Corporate vice president and research consultant Andy Teach came to PLNU on Oct. 7 to speak on reducing anxieties upon entering the corporate world. Teach covered topics such as networking, job interviews, and proper work etiquette. (Photo by Lindsay Durston)

By Lindsay Durston

Staff Writer

Corporate vice president and research consultant turned author Andy Teach taught students Wednesday how to reduce their anxiety about entering the corporate world. Career Services sponsored the seminar in Cunningham Dining Room.

Teach wrote “From Graduation to Corporation,” offering advice on how to “climb the corporate ladder one rung at a time.” The book is designed for college students and recent graduates making the transition into the working world.

Senior Justin Roy said he appreciated the opportunity to hear from an experienced speaker. “I came to this seminar to gain insights into how to be successful in the business world,” said Roy.

Students should not be afraid to take risks and network, he said. If students are able to get into the companies they want, they can start climbing the corporate ladder to where they really want to be. He recommended Brazencareerist.com and Examiner.com as good places to start.

Teach has been in the corporate world for 27 years, but he said he was afraid to join in the beginning.

“For someone getting out of college, I think it’s easier to get a job because it’s not as costly for the company to hire someone at an entry-level position,” Teach said.

He discussed networking, informational interviews, résumés and cover letters, the job interview, generation gaps and proper work etiquette. Teach advised students to look for a career and not just a job, saying it is important to be passionate.

“I feel a little incompetent about things after college, and paranoid, so it’s better to know than not know,” said freshman Justin Hsu, who attended the seminar.

Teach said it is good to be concerned about reputations at work. Don’t let egos get in the way, be humble, learn from mistakes, don’t be afraid of criticism and always ask for feedback, he said.

“The hardest thing about work is not the work [itself]; it’s the people,” Teach said.

Being a team player and taking initiative are assets that potential employers are looking for, he said. Loyalty and honoring commitments will also increase the likelihood of advancing in the company.

Teach stressed that organization is another big key in the corporate world. Keeping  recent projects near and always making a to-do list will help students stay “organized in their organization.”

He said that students today are at an advantage going into the work force because they are a part of Generation Y, which is more technologically advanced than previous generations.

Teach also addressed dating in the workplace, inner-office gossip and office politics. His number-one tip for students entering the work force: Don’t “rock the boat right away, but go with the flow, at least in the beginning.”