Keyra Pulliam, Engineer III – Substation Engineer, PEPCO Holdings

I remember being in my dorm room with my friends anxiously waiting for the clock to hit 9 p.m. That’s when the registrar’s office opened, and we could finally get our class picks for our last semester of college. By 9:45, I was talking about how to decorate my graduation cap and what restaurant my family and I would eat at after the ceremony, and what our plans were after graduation. Within four months, my dreams of a friend and family-filled graduation ceremony swiftly faded into a mantra of “six feet apart.” 

I was uncertain about my future and that of my friends; the tendrils of fear snaked around me, paralyzing me. Whether it was fate or simply a stroke of luck, I secured a corporate job and began my career amid COVID-19. This was a unique time for all of us and working during this time posed certain challenges not only because of the “new normal” but also the newness and unfamiliarity of corporate America. I want to share three tips as an ode to my younger self and to those who find themselves in a similar transition in their life. Going from college to corporate.  

Tip #1: Time Management 

Times up! If you aren’t good at time management, there is no better time than the present to become a master. With 8-10 hours of your day dedicated to work, you’ll quickly realize that your free time is now a precious commodity; spend it wisely.  

Develop habits and routines that help you achieve your goals and endeavors every day! A 5 a.m. cold shower will probably not make you happy, fyi.  

Tip #2: Hobbies, hobbies, and more hobbies! 

Hobbies allow you to connect with others and give you a sense of community. Leaving the communal environment of college can feel isolating and very lonely. Going from seeing friends every day to once a quarter is a shock to the system. It becomes increasingly important to form new communities, and the easiest way is through common interests. If you can invite an old college buddy, that is even better, but make sure you keep yourself motivated and happy during this next chapter.  

Tip #3: Keep it Going! 

By this time in your life, you would have heard of the dreaded freshman 15. The concept that once freshman year is over, you’ll have gained a surprising amount of weight, either due to stress or just the sheer amount of sustenance available in the food halls. What no one warns you about is the corporate 30. (Coined by me!) The corporate 30 is a concept I came up with after putting on 30 pounds within my first year in the office. Who knew sitting for 8 hours and eating Silvia’s homemade cream cheese frosting pumpkin loaf was a catalyst for gym membership? Not me.  

Get active and stay active. This does not have to be done in a gym. A walk in the afternoon on lunch break, roller-skating, rock climbing, and hiking are all activities I use to keep my body functioning.  

Those are my top three tips for transitioning into the corporate environment. If you are a new graduate, good luck, and I hope you have a smooth transition. Soon enough, you will see that hard work and sacrifice were worth it.