Universities should lay the foundation of working in corporate culture in their students.

Universities should lay the foundation of working in corporate culture in their students.

Do you agree with the statement?

Introduction

Life in college is a fun phase. Students don’t have the strict school atmosphere, where shoes have to be polished, homework has to be done, and students have to walk in a straight line. Students are expected to be disciplined in college, but they are treated as adults. They have to take responsibility for their actions, and be in charge of their studies and well-being.

The corporate life is an entirely different scene. It is a formal environment, where everybody is expected to be serious and focus on their work. There are times where companies host casual events for their employees, but the understanding is that people have to work, and there are consequences for slipping up on work.

University to corporate – facilitating a smooth transition

In order to reduce the culture shock that students will experience when they enter the corporate, universities should take steps to reduce this. The responsibility of colleges should not end with ensuring that all their students are well placed in reputed companies.

The following steps could be useful in helping students transition from college to the work place:

• Orientation sessions for the students conducted by faculty that explain the differences between college and an office, and mentally prepare the students for the corporate world.

• Talks by alumni, who have firsthand experience of the corporate life.

• Mock sessions or simulations of a potential office environment. Universities can conduct role play sessions with real time scenarios that will give students a glimpse of what they will be dealing with in the corporate.
Apart from the steps the university can take, students can apply the following tips to make them better equipped to deal with the corporate:

• Learn to manage time, and handle work well, to avoid stretching your work day.

• Spend weekends constructively. The normal tendency would be to spend all day before the TV. However, as an employee, you should work on enhancing your skills that will help in doing better at work. Take up short term courses that are related to your field of work. This will help you progress quicker.

• Use your networking skills to build a professional network at your workplace.

• Talk to people who have similar interests as you, and spend time with them pursuing your interest. It is important to take time off work as well.

• Take vacations, and travel to different places to avoid burnout. Overworking can cause serious health problems.

Conclusion

Universities should do whatever they can to enable their students to have a smooth transition from student life to corporate life. Simple steps can help avoid the shock of facing an entirely different environment.