This article is reprinted from examiner.com, a website that is affiliated with the national newspaper chain, and it is from Heather Huhman, Entry Level Careers Examiner. She cites my book as "Recommended Reading" and features an article I wrote highlighting 10 of the 72 "Corporate Commandments that are featured in my book.
Recommended reading: From Graduation to Corporation
1 comment
January 25, 9:00 AM
by Heather Huhman, Entry Level Careers Examiner
Making the transition from college life to the workplace isn’t easy. Your body needs to adjust to a regular schedule and any mistakes you make don’t simply result in a lower grade, to name a few of the challenges.
In a recent interview with Andy Teach, author of “From Graduation to Corporation: The Practical Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder One Rung at a Time,” he offered 10 “corporate commandments” you should follow to transition smoothly, stay on track and get ahead.
1. Don’t just look for a job, look for a career. We probably spend more time at work than anywhere else. If you find a job that you love, it will turn into a career that you love. There is nothing more important than finding a career where you look forward to going to work every day and you look forward to making a contribution every day. Your passion will translate into success and happiness all around.
2. Always think about your work reputation. From the moment you walk in the door at work, you are being judged. How you look, speak, act and write all contribute to how others see you. Don’t give anyone a reason to see you in a negative light. Always act professionally and maturely. Forty years from now, you want to look back at your career and be proud of the one thing that matters most – your reputation.
3. Learn from your mistakes and from the mistakes of others. There’s an old saying, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Everyone makes mistakes. The key is to learn from them. I’ve seen people who made one mistake that cost them their job. If you make a mistake, ask yourself what you did wrong and make a mental note not to repeat it. Observe others, and learn from their mistakes so that you won’t find yourself in the same position.
4. Remember that your job is to make the boss’s job easier. We all have a lot of stress at work, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in our own little world, but you should never forget that you were hired to make the boss’s job easier. Always ask your boss how you can help him or her. Maintain a strong working relationship with your boss at all times, and let them know that they can always count on you.
5. Don’t be late. If you are constantly late for work or to meetings, you’re basically saying that your time is more valuable than everyone else’s. It isn’t. Always remember that you are part of a team, and others are depending on you. Also, if you are late to work then you will most likely make your boss mad, and there’s nothing worse than making your boss mad first thing in the morning.
6. Dress for success. I mentioned earlier how people judge you by the way you look. This may not be fair, but it is true. Who do you think will be seen more as management material, the person who dresses in a business suit or the person who wears jeans and sneakers? Don’t dress like your peers – dress like the people in managerial positions. Dress for the position you want, not the one you have.
7. It doesn’t matter how smart you are if you miss a deadline. I’ve had employees who graduated from extremely prestigious universities have problems making deadlines because they were slow and unorganized, despite their intelligence. It doesn’t matter how great your work is if you miss a deadline. Always allocate more than enough time when working on projects, and if you think you may not make a deadline, inform your boss as soon as possible.
8. Attention to detail is everything. In any job, accuracy is crucial. Always re-read and proof any e-mails or reports you write, and do it a few times. You should strive for 100 percent accuracy all the time and be hard on yourself if any errors see the light of day. Why? Because someone reading your work will assume that if there’s one mistake, there might be others, and you don’t want them questioning your abilities after you’ve worked so hard on a project.
9. Always initiate. A supervisor will always be impressed if you do things that they don’t ask you to do, in addition to your daily responsibilities. Initiation can separate you from the rest of the employees at work who only do what they are asked to do. When it comes time to be considered for a promotion, who do you think has a better chance, the person who just executes, or the person who both executes and initiates?
10. Be patient when it comes to career advancement. Younger people have a reputation for wanting to move up the corporate ladder quickly and for switching jobs often. Don’t be in a rush. If you are constantly changing jobs, you are losing out on valuable experience. Also, if an employer sees on your résumé that you don’t stay with any one job for a reasonable amount of time, they might assume that you won’t stay with them for any length of time and may not hire you because of it.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
National Press Release For My Book
New Book FROM GRADUATION TO CORPORATION:
THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER ONE RUNG AT A TIME Helps New College Grads Understand
And Adapt To The Older Corporate Mentality
Los Angeles, CA - - College students and recent grads (part of the group known as “Generation Y” and “The Millennials”) think differently than do their future bosses in the corporate, business, educational and professional worlds. So the new book FROM GRADUATION TO CORPORATION: THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER ONE RUNG AT A TIME—by Andy Teach, a 27-year corporate veteran—is a comprehensive guide to understanding their new work environment and narrowing the gap between their expectations and those of their supervisors.
