two days may be the same.

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So many characteristics of these two worlds are conflicting. And we start to look at working in a company as if it is the end of the world for us.

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And what makes us dread this transition even more is our acquaintances telling us things like, “you should enjoy college life while it lasts” or “life gets so boring once you start working.”

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But remember, this is your first step into adulthood. This is a time for celebration and nothing else. And this article aims to make your transition to the other side easy and convenient.

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Read ahead to gain more insight!

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1. Rewire your brain to start learning from scratch

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Once you join a company as a fresher, you will have to prepare yourself to learn everything from scratch. Observe and learn how the company works, its culture, politics, etc. You will even have to dress a certain way.

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Gone are those days when you could wake up and put on the first thing your hands touched. Many companies have rules about the corporate attire. So, make sure you know about your company’s clothing policy before you join!

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2. Network, network and NETWORK

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You could get away with doing your own thing in college. You may have even had the option to work on your assignments alone. But, in a corporate setting, you will be working in a team with people around you at all times.

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You should make a conscious effort to build a rapport with your team and the others in your company. This will help you adapt to the changes faster and it will also help you enjoy your work even more.

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3. Ask questions every time you’re confused

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This is crucial to your learning process at the company. If your manager or someone else asks you to do something, clear your doubts right away. This is better than messing up at the end and losing credibility.

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Make sure you at least ask someone on how to go about your task. It is your first job, you are bound to feel a little lost. So, don’t hesitate to ask questions.

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4. Keep your cool and maintain a positive attitude

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In college, you could address your differences with your friends and classmates. But in a corporate workplace, you will have to learn when, and if at all, this is possible. There will be many occasions when you get angry at something your boss or colleague may say.

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But you cannot lose your cool and have a meltdown. Instead, find a way to work around it and always maintain a positive attitude. (You could yell at them as much as you want in your head though!)

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5. Respect deadlines

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If you have a task with a time constraint, work towards completing it as soon as possible. You’re not a college student anymore. You need to build credibility and you’re there to learn and grow. A laid-back attitude will not work well and will show you in bad light.

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Earn your right to that pay check and earn the right to enjoy your weekends. Give your best every day and bask in the rewards.

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6. Don’t dwell on the past

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You HAVE to come to terms with the fact that college has ended. (Nothing lasts forever, remember?) Focus on being the best you can be at your work place and embrace the working professional you have become!

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When you were in college, were you handed a pay check at the end of the month? Did you even have the money to eat in fancy restaurants? Or travel during long weekends? None of us could afford all of that with our “pocket money” (it was more like money-less pockets!). Focus on the positives and change your outlook about corporate life.

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Your first job is going to teach you a lot about the years to come. Look at it with excitement rather than dread. It may take a little time to adapt to this change, but that is normal. We always take to time to adapt to changes.

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In the end, you will get through this and transform into a beautiful corporate butterfly!