Q&A: Tips for Starting Your First Job

1) What are the top 3 things you should remember when you are new to a job?  

First, be careful and go slowly the first couple days. Look around. Observe. You’re in learning mode, and there’s a whole lot more to learn than just the job—in fact, things that might even be more important, if you’re intending to stay. Rushing in with a “HEY LOOK—I’M HERE!” attitude can get you noticed—but not necessarily in a good way. You want to be friendly, professional, and open, but wait until you get your bearings and can accurately read the social vibes and culture of the organization before you wear your favorite day-glow orange jumpsuit to work, or break into a tap dance on the elevator, just because it’s Friday. (Even though I would personally love it if you did both of those things, your first day on the job!) Think integration. Think fitting in.

Second, as is true of life in general, it’s all about the relationships. Even if you’re a remote worker, even if you work in a back office inputting reams of data, even if you’re a park ranger on the most desolate mountaintop, you still must interface with someone at some point. So do your best to create positive relationships with those around you. Be courteous, helpful, and approachable to everyone you work with, everyone you meet, even everyone you see in the hallway—and that includes the parking lot attendant and the lunchroom busser. It’s simply the right thing to do, plus you’ll reap the rewards of likability and trustworthiness.

Third, be honest about what you know—and what you don’t. No one is going to scream at you if you don’t know everything there is to know during your first week (or even month) on the job, but they might just strangle you if you screw something up beyond repair and now the whole department is suffering because you broke an important piece of equipment or lost a major sales account to a competitor. Ask questions. Take notes if you need to. Ask again if you’re unsure of yourself. Don’t just go charging off into the unknown—you’re not expected to know it all, or to go it alone.

2) What are you best tips for e-mail communication? 

Most importantly, remember that emailing is not like texting! The rules are definitely different. In fact, traditional as it may seem, email communications still follow the rules of letter writing—even in the most hip and progressive of companies. So here are a few brief pointers:

1. Reply quickly—within 24 hours is the norm. If you need to take longer, then acknowledge receipt of the email and say when you’ll get back with an answer.
2. Show the topic in the subject line, clearly and concisely. It helps keep your email from being lost in the receiver’s inbox.
3. Proof your email to make sure it’s word-perfect before you send it. Yes, I really mean word-perfect. Emails are a reflection of you.
4. Keep emails as short as possible, while still being polite and thorough. Remember that they might be read on a mobile device.
5. Absolutely NO text lingo! It runs the risk of being confusing, especially in a multi-cultural, multi-generational work setting. (HTH—ha!)

It’s very likely that these rules will change in the near future, when the next generation fully takes over the world (which I welcome!), but for now, stick with a more formal approach.

3) What is your USP and how do you find it? 

Your USP is your unique selling point! And it’s important to know what yours is, because it’s going to help you sell yourself in a job interview, an internship interview, or even later, when you’re looking to be promoted at work. Think of yourself as a product, and just like any product—from a new Subaru to Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream—you have your own unique selling point. A Subaru is dependable, classy, and rugged. Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream is creamy, chocolaty, cherry-y, and well, it’s simply heaven, in my opinion! (Enough said on that one. I’m headed to my freezer.)

Now, think about yourself. What sets you apart? Perhaps you’re really good at organizing things, from the papers on your desk to the shoes in your closet. Maybe you’re fearless in front of an audience, and you’re always asked to give the toasts at parties. Or you’re a whiz at numbers. Or you’re an amazing graphics artist. Or you’re a really great listener. Or writer. Or you can yodel! (Not sure how you’ll capitalize on that one, so let’s strike it for now.) You get the idea.

Still not sure what your USP is? Two ways to tell. First way: you can ask someone. Someone honest. Maybe your mother, maybe not, depending on whether she’s just going to give you one of those “You’re good at everything, honey…” answers. But once you think of someone who’s gonna tell it like it is, just come out and boldly ask them, “What do you think I’m good at?” They may tell you things you didn’t even know about yourself, things you can use as your USP.  Second way: you can ask yourself. When you’re really and truly rocking your game, what is it that you’re doing at that moment? Generally speaking, we feel best when we’re doing the things we excel at doing. So if you feel great whenever you’re making a presentation, or when you’re sitting at your desk, trying to figure out a complicated problem, or when you’re skiing down a hill, see whether that skill might be marketable. These examples might suggest a career in communications, systems analysis, or outdoor sports management, respectively.

4) What are ways to get noticed for a promotion? 

There’s a lot of research around this topic, and while I love being able to back my advice with good, solid data, none of what I’m about to tell you is that shocking! The ways to get noticed for a promotion are rather old-fashioned and time-tested. First, dependability. Show up on time and do what you say you’re going to do. And do it accurately, thoroughly, and competently, whatever it is. Second, cooperativeness. Be a team player. Offer to help others when you can, especially when you’re not even being asked. You’ll stand out as someone who notices—and responds to—the needs of the people around you. Third, likeability. It’s a simple fact that people who are likeable get promoted faster. So be pleasant and kind. Reach out to others with a friendly hello when you pass them in the hallway. Open the door for others if you get there first. (It doesn’t matter if they’re male or female, or if they’re older than younger than you—just do it.) See? I told you none of these wonderful tips would be shocking, but they’re definitely some of the essential keys to promotion. (And, by the way, they’re pretty darn good ideas for succeeding at life in general.)

