The title of this post was inspired by the following video.
Sue me.
Everyone tells you ‘Work is so different from school’, but you don’t really understand what they mean till you are put in that situation. It is very, very different.
I’ll keep writing about the differences I see, but let me start off with one I noticed right away.
No instant gratification – In university, you work hard on an assignment, couple of weeks later you get it back and you know how you did. You study hard for an exam, you soon find out how you performed. You work hard in a course, and at the end of the year it was all worth it because you were able to get that A. Its not the same at work.
You work your ass off, but you don’t ever get a complete understanding of how you did. It is not as simple as knowing you got an A. Plus, it is not limited to just 1 year as most courses. It is an ongoing battle of sorts. I see people who are more senior than me work their ass off every day not knowing when they will see a result for it. They might come up with an excellent method of improving a current process, and they might get a pat on the back for it, but that is about it. Once a more senior position opens up in a few years, there is no guarantee that the person who worked the hardest, will be the one moving on. Sure, there are small HR endeavors and your performance evaluations, but are they really the same? At school, you successfully complete all courses, and you are “promoted” to the next year. Not so at work. You work and you work, hoping that when time comes, you have done enough to become the one considered for the new position.
Or, you switch companies.
What do you guys think? How do you guys keep yourself motivated? What are some of the major differences you noticed when you started working?
Your point is well taken. In university there is no doubt you know where you stand, and at least one has a decent understanding of how they did.
The workplace is different. I graduated 3 years ago, and from my experiences, usually if you did something the best you could, and COMMUNICATED your efforts to your superiors, you tend to get the benefit of the doubt, even if something adverse happens. I am not saying this always happens, but where i work, one can tell the good workers, from the average or shitty ones pretty easily.
Of course when it comes to promotions, there are too many variables unlike schooling. In school the Prof has a average to maintain, and usually will bell marks up or down to get there. Apart from that its pretty much you against yourself. At work, its different. You may be the best damn auditor and have neat workpapers, but do you have people skills? You can be an awesome person to work with and learn from, but do you GET technical accounting issues, especially at 6pm when the senior manager needs an answer of something ASAP?
So i agree with your post, but keep in mind the variables at work are higher in number. To answer your question what keeps me motivated, is that when i am done something, people will say: He gave it 100%, and even though it didnt turn out the way it should have. People always notice hardwork, it just does not turn into a higher bank balance, especially at the lower positions in a profession like accounting.
By the way great site, and keep up the good work. Good luck on SOA and UFE. Keep being positive and you will pass.
By: Anon on March 23, 2010
at 3:01 am
Man do you even update this blog anymore? Ever since the CKE you havent posted too many updates. Come on bud, i used to read your blog so much!
By: Anon on June 24, 2010
at 9:02 pm
I know I know, I’ve been pretty MIA.
I will be back soon. I promise! Hopefully put something up by tomorrow.
By: SeeEhh on June 26, 2010
at 10:29 pm
Dude, did you pass SOA?
By: Anon on July 30, 2010
at 12:01 am