If I had been employed as I wanted after I graduated from University, I could have gone to a small to medium industrial design firm. There could have been anywhere between 2 and 50 people. I would have been paid the average wage for a graduate designer, obviously far below my real value.
As it happens, I graduated from University and then didn’t find a job for a little while. I am now working for a large company with around 1000 staff worldwide and 350 within the office I work at every day. I have come to realise that although I may not be doing what I wanted to do, in some respects there are some benifits.
- Size Matters - The major benifit is that I work for a large company. A big name, with lots of clout and a brand name which has taken 25 years to build up. Value, not Wealth.
- Experience - The vast expanse of experience within the company which anyone can draw on is indeed overwhelming. There are people from all walks of life and as far afield as Australia, New York, Spain, Italy, Greece and China. There is a complete variety of professions ranging from the down right technical to the creative genius’.
- Benifits - Eye tests, pension schemes, bike vouchers, Christmas bonus, Discounted Gym membership. The company has great schemes to deliver the best in care outside of work to their employees.
- Perks of the Job - Meals out, Trips on Boats, Sailing Weekends, Go Karting Events, Paintballing. There’s always someone doing something of interest and excitement. Lots of people doing lots of things, opening up whole new experiences.
- Environment - The office environment it usually pretty good, pleasant lighting, new furniture, plenty of space. A staff canteen and recreation facilities.
- Connections - Although i may be stuck in the office, some of the work I am doing will be seen by the likes of Renzo Piano, Prince Charles, Ceasar Pelli and other high profile clients. Any comments I get back I take on board and know that they come from visually informed members of the professional.
- Feedback - Feedback from people within the company really helps. People mention to other people and those people tell some more people and before you know it everyone knows. This tends to generate feedback from casual passers by, interested clients or colleagues looking for a similar type of work to be completed for their job.
- Young People - The volume of graduates taken on by the company I work for this year is over 5% of the total number of employees. These are people aged between 21 and 26 and they make for a good selection of colleagues. Enthusiastic, energetic, interesting and ambitious. It’s got to have some sort of effect on me right?
- Personal Experience - Experiencing anything new, and anything different from the norm is a completely good thing. Future employment opportunities may arise through any particular employment experience you have had!
- Learning - Even though i am not an engineer, I am learning about engineering. Every time i work on a new project I learn something new, a new addition to the skills and further diversifying the knowledge which i have.
So, let’s sum it up…
Good advice from experienced people as well as a team of younger graduates who are up for a good time, and a healthy amount of socialising. Plenty of opportunities to get out of the office and team up with other staff members in fun and games. There are thousands of possible learning experiences and benifits to help me along the way. The support of the large company and the resources always means that there is new work to take on and a new adventure to begin right around the corner.
As a young employee, the large company which once seemed so daunting is just beginning to be understood.
