Campus to corporate

Author: Dawson Templin

  • Settling In: The First Few Weeks Navigating Corporate Life and a New City

    Settling In: The First Few Weeks Navigating Corporate Life and a New City

    As of June 16th, 2025, I started my job in corporate America… and dang! It’s weird. Going from school to work is different in many strange (?), but also in equally exciting ways. To preface, my resting heart rate has dropped 5 beats per minute, and no that’s not contributed to exercise. But, this post-grad transition is unique and brings various challenges to overcome. If you’re going through something similar with starting a corporate career or even grad school, know that you’re not alone in this transition. This is one of many affirmations I’ve had to tell myself in an increasingly difficult, and different, environment.

    Starting the journey: first impression of corporate life

    Overall, my first impression is that corporate life has been a large adjustment. I first started with about ~1 month of ‘beach time’ during which I was unstaffed. This was great! I got to relax and focus on furnishing my apartment. I, then, spent ~3 weeks working on two new client proposals. This time allowed me to have a slow transition, but I also had to proactively find ways to go into the office to feel connected. I can now say that I am officially 3 weeks into my first case, and I have a wonderful team and class of peers with whom I have started.

    One surprise is how different the pace of energy is. In college, it would be about 90% brain power and focus for very random spouts throughout the day- whether in class, studying, or grinding for an organization. Here at work, it definitely still is a lot of brain power, but it’s also creating powerpoints and organizing information in a way that is digestible. Because of this, I use about 60% of my brain (if not more) all day with little breaks, and when I get home, I am exhausted. Extremely exhausted and almost unsociable (haha, sorry Alex). I have had to learn how to structure time with friends outside of work because of this as it can be tiring to even go on a walk post work, but I have been learning how to see friends in healthy ways to still have a social life outside of work. What I find helpful is to allocate 5 to 15 minutes throughout the day to talk to my friends at work, and otherwise have two days a week or so post work where I can have meaningful time with my friends. Notably, I think I need more time (than I have had) with friends to really build my energy, but I have also found that I need to make time for myself and tell myself that it is ok to be tired and spend time alone.

    Overall, I have loved my team and enjoy working with so many brilliant people that actively try to make a difference through our projects. But more than that, they have been incredible to be with outside of work, and now here in Atlanta, some of my closest friends have been made through work. It can be extremely difficult to coordinate as some travel or some have to work later than expected, but life is definitely different. The people in my June ‘class’ have made my experience all the more positive, and we even all did a lake weekend together! These bonding moments are definitely crucial to feeling connected, but I am sure that as I have more time, I will begin to have more of a routine and will find ways to have energy.

    New city and adjusting to Atlanta

    Oh, Atlanta! I never thought I would be in Atlanta. If you asked anyone, I did not ever want to live in Atlanta. Well, after a few months of being here, I can honestly say that Atlanta has been a wonderful place to live (like I’ve really enjoyed being here?!). I would give the city walking score like a 50. It’s doable, but you definitely need a car for it to feel traversable, and at least personally, I’ve never used Marta. But, I have loved getting to live in Midtown and have felt generally very safe. I thought I would give a few of the highlights. 

    I love eating and walking at Colony Square, and I take walks around Piedmont Park a few times a week. The beltline has also been wonderful to explore, and I’ve had many friend dates walking along it and grabbing coffee (shoutout to Brash, arguably my favorite coffee shop ~thus~ far). The food scene has been mixed, but one thing I love the most about Atlanta is how much of an ‘achievable’ city it is. You really can try and do all the activities and bucket list items, and my goal is to complete an Atlanta activity bingo card by next July.

    Now for the not so great parts of living here. There is SO MUCH construction and traffic. Like, genuinely an absurd amount, and the city really teaches you that you have to be an offensive AND defensive driver. Luckily, everyone knows this, but it also means people are more aggressive. In midtown, I also think there is a lack of grocery stores and coffee shops. There are a few fun places nonetheless, and I have really loved trying Refuge and For Five (closer to my office and apartment), But, the other day I went to For Five, and I ordered a matcha for $12 !! Actually unheard of. The city definitely gets pricey, and although my rent could be far worse, the city and food options add up. 

