They Don't Teach Corporate in College (60 page)

Make a graceful exit.
When leaving a company, the most important thing you can do is fireproof your bridges. It's a smaller world than you think, and you never know when you're going to need these people again. During your last few weeks, do everything you can to leave behind a squeaky-clean reputation.

Consider other options thoughtfully.
If you've given your current situation a fair shot and you really desire a drastic change, plan your next move strategically. Before jumping in, think about how going back to school, making a career switch, or starting your own business can ensure your future happiness and job satisfaction.

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A

access plans,
58
-59

addressing performance issues,
202
-204

anger, managing,
147
-148

B

being a leader,
210
-211

being mentally present,
166
-167

being the boss and the youngest,
208
-209

blogging,
86
-87

boss, starting out as the,
192
-193

business travel,
61
-65

C

calming an angry person,
171

career change, making a,
228
-229

career coach,
41

career moves,
217
-218

communication,
123
-136

gender differences in,
134
-135

open,
204
-206

verbal,
130
-132

written,
125
-130

conversation taboos,
78
-80

cooperation, enlisting,
158
-161

countering objections,
199

cover letters,
30
-33

criticism,
170
-171,
200
-201

D

damage control,
154

delegating,
195
-198

dependence on parents,
41
-42

developing a relationship with your boss,
70
-72

difficult people, dealing with,
167
-168

dressing for work,
47
-48

E

executive sponsoring,
89

expense reports,
58
-59

F

financial benefits,
57
-58

flexible work schedule,
56
-57

frustration tolerance,
151
-152

G

generational differences in the work place,
69

getting fired,
214
-216

goals, setting and achieving,
92
-95

graduate school, going to,
227
-228

H

human resources,
35
,
37
,
45
,
54
,
61
,
74
,
98
-99,
220
,
223

I

initial meeting with your boss,
70

introductory material for a new job,
46

J

job interviews,
33
-36

job uncertainty,
187
-188

K

knowing your legal rights,
223
-224

L

layoffs,
216
-217

leading without authority,
161
-162

LinkedIn,
85
-86

listening,
132
-134

looking for another job,
220
-221

M

maintaining good relationships when leaving a job,
224
-226

management styles,
68
-69

medical benefits,
57

meeting your new coworkers,
48
-49

meetings,
209
-210

mentor, recruiting a,
88
-89

motivating yourself,
152
-153

N

negativity,
140
-141

negotiating salary,
37
-39

networking,
80
-83

new hire documents and information,
55
-59

O

observation at the workplace,
53
-54

office lingo,
49
-51

organization,
118
-119

ownership,
101
-102

P

paying compliments,
162
-164

people styles,
168
-170

performance reviews,
174
-176

positive relationships, creating,
164
-166

positive thinking,
142
-145

problem-solving,
106
-109

procrastination,
116
-117

productivity hacks,
119
-120

professional persona,
22
-24

project management,
120
-123

promotions,
178
-183

Q

quitting because of a bad work situation,
222
-223

R

raise, asking for,
176
-178

relocating,
39
-40

reorganization (re-org)
185
-187

researching your field,
25
-26

resumes,
27
-30

risk-taking,
104
-106

S

saying no,
114
-116

self-assessment,
21
-22

self-awareness,
146
-147

selling your ideas internally,
100
-101

setbacks, handling,
183
-185

showcasing your abilities,
102
-104

social networking,
83
-85

starting your own business,
229
-231

stress, managing,
150
-151

T

teams, managing,
206
-208

time management,
112
-114

time off,
55
-56

transferring inside the company,
218
-220

U

understanding your industry,
98
-99

W

work done “on the clock,”
59
-61

work friends,
75
-76

work socializing,
76
-78

working with your employee,
193
-195

worry, managing,
148
-150

Alexandra Levit's goal is to help people succeed in meaningful jobs, and to build relationships between organizations and top talent. A former nationally syndicated columnist for
The Wall Street Journal
and a current writer for
The New York Times
, Alexandra has authored several books, including the bestselling
They Don't Teach Corporate in College
, as well as
How'd You Score That Gig?; Success for Hire
;
MillennialTweet; New Job, New You
; and
Blind Spots
.

Since serving as a member of Business Roundtable's Springboard Project, which advised the Obama administration on current workplace issues, Alexandra produced the critically acclaimed
JobSTART101.org
, a free online course that better prepares college students and graduates for the challenges of the workplace, and a U.S. Department of Labor course that helps military veterans transition to the civilian workforce.

Alexandra consults, writes, and explores leadership development and career and workplace trends on behalf of American Express, Deloitte, DeVry University, Intuit, and PepsiCo. She has spoken at hundreds of organizations around the world including the American Management Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Federal Reserve Bank, Campbell Soup, Microsoft, McDonald's, and Whirlpool.

Alexandra is also a frequent national media spokesperson and is regularly featured in outlets including
The New York Times, USA Today
, National Public Radio, CNN,
ABC News
, CNBC,
Forbes
, the Associated Press, and
Glamour
. She was recently named
Money Magazine
's Online Career Expert of the Year and the author of one of
Forbes
' best Websites for women.

A member of the Northwestern University Council of 100 and the Young Entrepreneur Council, Alexandra recently received the prestigious Emerging Leader Award from her alma mater. The award honors a Northwestern graduate under 35 who has made a significant impact in her field and in society. She resides in Chicago, Illinois, with her husband, Stewart, and their two young children.