Now youve got the job, Behave yourself

The interview is over; you’ve waited x couple of weeks in apprehension and hurray! You’ve been asked to resume on a particular date.

] Now if this is your first job and you’ve never had to resume anywhere before (asides holiday jobs working as a secretary or clerk in your uncle’s office & IT ) you may need the pointers below to see you through:

Surviving your first few days at work

• Dress properly- This is a given, but a few still take it for granted. In a few moments you will be scrutinized by your future colleagues and team mates. A smart suit always works, guys please match shoes with belt, crisp shirt, clean haircut, Ladies, simple hairstyle ( this is not the time to experiment), neat blouse, simple make up, neat and well polished shoes- May I emphasize here that no matter how broke you are please don’t skimp on the shoes, most physical judgements are sealed with the state of shoes the newbie is wearing, you don’t want people to know how many miles you’ve walked in search of a job, really!
• Smile Politely and be generous with your, ‘good mornings’
• Listen attentively and study the environment and the people- study your new colleagues, it will help you understand them and work well as a team player.
• Carry a notebook- Depending on what you’ll be working as, you may need to take down some notes so as not to forget. Important names, departments, phone numbers, etc. are just some of the few things you may need to write down. Such information may not be repeated to your hearing again and you might not get it when you need it. Also, carrying a notebook and writing stuff down, shows that you are serious minded, attentive and eager to learn.
• Memorize important details about the people you come in contact with- especially their names
• Be polite- Do not walk around with a chip on your shoulder. You will definitely need help, all newcomers do and you do not want to have burnt your bridges before using them. Say please and thank you when asking for favours, in a large organization, you will need help with getting your computer up and running, your business cards, your desk may need a new chair or your locker may be broken, you will need help, regardless, so be polite
• Don’t despise the ‘small’ people- Security men, receptionists, cleaners; drivers etc. are one set of people you mustn’t ignore. While you shouldn’t over familiarize yourself with them, you must make sure you establish a polite and reasonable rapport with them. You never know when you might need them as their ears are always very close to the ground.
• Ask questions- You’ve never worked there before so it’s not a crime to ask where the lunch room is or where the bathroom is, it is better to ask than to find oneself where you shouldn’t be. Ignorance is no excuse, because you could have just asked.

Above all be confident, you will make mistakes, but your confidence should be able to carry you through. Remember that no one expects you to be perfect and give yourself time to learn, but learn quickly, time waits for none!

All the best,