    Overall, Atlanta has been surprisingly amazing and, honestly, only positively shaped my experience post-grad. It would be wonderful to live slightly closer to Athens, but I enjoy getting to have my own space. I’m also closer to home now which has been wonderful since I get to see my family more often. The night scene has also been enjoyable with a number of Dad’s and Cypress runs and a few nights at cocktail bars like Johnny’s and Burle’s. I have enjoyed getting to explore and see what Atlanta has to offer! Stay tuned for more things to consider down the line.

    How I’ve spent my free time

    One of the best ways I’ve been able to adjust to work life is through hobbies! Especially cooking and baking, some gaming, and going on walks/getting outdoors. This year has absolutely been one full of personal development, and along that road, I wanted to learn how to cook and bake better (I can’t say I’m a foodie if I can’t chef up a kitchen). Well, I’ve learned a lot! I’ve made many things now, ranging from chicken street tacos to matcha earl gray tiramisu to homemade chocolate chip cookies and a salmon bowl. (Shoutout Saanvikha for picking stellar recipes!) In college I never had time to cook like I do now, or at least it wasn’t a priority. I will say I’m fairly inefficient in the kitchen, but I do have fun and I get to take extras to the office or to have for lunch the next day. Cooking and baking has definitely been a fun avenue to explore gastronomy and how food works. I’ve also been gaming more! It sounds dumb, but it honestly is a great pastime when you need it. Of course I’m playing Fortnite, among other things, but I’ve also gotten into God of War (my brother coerced me into playing). Although I’m constantly hogging the TV, it is a nice distraction and time to invest into myself. I’ve also enjoyed going on long walks, usually around Piedmont Park or even Midtown! It can be nice and relieving, and if you know me, I go on longgg walks. 

    Outside of these, I try to hangout with friends when I can. Typically, at least one friend spends the night per week, or I’ll hangout with some friends I met at work. Some highlights have been movie nights where we watched The Notebook (probably one of my new favorite movies) and long walks to just chat. A unique aspect about my job is the ‘class’ setting where I have people that I started with that I can rely on and get close with. We have spent a lot of time together and have future plans, and it’s always exciting to have something to look forward to.

    I’ve also been looking for ways to get involved in Atlanta. I haven’t been able to start yet since I’ve been adjusting to work and life, but I’m looking at ways to volunteer at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Hands On Atlanta. I think it’s super important to stay involved and give back to your community, and I’ve been doing research on ways to do that. 

    Work has definitely been an adjustment, but having things to do after work or plans to look forward to makes it all the better.

    What’s helping me (and might help you)

    Sentimentally, this transition has been much tougher than I would like to admit. If you know me, everything in my life is well, great, and couldn’t be better (for many reasons). But, I still have nerves and anxiety from this transition and have been learning that I have to lean on the people I care about more than ever while feeling comfortable spending time by myself.

    I was doing good for a bit, but when I saw UGA classes starting and friends starting grad schools and their own jobs, it really hit, especially since the summer just felt like I was interning, and I did not have much of a transition period between college and work. I also really only have my roommate that’s my close friend to lean on in Atlanta from pre-work, and it’s tough when the people you’ve built years of friendship with move away and become less accessible. I’m also an extrovert and need lotssss of people time to feel more secure with myself, but I’ve been learning to enjoy time by myself and that comes with my hobbies.

    Now, for some of these things I wish I knew:

    • Your friends are still there! Everyone in a transition stage of life is feeling the same. So lean on each other, call your friends, text them an outrageously stupid amount, and really show that you care.
    • Enjoy the time you have with your new friends! I have loved my new work friends and they are also going through this period too. Lean on them, spend time, and go through your activation energy to take that walk or go get a quick dinner. You deserve it and it will help you adjust. 
    • Write affirmations! Or have a positive reinforcement mechanism. I personally have various affirmations that I have written and have to reassure myself that it will all be ok! 
    • Give people time to adjust! Especially with school and work starting, give everyone grace to find their routine. You don’t have to constantly be in contact with people to feel connected, and that’s something that I’ve been having to tell myself too.
    • Explore! Since living in London in 2023, I have tried to proactively find ways to explore and really stay in touch with my surroundings to make the most of the experience. Get out, look around, and get involved! This will help you adjust and give you things to talk about. Even if it’s just by yourself, that’s more than ok.
    • Decorate your apartment quickly! Of course be smart about it, but the quicker you can decorate and make those hard decisions, the more time you have to enjoy the space and feel like you have a home there. You want something nice to come home to every day. 
    • Pick up a hobby! Having baking/cooking and even being able to game on the playstation have been wonderful ways to feel more comfortable with myself and find activities to pass the time. 

