After working in the corporate world for almost one-and-a-half years, there’s one huge thing I’ve learned (among hundreds of other things, mind you).
You know in that one time your sophomore year of college, when you had to work with five other people to put together a report of A Doll’s House, its entire history and the life of Henrik Ibsen, and all you did was wonder how the hell it was going to apply to your real life? You retorted, “Why am I doing this? It’s not like you work in groups in the real world!” And then you took on the responsibility of the entire project because you didn’t trust anyone?
Turns out the professor was right. You do need to be able to work in groups for the rest of your life. Duh.
If there’s anything working in the creative department is, it’s being able to work on a team. Without your teammates, you’re nothing. We’re currently in lockdown for a huge project that’s due next Friday. From 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., we sit in groups of four (one writer, one designer, one person from the training department, one person from the communications department) and work through pages and pages of material. Ideas flow, constructive criticism is shared, furrowing of brows occurs, restructuring and rewriting happens, and laugh, snack and lunch breaks are everything. And I love it. It’s fantastic. I’m constantly learning, and I love getting to know a few coworkers I don’t usually see a little better.
Now if only I could get back on the homework wagon…
Staring at edits at 10:15 p.m. Nothing's sinking in.
I need my group.
Ciao for now,
Kailey
P.S. Thought it would be nice to give you a better glimpse of what work life has been like for me. Hope you dig it!
P.P.S. I’ve also learned that using the Oxford comma at work but not in your personal writing eventually makes for sloppy comma use in personal/blog writing. SORRY.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh the oxford comma…such a great argument in journalism. My editing partner LOVES to use it and it drives me up the wall.
I’m a teacher, and I try to teach this lesson to my kids as often as possible.
And then, when my graduate professors make us do group work, I flip out and do the entire project myself.
Ahh, double standards.
I guess I’m in the minority – 99% of my work is independent, one on one with clients. Even though I really enjoy my co-workers, I like it that way!
Glad to hear all the painful group work us students are forced to do pays off in some way! Gives me hope for the future LOL!
Sadly I’ve grown little since college and whenever “group” work is assigned I still do it all… Luckily I work independently 99% of the time and there’s just once or twice a year when our General Counsel decides a policy needs rewriting and sends me off with a lawyer.
Nice to hear about your day, I’m always curious how other bloggers manage to juggle their careers with daily blogging.
Darn I knew those professors were right. Looks like I’ll be in your same bandwagon in a month. Though I think I’ll be pulling more all-nighters than I did in college. Good Luck!
Who gives an eff about an oxford comma?
We played that song for the first couple days I was at my job…I was so used to using it and then BAM, hello AP writing, goodbye Oxford. I had so many edits come back to me for using it that it’s drilled into my head now as evil.
Done with the writer geekout now!
I love the Oxford comma. I will stand by it always and forever (redundant). Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma? I do, Vampire Weekend. I DO.
Ohmigod. Group work is the BEST! Perhaps I love feedback a little *too* much.
I moved to Australia from the US last year and they. just. do. not. use. the. Oxford. comma.
Plus, with the addition of all the U’s in things… Let’s just say I had to have a grammar/spelling overhaul.
I had to go back and re-edit all of my design portfolio so I didn’t stick out like a sore thumb!
Could you imagine?
Ahhh, “A Doll’s House” …I literally just had so many college flashbacks to my ENG244 class! Too funny.
Also, love these “glimpses” into your work life. Good stuff!
I’m one of those college students who hates group projects (simply because my grade rests in the hands of others and their schedules) but realizes their a fact of life. Not only do they teach you to work in groups, but they also help to just get you to deal with others in a work setting.
Good luck on that homework!
Group projects were the same for me – partly because I wanted to take on the responsibility because I didn’t trust anyone, and partly because the others were lazy and trusted me to get it all done because there was no way I was going to be handed a failing grade. Argh. I hated group projects.
In my job I don’t work a lot with other people, but I can see how it’s a valuable lesson, and I’m sure I’ll need it later on as my career progresses. Darn those teachers, they may have known what they were talking about!
Snack-fizzeldy-face!
I just caught up on all your posts – seems like work and life is a bit cray cray right now! I hope you guys are doing serious work on that project of yours. Best of luck!
In other news, your segway photos made. my. day. It was much-needed laughter for a seriously gross Monday. Also, I needed that sit still post so bad. I had a minor meltdown this weekend, most likely because I am going going going and not taking time to relax and just be.
You da best. Love you so much!
Holly
gluck with the project!