Teach covers such topics as good and bad résumés, interviews, dealing with difficult bosses and co-workers, appearance, staying organized, office romance, networking, standing up to the boss and how to ask for promotions and raises. He lists 72 corporate commandments, including: be an initiator, accept constructive criticism, control your temper, leave personal problems at home, embrace change, maintain a positive attitude and a sense of humor, take responsibility for your actions, willingly work overtime, return phone calls and e-mails promptly, keep your supervisor informed of your progress and remember that one of your main jobs is to make the boss’s job easier.
“In recent years, I noticed how some members of Generation Y had a different attitude toward work that resulted in generational conflicts with their superiors, and I wanted to write a book that would help them manage the generation gap better as well as help their bosses manage them better,” Teach explains. “Some Gen Yers think the company should accommodate them, but actually they need to understand and accommodate their supervisors more if they are to succeed.”
Despite his own success, the author found out the hard way that you can never rest on your laurels. After working for the same two bosses in the same department of a major television and motion picture studio for 23 years, Andy Teach found himself on the unemployment line. What makes this book unique is that its author not only gives us his candid account of his climb up the corporate ladder, but he also discusses the factors behind his fall from the top rungs—pointing out pitfalls and stepping stones that can allow readers to learn from his long practical experience.
A Los Angeles attorney declares: “This book covers a lot of ground and could benefit anyone in the work force. The author addresses potential career landmines in such areas as how to respond to specific interview questions, how to manage office politics and gossip, how to negotiate a raise or promotion using specific strategies, when to stand up to your boss and knowing when it's time to start looking for another job.”
A Princeton University student comments: “This book was informative, helpful and an enjoyable read. Because the author explains what he did both right and wrong, it offers a different perspective and really addresses all types of issues in the corporate world. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is thinking of entering the corporate world.”
Teach says: “In today’s tough economic climate, two of the most important things for young people are obtaining a job and keeping a job. Finding ways to avoid conflict with bosses and older co-workers is key to staying employed when the economy forces bosses to lay someone off.”
Recently, Teach has been making a lot of suggestions on the young professionals’ website brazencareerist.com. Additional information on the author and the book can be found on his Facebook profile, on Squidoo-squidoo.com/GenerationY-TheMillennials and on his website onerungatatime.com. He is available for speaking engagements/lectures at colleges, universities and corporations.
ABOUT AUTHOR ANDY TEACH
Andy graduated from Rutgers College in 1980 with B.A. degrees in Business Administration and Human Communications. He worked as an assistant media planner for a Top 10 advertising agency in New York City, rising to media planner within six months. He was then assistant account exec at another NYC ad agency. In 1983, Teach moved to Los Angeles, where he worked for a year as a production assistant for a television production company. In 1984, he got a job at a major television and motion picture studio in the research department, where he worked for 23 years, earning six promotions: from research clerk to vice-president.
Teach has traveled to all seven continents, has guest lectured on media at UCLA and is currently a consultant for a TV syndication firm.
From Graduation to Corporation
284-page paperback: $17.95
Published by AuthorHouse
ISBN-10: 1-4389-3063-1; ISBN-13: 978-1-4389-3063-3
Available for purchase on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com, target.com and on Teach’s website onerungatatime.com.
January 2009
Media Contact:
Charlie Barrett, The Barrett Company Communications, Los Angeles, CA
310-471-5764; Email: cbarrett@thebarrettco.com
THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER ONE RUNG AT A TIME Helps New College Grads Understand
And Adapt To The Older Corporate Mentality
Los Angeles, CA - - College students and recent grads (part of the group known as “Generation Y” and “The Millennials”) think differently than do their future bosses in the corporate, business, educational and professional worlds. So the new book FROM GRADUATION TO CORPORATION: THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER ONE RUNG AT A TIME—by Andy Teach, a 27-year corporate veteran—is a comprehensive guide to understanding their new work environment and narrowing the gap between their expectations and those of their supervisors.