    But, most importantly: give yourself grace and understand that it is ok and important to learn how to enjoy spending time with yourself.

    If you are starting a corporate job or transitioning into a ‘new’ life post grad, know that you’re doing just fine. It is a weird, and sometimes rough transition, but it’s also exciting! Remember that and embrace it. It’s never quick or easy. Your friends are here for you and you should be there for them too. Have experiences, explore, and make the most out of everything!

  • How to Write a Responsive Email

    We’ve been listening to you and, thus, have decided to start a soft skills professional development series. Be on the lookout for articles focused on building the soft skills necessary to have larger yields on your professional success. To start, let’s focus on the email, which is usually the first step. 

    Why do we email? We want info. Social security, zip code, credit card.. just kidding just kidding. But really, it’s because we want to (1) want to connect with someone and (2) typically learn something. Maybe you are reaching out about internship opportunities, asking a teacher about being in their research lab, or connecting with someone at your dream company to hear about their work. We want to support you and make sure you have the best odds of a response because these individuals can be critical for your success 

    We’ve all been there: sent an email to a cool person from LinkedIn and received no response. In fact, both of us were there until we learned how to write an email that got responses. We know this will seem basic, but hold on to this. You’ll never stop having to write emails, so let’s learn how to do it the right way. 

    First, what’s the layout of the email? Here are the 5 major parts of an email:

    • Intro/greeting: Introducing yourself and professionally greeting them
    • Body: Your goals, why you are reaching out. Essentially, the background information 
    • The request: Ask for a specific and direct request. It is helpful and clear to use a question mark, and if you are trying to set up a meeting, GIVE YOUR AVAILABILITY.
    • Wrap-up: Finish out the email formally
    • Email Signature: Adds professionalism to the email 

    That was the basic layout but let’s build this out further. Remember, the whole *point* of an email is to get a response, so your goal should be to connect with the receiver of the message and consider what in your email would get them to respond and why. 

    Intro: this is where you say hello and introduce yourself and your background

    1. Good morning/afternoon or Hi (want to maintain formality)
      • No ‘dear’ – it’s a little emotional/familial
      • “Hi” – for colleagues or people you know well
      • “Good morning/afternoon” – for professors and people you don’t know well
    2. Make sure you say their name not just the greeting word
      • Try to find their appropriate title (don’t assume all professors are “Dr.”)
      • Some people prefer to go by their first name, but don’t assume this unless you have previously talked to them or if in a response they say their first name 
    3. Introduce yourself!
      • Your name, major, brief relevant background, interests etc. 

    Body: this explains why you are reaching out to THEM and your goals in possibly connecting me with them

    1. How you know them
      • Were you connected to them?
      • Did you connect with them on Linkedin?
      • Were you on a website and found their name?
    2. Why you decided to reach out to them
      • Is there something you want to learn about?
        • Are they in a job or position you find appealing?
        • Did they do an opportunity you are considering?
      • Tip: give them something to relate to you with, a similar university organization, a connection they know, etc.
    3. Your goals of having a conversation with them
      • This is your chance to explicitly state why you want to talk to them

    Request: this is where you ask to connect with them, offer times over one or two weeks that you are available

