Summary of Key Points
This article takes the controversy surrounding a certain listed company's recruitment of recent master's graduates as an entry point. The author, Lü Jianwei, shares his core views on the growth of new professionals: Recent graduates (whether master's or doctoral degree holders) should first gain experience in frontline business areas such as customer service, sales, production, and debt collection. By experiencing real business scenarios and human nature, they can develop a practical understanding of companies and society, making their future work more effective and avoiding futile efforts that are divorced from reality.
Detailed Breakdown of the Content
1. The Behind-the-Scenes of the "Rashomon" Incident: The Cognitive Gap Between Newcomers and Companies
The dispute mentioned at the beginning of the article (where a student claimed to have been indirectly laid off and filed a complaint with an EU client) essentially reflects the cognitive disparity between new employees and companies. Newcomers enter the workplace with ideals from campus or theoretical knowledge from books, and without the experience of frontline work, they may misunderstand the nature of their tasks and company requirements. The author believes that this cognitive gap needs to be bridged through frontline experience—helping them realize that the workplace is not a "greenhouse" but a place to solve practical problems, rather than a place to judge right from wrong based on assumptions.
2. Frontline Experience is a Mandatory Course for Newcomers
The author shares his own approach: He trains new graduates and then sends them to work in customer service to answer calls. He also cites industry examples, such as the founder of Salesforce, who started his career in Oracle's after-sales department, and the CEO of SAP, who began in after-sales as well. Huawei advocates for "technical engineers who understand business and the market." Why? Because frontline experience allows new employees to directly encounter real needs—customer service staff hear customers' direct complaints, sales staff learn how to interact with clients, and production staff understand how products are made. These are practical lessons that cannot be learned from books and can quickly transform "students" into "professionals."
3. Frontline Experience Reveals "True Human Nature and Society"
The author refers to the "realities of the workplace" as something that cannot be ignored. For example, in debt collection, employees encounter resistance, deception, and harsh situations, which show the true workings of companies and society. In sales, they must understand the intricacies of human relationships and interact with different clients. In customer service, they must handle unexpected issues and develop adaptability. These experiences teach that the workplace cannot be mastered solely through theory; understanding human nature and the actual situation is essential to avoid ineffective efforts.
4. Experience Should Be Appropriate in Duration: 3 Months is the "Golden Period"
The author believes that the duration of experience should be neither too short nor too long. One month is just for getting a feel for the work, two months can be challenging, and three months may be overwhelming—but it's the right time to stop, as employees have not reached their limits and have not gained a deep enough understanding. If new employees spend three months in each frontline role (customer service, sales, production, debt collection), they will gain a comprehensive understanding of the company's value chain. Such individuals, whether they go into research and development, management, or sales, will think from a practical business perspective, rather than from an idealized one.
5. Education is Not a Shackle: Frontline Experience is the True Competence
The author dispels the misconception that high education is necessary for high-level positions. He mentions a friend with a master's degree from Harbin Institute of Technology who became a sales director, excelling in his role by engaging with clients and understanding their needs. People with computer science backgrounds do not necessarily have to work in research and development, and doctoral degree holders can also work in sales. The key is that frontline experience enables one to excel in any role. Education is a stepping stone, but practical skills are the core competitiveness for long-term success in the workplace.
This article does not delve into complex financial theories but uses real-life examples and plain language to convey to new professionals that frontline experience is a necessary path to growth, helping them see the real world and become more pragmatic professionals.