Mistakes you don’t want to make on your new job
August 3, 2009 | 3:11 AM
Don’t gossip or move in too fast
Gossip is not a discussion, it is personal, it is in most cases offending and it is definitely not your business. Sure it might help you to get into the ‘scene’ faster, but just think about it. Is that the kind of image you wish to project in the early stages in the organizations? Why not let your work speak for you instead? Also, avoid painting the cubicle with your favorite color, or bringing in your ‘stuff’ on the very first day; you might want to take it easy considering YOU are moving into THEIR turf.
Don’t stay in your Shell
Conflicting with the point above you say? Not really. It’s true that some of us are more comfortable opening up to people than the others, but you must make a conscious effort to hear and be heard, for it is very easy to be tagged ‘not a team player’. If nothing comes to mind, ask people what they do – this solves two purposes (a) People see you as someone who is inquisitive and wants to learn, and (b) You get brownie points because everybody loves talking about themselves and their work!
Don’t talk about your previous employer
You could talk about what work you did while your time there instead. Nobody appreciates when you badmouth your previous employer, for the obvious reason that you could do the same thing to your current employer if and when you decide to jump the boat. Interestingly, singing praises about your ex-employer does not help much either, why? “Why don’t you go back and work with them if you like them so much”, that’s why!
Don’t over promise and under deliver
This is where expectation management comes in, don’t try to volunteer for everything (read: don’t get coffee at meetings) or try to be inhumanly efficient, it will backfire and you will be expected to keep that pace from then on to eternity. Instead focus your energies on being more aware as to what is happening around you – understand team dynamics, characteristics of team members, organizational culture. Take your time, under promise and over deliver.
Other things we thought we should mention, listed in no particular order:
- Don’t ask for leave
- Don’t break rules
- Don’t come in with a hangover
- Don’t butter up excessively
- Don’t argue or criticize
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I agree with the above listed "mistakes" you don't want to make on a new job. Trying to fit in by doing the above will give your co-workers the wrong impression about you. There is nothing worse than welcoming a new employee to the company only to have to listen to the new employee complain and criticize their previous employer. It leaves me with the impression that the new person holds grudges and can't start fresh and new. They are bringing their former job disappointments with them and usually end up complaining about their new job after a time….big mistake.
In Tier II companies, one of the biggest mistakes I noticed people who join at Junior level and sometimes even at middle management do is ask the company for a Salary Advance in the first month.