    1. Ask: “Would you be willing to meet over the next two weeks? If so. here are times I am currently free”
      • ‘currently” is important because schedules can change depending on how long it takes for you to get a response
    2. Give literal dates: (i.e. Mon, Mar 7)
      • You want to make it as easy as possible for them to compare their calendar to yours
      • Reminder YOU are taking time out of their day, so be courteous and save an email exchange by giving times you are free
    3. Tip: Maybe ask to just talk about their background. Not even necessarily getting a job
      • At the same time, people you are talking to are busy, and they shouldn’t feel like you are wasting their time
    4. Tip: Don’t be too straight forward!! This can come off wrong
      • Don’t just say: “can you give me a referral?” or “can you connect me with a partner?” or anything out of line
      • You do not want the exchange to be or even come off as transactional

    Wrapping up: this is where you end the email

    1. Mention “thank you again!” and “please let me know if any of these times work for you”
    2. Wrap with a final greeting: “Hope you have a great afternoon!”
    3. Best, FIRST NAME
      • i.e. Best, James

    Email Signature: builds credibility and professionalism

    1. Times New Roman 11pt
    2. First line: First Last name (bolded)
    3. Second line: The University of XXX | Class of 202X
    4. Third line: Major(s) 
    5. Fourth line (optional): Minor(s); certificates
    6. Fifth line (optional): email/phone
    7. Sixth line (optional): position in relevant organizations

    Let’s take a look at some examples:

    To a prospective research mentor: This was written while looking for a research lab in biochemistry

    Good afternoon Dr. XX, 

    I am a current second-year student majoring in Biochemistry and Economics, and I am looking to get involved in research with biochemistry this upcoming semester. I was exploring the biochemistry website, and I found your research extremely interesting with Glycobiology. Through my coursework in genetics and biology, I have become familiar with sugars and the central dogma and am most interested in how your research applies outside of just studying OGN. I am currently finishing CHEM 2212, Organic Chemistry II, and I will be starting BCMB 4010 next semester as a third-year and have undertaken undergraduate research before. 

    I am interested in potentially obtaining an MD/PhD, and I want to build further research experience in the Biochemistry space. I have done research on Johns Hopkins and their programs as well and I would be extremely interested in hearing about your experience as a postdoc there. 

    Would you have time within the next month to talk about your research? I would greatly appreciate it and would love the opportunity. Below are some times I am currently available:

    • X, 
    • X
    • X
    • X

     Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns or what would be the best way to meet if you have time. I also have my resume attached below. Thank you so much! 

    Best, 

    Dawson 

    Dawson J. Templin (he/him)

    The University of Georgia | Class of 2025 

    A.B. Economics | B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

    Certificate: Personal and Organizational Leadership

    To an individual at a firm I was curious about: This was written to learn more about a company that I was considering applying to intern/have a full-time job at

    Hi XXX,

    I hope you are doing well!! I am planning on submitting my application within the next few days for [position] at [company] in the [city] office. If you have some time, would you be available to speak to me about your experience on XXX? I enjoyed  getting to connect with you in Athens a few months ago and would love to follow up. I would appreciate any guidance or support you can provide through the application process as well. I have listed some times that I am available next week below. I can be fairly flexible with my internship, so please let me know what works best with your schedule:

    – Mon, June 24th: before 3pm

    – Tues, June 25th: 8am-5pm

    – Wed, June 26th: before 5pm

    – Thurs, June 27: before 10am / after 12pm

    – Fri, June 28: 8am-5pm

    Do any of these times work for you? Thank you so much again, and I hope you have a great morning!

    Best,

    Saanvikha

    Saanvikha Saravanan (she/her)

    The University of Georgia | Morehead Honors College

    B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | A.B. Spanish

    Well, there you have it. I know this gave a brief template on how to write a successful cold email, but the most important thing the receiver is going to look for is genuinity. They want to see that you truly want to connect or talk with them, so make sure your email is personal and authentic. Don’t simply copy and paste the same template to each person you reach out to without taking the time to edit it based on what would be appropriate to the specific receiver. Remember, don’t write a novel, be on the briefer side (unless you reached out on Linkedin and they know you’re gonna write them). Try to form a connection with the recipient of the email (university, club, etc.) because this makes them more likely and excited to respond.
    If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected] (haha get it?). But really, be on the lookout for more professional development soft skills and hope this helps you create excellent emails that get responses!