It’s Your First Job!
Congratulations. You’ve made it through school, through interviews, through a thousand standardized exams. Compared to the rigors of Desi academics, work is going to be easy.
I came from a family of academics. No one in my immediate family had a “normal job” when I first entered the corporate world. So here are a few things I wish I had known when I was starting out. Hopefully, these tips will help you too.
Prepare for Microagressions
They’re real. Don’t minimize them. Don’t excuse them. But be realistic about how you address them. Men will talk over you. Interrupt you. Take credit for your ideas. You’ll end up doing “office chores” or be told you need to be more “likable” and yet also more “assertive.”
White women will overlook you in their feminist crusades. You’ll deal with daily indignities that slowly wear you down.
So you know, find a supportive community where you can be your full Desi self. Practice some self-care. Maybe get some therapy.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Gothamite to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.