How Do You Put Your Best Foot Forward At A New Job?

Volunteer for minor projects. Where I work (manufacturing job shop) we always have things to volunteer for. We practice 5S [en.wikipedia.org])
so we are constantly reorganizing and sorting clutter and we always need someone to help.

First impressions last. Since you'll be meeting not only your employer but co-workers initially, it is best to give them a good impression without going overboard. Just be cordial. [www.irishhealth.com]

Just work as hard as you possibly can. Build yourself a reputation for having a sterling work ethic. It is the most important aspect to being successful at a new job.

I found the article seriously lacking in any concrete advice that would actually help during your first day on the job.

You guys at Lifehacker need to stop posting links to job-help sites. You're not working in environments where you learn how to recognize good professional advice. You are not executives - you are not good at this.

"Make your desk your home." LOL! Bolderdash!

24fc

@Dr.Jeckyl: It's a shame the parentheses in links gets borked by the site here...

I work for a family business... my family's business to be exact. My advice to myself would be "DON'T WORK HERE". I'm in the process of starting my own business slowly but surely. If it fails, whatever, at least I can say I tried.

The Thinker

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to your first day on the job?
Run. Go now. Don't look back.

subtle

By proceeding as if I'd been there for awhile. Maintaining no more than casual contact with the new boss. Meeting co-workers in the normal work-flow. Proving my aptness at getting the job done as expected.

This has worked quite well in *all* past jobs, and has relieved both boss and co-worker pressure (they've told me so) from "newbie" settling-in/kissing up.

Just do it.

If you're meeting in person, dress professionally! When I was a mall store manager, I couldn't BELIEVE how many people came to interviews that weren't even dressed up to store code. Flip-flops, unkept hair, t-shirts, chewing gum like a cow, c'mon people! If someone dresses like that for an interview it makes you really wonder what kind of employee they'll end up being...

Oh Lifehacker, is this a sign? You released a very useful interview article last week one day after my interiew that I could have used...
and now you release this? are you telling me that I got accepted?

Jason Kenneth Dulay

Where was this 6 months ago?

Came back from my first review, was an eye opener.

yihdego

Also, if your coworkers (or, more importantly, supervisors) make errors in spelling or diction, don't point them out--you'll just look like a jerk. ;)

Save that impulse for Lifehacker thread comments.

jsfisher

@JuryDuty:
Wow, they were bald? Most people try to keep their hair.
Of course, if you're bald, you don't have to worry about UNKEMPT hair. ;)

On a related note, try to avoid errors in spelling and diction when writing your first emails to coworkers.
It'll make you look more professional.

jsfisher

@yihdego: Yeah i also wish i had seen this a while back. My first review wasn't great but wasn't bad. Was a month away from my second when i got the email "We are ending Tyler's (that's me) contract and no longer need his services. KThxBai!"... It was a slow week... but we really needed more people... worse than getting dumped through aim chat during middle school... so lame.

Eavangel

@Dr.Jeckyl: Interesting, thanks for the link :)

@Dr.Jeckyl: Oh god! Not 5S! 5S has been the bane of my existence. The company I worked for went way overboard in implementing this asinine system. Luckily the other employees agreed and 5S quickly became the punchline to a lot of jokes.

Jeff_McAwes0me

@Jason Kenneth Dulay: Good luck :)

Cancel all social engagements you have that week.

If you're asked out for a drink/meal/whatever by your co-workers then you must go - even if it really isn't your thing.

I've seen plenty of people not do this and after a week of turning things down they find themselves marked out as the person who doesn't socialise. Subsequently they don't get invited any more because there is the perception "they'll just say no anyway".

After that week, resume your normal social activities. By that time it won't matter if you can't make something, people will know you're someone who can and will come out if they are free.

mrsilver

Hrm. How to make a good impression? This is a question of who you are trying to make an impression on. And that's essentially everyone.
For the boss: Keep in touch. Daily. Task by task. However often it takes to get to know what is expected, and let him/her know that you are working and well.

For the coworkers: Listen. Learn some and contribute worthwhile nuggets to conversation and projects. But be content to listen more than you contribute in the early going.

