Secrets to success in an office environment.
If you’ve spent years working demanding jobs in restaurants or retail, your first office job might seem like a dream come true. Finally, you get your own desk. You don’t have to stand on your feet all day. And best of all, you don’t have to wear an ugly uniform!
But working in an office might be tougher than you think. Before you show up for your first day on the job, read these tips.
Choose your clothes carefully.
If you’re young, and you’re about to start your first job in an office, what you wear is super important. One common mistake is buying a new wardrobe that’s just a little too sexy. Short skirts and high heels may make you feel fabulous, but your coworkers will think you’re unprofessional.
Dress conservatively on your first day in the office and take note of what other women wear. And guys, when you’re starting a new office job, you can’t afford to look wrinkled or frayed. Invest in a few nice dress shirts, new khakis and a good pair of shoes.
Learn the office culture.
Every office has its own company culture – and you need to figure it out, fast. If your new office is laid-back and everyone likes to joke around, then you don’t want to be labeled as the uptight and awkward one. If your new job is in an office where everyone is super-competitive, make sure you don’t look like a slacker.
Don’t bend the rules — yet.
When you start your first office job, you’ll be on your best behavior – for a week or two. After that, you might be tempted to come in five minutes late, or take a little extra time on your lunch break, or spend half an hour talking about TV shows in the break room. Don’t. You may feel like no one’s watching you, but bad habits get noticed quickly. Some office jobs are more permissive than others, but make sure you know what’s allowed before you push the boundaries.
Don’t get sucked into the wrong clique.
Every office has its own little groups – the accountants who lunch together every day, the sales guys who love to talk fantasy football, the admins who know everything about everybody. At your first office job, it’s important to find work friends you can hang out with – otherwise, you might be lonely. But be careful who you choose. Every office has people who love to complain, gossip and do as little work as possible. If you get pulled into a group of people who are negative or just plain mean, that’s going to make it hard to enjoy your new office job.
