4 Things I Love About My Corporate Career
If you had told me when I first started my career that I’d end up working a corporate gig, I never would have believed you. I was an agency gal, through and through. I wouldn’t touch corporations with a ten-foot pole. Then again, I said the same thing about the college I attended. I never would have put myself there, but there was the right place to be. After trying my hand working at an agency and even working for myself, I was somehow persuaded to give corporate a chance … and I’m glad I did.
What Gets Me Up in the Morning
To my surprise, I wasn’t asked to show up for work at 8 am wearing a pantsuit or pencil skirt. I could roll in at 9, iced coffee in hand, donning a sweatshirt and jeans, just as I’d always dreamed. I’d always wanted to work somewhere I could be myself, which is why the allure of kegs at agencies originally drew me in.
Luckily, I found the freedom to be myself at the corporation I work for, and that’s only the beginning. Here’s what else gets me up for my corporate gig in the morning:
1. Work/Life balance
When I worked at an agency, there was a period of time when I was the only writer on staff. I touched every project and client that came our way, and there was no one around to back me up if I needed to take a day off. I replied to emails and Slack notifications late into the night, and my job quickly became a part of my identity.
Now that I’m part of such a big, corporate team, there’s no guilt involved in taking a day (or a week) off from work. There are enough others to fill in for me while I’m gone and make sure deadlines aren’t missed. To this day, I still haven’t put my work email on my phone. There’s no need to — because if a message comes in before 9 am or after 5 pm, I’m not expected to answer it. That’s a good feeling.
2. Scale of work
Over the last year, especially, it’s been hard for most people to find joy in their work. Frankly, we have bigger things to worry about than website redesigns and Super Bowl ads. Not to discredit our work as advertisers, but we’re really just trying to get people to buy more stuff. During a time when so many are struggling just to make ends meet, our efforts can, at times, seem futile.
But when a large corporation puts action behind its advertisements, positive things can happen. When the scale is big enough, even something as seemingly insignificant as an email about weight loss supplements has the opportunity to shift how people think about that product. Where I used to shrug and concede to “good enough,” because I knew only a handful of people would see my work, I now push myself to think more creatively. When the stakes are higher, I work harder.
3. Let’s be honest … the pay
Money isn’t everything, but it can certainly help make the 9-5 feel more “worth it.” Don’t get me wrong, you can make good money at agencies, too. But at agencies, everything depends on the client, their success, and their marketing budget.
At corporations, the work is a little more steady. Pay structures and experienced HR teams help ensure everyone is paid fairly for their work, asking for a raise doesn’t feel like pulling teeth, and end-of-year bonuses show up in paychecks, not pizza boxes.
4. Coworkers
Finally … I love my coworkers. And I know that isn’t unique to a corporate gig. Now that we’re all managing our workload from home, strong connections with coworkers have become our lifeline. Advertising, more than many other fields, requires constant creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Time and time again, I’ve learned that without good people by my side, I can’t create good work.
The Power of Changing Course
I’m not the first and I won’t be the last to say that life is unpredictable. People my age are expected to hold an average of 12 jobs in their lifetime. I wouldn’t have believed that until I started hopping around the industry looking for the right fit myself. I couldn’t have predicted I’d end up working corporate, but I am grateful I kept an open mind and gave it a chance. There is a certain power that comes with recognizing when we aren’t on the right path, and having the courage to change course. Just make sure that wherever you end up ends up being someplace you love.
// Image by byChristina