Really, managing your boss is the most important thing. Keep tabs on him/her. Let them know what you're up to. Do it often enough and they will trust you to be working hard for the organization at all times. Then you can come back to lifehacker and goof off.

Max Harris

Identify quick and easy wins; you'll be walking into some mess, you can be sure, that'll need tidying up. So get those done first.

Make a point of identifying what's been irking your colleagues for a long time and then fixing it.

If you've got a lengthy project that won't show results for a while, then find ways of letting your progress be known, so that people don't think you're doing nothing.

totallygone

@yihdego: I couldn't agree more. Why not before 6 months ago! It's definitely something you would want to keep in mind when going to a new job. It seems like it should work in most situations.

WhoNeedszzz

One of the best work advice I have received is how to make yourself "strategically incompetent". This involves pretending to be incompetent about menial tasks that are very time consuming but not part of your job description. For example, even if you are a very good person fixing stuff, it pays off to say "I don't know how to fix the printer" when it is asked of you the first week on the job. This is hard to do--usually, one is keen to impress and so accepts every menial task thrown at you. Unfortunately, the result of this is that while all your co-workers were getting real work done, all you can say is "I fixed the printer, coffee machine, ordered new supplies and was on the phone with the tech guy for an hour." Not very impressive. Remember that the bottom line is not how much "stuff" you get done, but how much Valuable stuff you get done. So pretend to be incompetent about menial things ("I'm sorry, I'm not a great weekend outing planner"), and get real work done instead. Come review time, your boss will be impressed at how much you achieved.

FannyAglaea

Accomplish work, be on time or early, don't watch the clock, solicit advice from lots of people, share useful information, (but don't say "at my last company we..." 10 times every meeting) and use a little flattery.

theora55

@FannyAglaea: Man... I'm pickin' up[ what you're putting down... This fits in with first impressions too, in the sense that it is easy to get pigeonholed into monotonous, unfulfilling tasks that kill your momentum and will to live.

I've seen others take real advantage of this, to the point that they get challenging projects assigned that require training - training and certs that I already had - and I was stuck doing the heavy-lifting and later, out of a job when layoffs came around.

The best piece of advice I was ever given was to remember that every office is like junior high. It has helped me immensely.

As for this, this is all stuff I thought was elementary, but has caused a lot of tension and grief in several job sites I've been in. Silent treatments and tears and shouting and shit. People are really touchy.

The first week or two is really hard for shy people, but push yourselves out of your shells a bit. Talk to people or people might think you're stuck up. It's also hard for Type A folks to take the time to talk to people, but when they come to your cube/office, make conversation, or they'll also make weird assumptions.

Be extremely careful when you talk about your last place. It may have been hell, but no one wants to work with someone who isn't discreet. Don't tell horror stories about former coworkers and bosses when they take you to lunch the first time. Everyone might assume you're a terrible gossip, or that you can't be trusted, or worse, that you might have been the problem.

Listen more than you talk, and make very polite and neutral conversation. Let your new coworkers set the tone, and learn their culture.

Learn everyone's names. It's okay if you have to ask more than once. Say good morning and hello to everyone, no matter what rank they are. You may think this is trivial, but the most powerful people in the office aren't always the highest ranking. "Staff" can make "management" miserable over perceived slights, and kindness is easy and free.

Don't text or take calls at your desk on your time. Not at the beginning. IM is also kind of off.

Please don't listen to music on speakers. We don't want to hear it. Get some headphones if it's allowed.

Learn what the deal with the refrigerator and the coffeemaker etc. is. Sometimes this shit actually belongs to one person, but everyone else uses it. If this is the case, you ought to ask permission before using it or else someone may hate you and never tell you why.

If you're the boss you go to the potluck and bring a dish. Then leave early so they can relax and talk about you.

When people go way out of their way for you, and you can tell, thank them. Sometimes they do crazy ass shit for the new guy. It's a sign of a good place. Likewise, if it's early and you're already getting fucked, take note (I've been paid for four days of work and at another place not been paid for 2 months).

All of these things are little tiny pieces of office politics. But they can fester into bigger shit if they aren't taken care of.

Yeah, I know that it doesn't sound like your "job," but if you take care of this shit, you can do your job.

booge