5) When you are new, how do you find your place? 

One of the best ways is to find a mentor at work, someone who enjoys helping newbies. How do you spot them? They often find you first. They’re the ones who make sure you know where the restroom is, or they let you know they have aspirin in their desks, in case you ever need one. These people are treasures! Take advantage of what they have to offer—it’s a win-win. They love to help, and you need the initial support. Ask them to introduce you around the office, or accompany you to the next birthday celebration in the break room. You’ll start to figure out who’s who, and how you fit in.

Another way to find your place is through simple observation. Look around. What needs doing? What needs cleaning up? What can you volunteer for? Without stepping on any toes (you don’t want to act as if you’ve arrived to save the company from the mess it’s in!), pitch in and get involved. Soon, you’ll figure out your own unique contribution to the organization—birthday card angel, note taker at department meetings, or…a mentor who helps newbies!

6) Tips for workplace etiquette.

So much of workplace etiquette is simply that oldie-but-goodie golden rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you!” For example, no one wants to walk into the break room and find that someone drank the last cup of coffee and didn’t bother to make more. Or walk into the restroom and find water splashed all over the sink countertop. Or wait ten thousand years for their email to be answered. It’s as if you now have an office (or maybe even a building) full of roommates! So here are some quick tips:

1. Always clean up after yourself, and even do a little extra—wipe off a countertop, straighten up the supply closet, or restock the toilet paper when it’s running low.
2. Speak to everyone you meet, even people you don’t know. Smile. Introduce yourself. Be nice.
3. Don’t “borrow” things from other people’s desks or personal areas unless you’re invited—and if you do take something, always return it.
4. Be respectful of other people’s time constraints—always ask whether they have a moment before you launch into a conversation. And always show up on time for meetings.
5. Say “hello,” “goodbye,” “please,” and “thank you”—your grandmother was right!
6. Learn the names of the people around you, and a little about their lives—nothing too nosy or personal, just small things, like the name of their dog, or the way they like their coffee—it’s the polite thing to do.

These are just a few quick tips, but I bet everyone’s getting the theme here—in a nutshell, channel the person you’d want to work with!

7) How do you find clothes for work?

What a fun question! I love shopping for clothes that will make me look professional, modern, and friendly. Of course, because of what I do for a living, I always want to come off that way, plus I want to be comfortable while standing in front of an audience, sitting in a meeting, or jumping on and off a plane. I guess you could say that I want it all! So whenever I have a little spare time (which isn’t often), I head to whatever store I’m near, I place an image of me, solidly rocking a new outfit, firmly into my head, and then I go for it! I could be in a Nordstrom (always the sale rack, though), a Goodwill (love ‘em), or anything in between—it doesn’t matter, because sometimes you’re going to find the most wonderful gem hiding in among the ugly ducklings. Shop for what you can afford, what fits, what makes you feel attractive and confident, and what truly matches your vision of your perfect, professional self.

All that said, I do believe that having a good, dependable blazer is crucial, no matter what line of work you’re in. I actually have several. When I’m standing in front of an audience, I love the look of the newest, longer blazers. But when I have to be seated for an extended amount of time, the short ones are the only way to go—otherwise, the long ones look bunched up and wrinkly at the waist. And blazers look great with pencil skirts, trousers, and even jeans! Talk about a fabulous tie-in piece.

I know this is the go-to site for Gen-Y girls’ world domination (LOVE that, by the way—may I join, even if I’m a bit older?), but just in case you have any male readers out there, I want to mention that a sport coat will do the same thing for guys that a blazer will for gals. You can wear your sport coat over slacks or jeans, and you can dress it up with a white shirt and a tie (Hey—you might need one someday), or go for a more casual look with a solid pastel shirt and no tie, or do the totally laid back thing with a more brightly colored or patterned shirt. I always suggest that both women and men keep an “emergency” blazer or sport coat in a closet at work, or in the trunk of your car (but don’t let it get wrinkled), or wherever—just in case suddenly need to look killer-fab at a moment’s notice.

About the Author:

Denise Dudley is a professional trainer and keynote speaker, author of Work It!, business consultant, and founder and former CEO of SkillPath Seminars, the largest public training company in the world, which provides 18,000 seminars per year, and has trained over 12 million people in the US, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Dudley holds a Ph.D. in behavioral psychology, a hospital administrator’s license, a preceptor for administrators-in-training license, and is licensed to provide training to medical professionals in the United States and Canada. She’s also a certified AIDS educator, a licensed field therapist for individuals with agoraphobia, and a regularly featured speaker on the campuses of many universities across the US, and the author of Simon & Schuster’s best-selling audio series, “Making Relationships Last.”  Dudley speaks all over the world on a variety of topics, including management and supervision skills, leadership, assertiveness, communication, business writing, career readiness, and personal relationships. Dudley thrives on people, animals, and lively audiences!