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news and thoughts on and around the development of the iCite net
by Jay Fienberg

Day one in a big company

posted: Aug 18, 2003 9:00:47 PM

Today was my first day at my new job. The company treats each new employee to two full days (i.e., 16+ hours) of orientation to the company workplace. So, today was day one of the orientation.

I have never worked in a company this large before (I think there are on the order of 5,000+ employees), and the array of information about the organization presented to new employees is stunning. This company has a whole department that just develops and organizes the materials and curriculum presented to employees during their orientation!

Anyway, so far so good. Just a little culture shock coming from my previous experiences in much smaller firms. Since I have worked on projects for large companies, I thought the whole scene would be familiar. But, being there as an employee is definitely a different perspective on things. So, I am digging the whole new experience.

What is most interesting to observe, besides all the techniques used in the orientation (e.g., participatory team exercises with writing on white boards and such), is how much the whole thing looks to acclimatize the new employees to the company's culture. In other words, it is clear the company knows that, for you, it is like you are going to a foreign country and need help taking up residency, learning the language, learning how the local law works, learning where to eat, etc.

So, I think it is interesting to observe how the company wants to inform you about certain things, and how they have structured the presentations by which they intend that you absorb their message about these things. (Maybe I can detail more about this later.)

Anyway, most of all, it is nice to have a job again at what seems like a good place to work.

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Comments and Tracbacks

Comment by: Marc Canter · http://blogs.it/0100198
posted: Aug 20, 2003 12:24:35 AM

Dude - I'm not sure if I should sya congrats or I'm sorry.

Comment by: Rank and File Employee ·
posted: Aug 20, 2003 4:28:38 AM

Same here. I've worked for a large company for five years. The novelty of it wears off in a couple weeks. Welcome the brave new world of big league corporate politics. It's a great ride.

Comment by: Phil · http://radio.weblogs.com/0124037
posted: Aug 20, 2003 4:19:49 PM

In a big company, try to find someone that knows the 'scoop' about what's going on in the company. It's very easy to keep your head down in your work, then come to find out that your manager and all of her employees (including you) are getting the axe.

trackback from: the iCite net development blog
posted: Aug 20, 2003 12:02:32 AM
title: Day two in a big company

I am back from day two, which was the concluding day) of the new employee orientation session, which I previously mentioned in my day one coverage.

trackback from: the iCite net development blog
posted: Aug 20, 2003 10:12:13 PM
title: Day three in a big company: life on the 13th floor

This will conclude the formal coverage of my new job (see also day one and day two coverage). Regularly scheduled programming should resume following this post.

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