On the Job
By: Cyrus, Editor in Chief National Edition

November 17, 1999

When you begin your first job, it's not easy to know exactly how to act. You might be in an environment that is completely unfamiliar. You might not know anyone at this place where you will likely spend around forty hours per week.

Why not make friends? Realistically, the people you work with probably won't become your best friends, but they can become people that you enjoy talking with, eating lunch with, etc. Some co-workers may not be interested in getting personally involved, but some will be good companions.

Dealing with your supervisor can be tricky. Diplomacy is the name of the game. If you happen not to like your boss, keep your feelings to yourself. Don't talk about him or her with a co-worker - they might not be loyal to you, and you could get disciplined or even fired. Hopefully, you will enjoy working for him or her and there will be no problems. If you don't create any problems, maybe no one else will either!

The last thing you probably want to hear is "be on your best behavior", but it really is good advice. If you are at your best at all times, you'll have no problems. Make sure you dress properly. On the first day, unless they tell you specifically what you should wear, dress nicely. If it is a corporate environment, wear a suit. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed (unless you are working with machinery, chemicals, etc.). You can call your supervisor ahead of time if you have questions about the dress code. Be polite to everyone, even if they are impolite to you, and no one can have any complaints. Work hard (not too hard!), learn a lot, and hopefully, love your job.