Teach covers such topics as good and bad résumés, interviews, dealing with difficult bosses and co-workers, appearance, staying organized, office romance, networking, standing up to the boss and how to ask for promotions and raises. He lists 72 corporate commandments, including: be an initiator, accept constructive criticism, control your temper, leave personal problems at home, embrace change, maintain a positive attitude and a sense of humor, take responsibility for your actions, willingly work overtime, return phone calls and e-mails promptly, keep your supervisor informed of your progress and remember that one of your main jobs is to make the boss’s job easier.
“In recent years, I noticed how some members of Generation Y had a different attitude toward work that resulted in generational conflicts with their superiors, and I wanted to write a book that would help them manage the generation gap better as well as help their bosses manage them better,” Teach explains. “Some Gen Yers think the company should accommodate them, but actually they need to understand and accommodate their supervisors more if they are to succeed.”
Despite his own success, the author found out the hard way that you can never rest on your laurels. After working for the same two bosses in the same department of a major television and motion picture studio for 23 years, Andy Teach found himself on the unemployment line. What makes this book unique is that its author not only gives us his candid account of his climb up the corporate ladder, but he also discusses the factors behind his fall from the top rungs—pointing out pitfalls and stepping stones that can allow readers to learn from his long practical experience.
A Los Angeles attorney declares: “This book covers a lot of ground and could benefit anyone in the work force. The author addresses potential career landmines in such areas as how to respond to specific interview questions, how to manage office politics and gossip, how to negotiate a raise or promotion using specific strategies, when to stand up to your boss and knowing when it's time to start looking for another job.”
A Princeton University student comments: “This book was informative, helpful and an enjoyable read. Because the author explains what he did both right and wrong, it offers a different perspective and really addresses all types of issues in the corporate world. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is thinking of entering the corporate world.”
Teach says: “In today’s tough economic climate, two of the most important things for young people are obtaining a job and keeping a job. Finding ways to avoid conflict with bosses and older co-workers is key to staying employed when the economy forces bosses to lay someone off.”
Recently, Teach has been making a lot of suggestions on the young professionals’ website brazencareerist.com. Additional information on the author and the book can be found on his Facebook profile, on Squidoo-squidoo.com/GenerationY-TheMillennials and on his website onerungatatime.com. He is available for speaking engagements/lectures at colleges, universities and corporations.
ABOUT AUTHOR ANDY TEACH
Andy graduated from Rutgers College in 1980 with B.A. degrees in Business Administration and Human Communications. He worked as an assistant media planner for a Top 10 advertising agency in New York City, rising to media planner within six months. He was then assistant account exec at another NYC ad agency. In 1983, Teach moved to Los Angeles, where he worked for a year as a production assistant for a television production company. In 1984, he got a job at a major television and motion picture studio in the research department, where he worked for 23 years, earning six promotions: from research clerk to vice-president.
Teach has traveled to all seven continents, has guest lectured on media at UCLA and is currently a consultant for a TV syndication firm.
From Graduation to Corporation
284-page paperback: $17.95
Published by AuthorHouse
ISBN-10: 1-4389-3063-1; ISBN-13: 978-1-4389-3063-3
Available for purchase on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com, target.com and on Teach’s website onerungatatime.com.
January 2009
Media Contact:
Charlie Barrett, The Barrett Company Communications, Los Angeles, CA
310-471-5764; Email: cbarrett@thebarrettco.com
Saturday, January 17, 2009
How Generation Y Can Connect With Baby Boomers At Work
There is a generation gap in the workplace. This is nothing new. However, there is one area that can help bridge the generation gap and that area is technology. There are many stereotypes about Generation Y, some good, some not so good, but no one will dispute the fact that Generation Y is the most technologically advanced generation ever. It is mind boggling how many gadgets there are out there that Generation Yers utilize every day and how many websites there are that cater to “The Millennials.” It’s difficult for a member of an older generation to keep up with new technology and to keep up with the new social media sites that keep popping up but these are exactly the areas that can help Generation Y close the generation gap at work.
A few weeks ago I was in a department store in Los Angeles and the woman who was helping me (she was probably about 60 years old), was having trouble ringing up the sale on her computer. She summoned one of her twentysomething colleagues and he solved the problem quickly. You could tell that computers weren’t her thing but I observed something that needs to take place more in the workplace-I observed a member of Generation Y transform from student to teacher. He was able to solve a problem for his older co-worker because of his superior knowledge of technology and in the process, showed her that he was a team player. Hopefully, she appreciated his help and now sees an opportunity to continue this new technological relationship which could potentially help them communicate more and learn more about each other.
