Top 10 Tips for Starting a New Job

Here's how to proceed from being the "new guy" or gal to the official go-to pro in your new job!

There is a definite culture ion any work place and you have to feel your way around for the first week or so and make good impressions with good manners, a relaxed but energetic manner, and a habit of showing interest in other people without being nosy.

By all means, DO:

• 1. Be civil and friendly to everyone and be conservative in humor and mannerisms. If you are pressed for time and frustrated, take a deep breath and smile anyway.
• 2. Ask questions to your new coworkers. Make generic small talk with them about popular music, TV, sports etc. Don't venture into anything personal and stay away form politics, government, and religion. Refrain form telling everyone everything about yourself all at once as well.
• 3. Ask your new coworkers to tell you the best spots for good coffee, breakfast, lunch, or gift purchasing. These questions will start communications going on a social level to help you bond. Coworkers may invite you to lunch with them, so go and have fun.
• 4. Give colleagues time to get used to you. It may not happen on DAY ONE.
• 5. Bring in some pantries you've home baked and leave them in the lunchroom. A cake, cupcakes, cookies are great. Here's an easy recipe: buy a yellow cake mix and add only a 12-oz. bottle of Mountain Dew, mix and put in a baking pan and bake and you will have a fruity-flavored cake. For chocolate cake, use a 12-oz. bottle of Coke or Cherry Coke! That's it - a cake mix and a bottle of soda pop. Skips the eggs, oil or anything else. These are really great! And very easy.

Here's a good cookie recipe:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Crispy_Cookies

Whatever you do, DON'T:

• 1. Don't be intrusive. Don't interrupt conversations or stand and listen when two people are having a conversation. Coworkers won't trust you if they think you are nosy or spying for the boss.
• 2. Don't expect to hear a bunch of strange stories and rumors about your work mates. In fact, stay away from gossip 100%. People that gossip or listen to it don't get promoted.
• 3. Don't keep talking about your former employer. You are in a new place with new ways of doing things. If you have a good idea, approach the boss with it, but don't complain about processes. Complainers don't get promoted. Those that plan and approach the boss with creative ideas do.
• 4. Don't insist that everyone at work get involved in your life all at once. Wait a little bit for your work mates to show interest in your hobbies and other activities.
• 5. Don't ask coworkers to join your MySpace, FaceBook, Gossips'R'Us, BlackPlanet, or any of these things. LinkedIn is OK for a business connection network, though, but wait a while before you ask people. They need to know you and trust you first. And don't try to SELL coworkers anything.