'Do's' and 'Don'ts' of your first week in a new job

Preparation is key to a successful start to a new job. Essentially, you are still on trial for the first few weeks in any job and it is important to set the right image from the moment you walk through the door on your first day.

Office Do’s

  • Dress smartly. Better to be overdressed than come to work looking too casual.
  • Feel free to ask questions that are relevant to any tasks that you are assigned.
  • Be courteous and friendly to everyone you meet regardless of rank. First impressions count and the post room person could end up being the office ‘fixer’ who can make your life a lot easier.
  • Project the image of a conscientious worker who is friendly.

Office Don’ts

  • Make personal phone calls from your office phone. It is something that you need to do discretely from your mobile until you know more about the office culture.
  • Talk too loudly on the phone or the mobile. Similarly, don’t leave your mobile unattended at your desk or put your phone on speakerphone when dialling. Colleagues need to concentrate on their work too.
  • Criticise fellow workers or the work itself. It looks unprofessional and leaves you wide open to manipulation by others.
  • Join in with any teasing of a fellow workmate. The dynamics of any group are complex and it is better to observe them than to become involved immediately.
  • Take too many breaks. Some smokers do about two hours less work a day than their colleagues – of course they would argue it makes them more productive.
  • Ignore personal hygiene.

To help you avoid potential disasters in your first week in a new job we’ve trawled the internet for some of the best and most amusing advice.

Links

Time Management Tips

15 Principles for Organizing Your Business Life

11 Time Management Tips

A guide to telephone etiquette

Phone Etiquette


Bookmark with :

Post this story to Delicious Delicious Post this story to reddit reddit Post this story to Facebook Facebook Post this story to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon

Search for jobs

Featured Jobs

logo

Supplier Reconciliations Analyst

Solihull • Permanent

logo

Group Planning and Treasury Analyst

London Victoria • Permanent

logo

AP Supervisor

Canncock • Permanent

logo

Audit Semi-Seniors and Seniors

London East • Permanent