More and more Baby Boomers are joining the technological revolution but we are still in the minority. Simply put, we did not grow up with technology like Generation Y has. For a good part of my corporate career, I worked in an office without computers, fax machines, calculators, PDA’s, the internet, and cell phones. Today, these are all taken for granted. I was recently at a party and was talking with my friend’s 13 year-old niece about her cell phone and BlackBerry®. She was discussing the attributes of the new versions of these gadgets like she was discussing the weather. I had a flashback to when I was 13 and I think that color television was just starting to become commonplace. Yes, times have changed.
My point is that if you are a member of Generation Y and you work with Baby Boomers, and even members of Generation X, use your technological knowledge to your advantage. Offer suggestions on how to join social networking media sites, especially if it can help your company publicize their successes. Ask your older co-workers if they have a profile on Facebook or MySpace and if not, explain to them the benefits of having a profile. Use technology as an excuse to get to know your older co-workers better because studies have found that members of different generations at work just don’t communicate as much as they need to. In the end, you will feel good about helping someone else and they will see you as more than that “young whippersnapper” in the corner cubicle.
Several months ago, I interviewed for a very high-level job. I was told that they needed someone who was an expert in new media. I truthfully told them that I was not as knowledgeable as I should be in this area and that was the end of that. Today, I have a profile on Facebook, a lens on squidoo, and my own website. I’m contemplating joining Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and Digg, and I just joined Blogspot. A few months ago, I had never even heard of half of these sites. I guess it proves that you can teach an old Baby Boomer dog new tricks. So, go ahead, strike up a conversation about the latest gadgets and websites with your older co-workers. Get to know them better so that they can get to know you better. Perhaps you can close the generation gap at work just a bit. Personally, I’m thinking about getting the new iPhone. I think I’ll ask my friend’s niece for her advice.
Andy Teach is the author of the new career advice book, From Graduation to Corporation: The Practical Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder One Rung at a Time.
A few weeks ago I was in a department store in Los Angeles and the woman who was helping me (she was probably about 60 years old), was having trouble ringing up the sale on her computer. She summoned one of her twentysomething colleagues and he solved the problem quickly. You could tell that computers weren’t her thing but I observed something that needs to take place more in the workplace-I observed a member of Generation Y transform from student to teacher. He was able to solve a problem for his older co-worker because of his superior knowledge of technology and in the process, showed her that he was a team player. Hopefully, she appreciated his help and now sees an opportunity to continue this new technological relationship which could potentially help them communicate more and learn more about each other.
More and more Baby Boomers are joining the technological revolution but we are still in the minority. Simply put, we did not grow up with technology like Generation Y has. For a good part of my corporate career, I worked in an office without computers, fax machines, calculators, PDA’s, the internet, and cell phones. Today, these are all taken for granted. I was recently at a party and was talking with my friend’s 13 year-old niece about her cell phone and BlackBerry®. She was discussing the attributes of the new versions of these gadgets like she was discussing the weather. I had a flashback to when I was 13 and I think that color television was just starting to become commonplace. Yes, times have changed.
My point is that if you are a member of Generation Y and you work with Baby Boomers, and even members of Generation X, use your technological knowledge to your advantage. Offer suggestions on how to join social networking media sites, especially if it can help your company publicize their successes. Ask your older co-workers if they have a profile on Facebook or MySpace and if not, explain to them the benefits of having a profile. Use technology as an excuse to get to know your older co-workers better because studies have found that members of different generations at work just don’t communicate as much as they need to. In the end, you will feel good about helping someone else and they will see you as more than that “young whippersnapper” in the corner cubicle.
Several months ago, I interviewed for a very high-level job. I was told that they needed someone who was an expert in new media. I truthfully told them that I was not as knowledgeable as I should be in this area and that was the end of that. Today, I have a profile on Facebook, a lens on squidoo, and my own website. I’m contemplating joining Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and Digg, and I just joined Blogspot. A few months ago, I had never even heard of half of these sites. I guess it proves that you can teach an old Baby Boomer dog new tricks. So, go ahead, strike up a conversation about the latest gadgets and websites with your older co-workers. Get to know them better so that they can get to know you better. Perhaps you can close the generation gap at work just a bit. Personally, I’m thinking about getting the new iPhone. I think I’ll ask my friend’s niece for her advice.
Andy Teach is the author of the new career advice book, From Graduation to Corporation: The Practical Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder One Rung at a Time.
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