[aNiXtEr]

I am a CIS student and I feel fortunate to land a entry-level networking position with a good corporation. I have had several retail managment jobs but I was wondering, what are some best practices you learned to make yourself standout and/or fit within the organization?

[no2pencil]

Dress as well as you did in your interview. Don't show your true colors just yet.
I would avoid getting coffee, or anything to drink, as I am very accident prone, & you don't want your 1st day to be special because of a stain on your shirt.
Bring a pad of paper & a couple of pens. It shows initiative to take notes, it shows that you'll listen.
Ask questions even if you don't have any, it shows that you are paying attention. Plus if you do already know the answer, then when time comes for you to perform said operation, it looks like you take direction well & listen well.
Above all else... do not try to show up co-workers. Remember that you are not there to impress people, you are there to take home a check. Even if you can do something better than someone else, remember where your boundaries are, feel free to give input, but just be suggestive, don't try to show off!
With that in mind... keep personal politics at home. Don't bring baggage into the workplace.

These things have worked for me... I hope you can find a few nuggets of truth in there that can help you on your way to an exciting career! Congrats on the job!!!

[LogicCrusher]

Bring a case of beer to work

Just kidding, be nice to everybody, don't be a smart ass, and most importantly pay attention and be a good listener.

[devilchild]

Be nice, Dress well, look hardworking, don't show all that u could do on your first day. Try very hard not to be too nerverous.

Be a good listen, make sure u fullly understand wat u are ask to do. And relax just relax. This attitude should go on for the rest of the week or two not only the first day.

[Nova Dragoon]

My first day on the job involved me cleaning 5 spools of unwound magnetic tape covering my desk.

[spearfish]

Quote

Bring a case of beer to work

I'm sure that'd work. Seriously

[MarkoDaGeek]

I kiss ass sometimes, it works.

[KYA]

I can't agree with the posters that say don't try to impress, only work to get a paycheck. This mentality, in my unqualified opinion, stumps innovation and growth. I don't think employers want people just looking for their next check. They want people that are excited and want to come to work to do some good.

0.2 euro

[no2pencil]

KYA, on 1 May, 2008 - 01:57 AM, said:

This mentality, in my unqualified opinion, stumps innovation and growth.

... I've seen what happens to hot heads on their 1st day. They go shooting their mouth off (while in training mind you) about how someone is wrong on something. Even if they are right, their criticism in front of the other new guys is not welcome here. They usually don't come back for day #2.

I never said, sit in a dark cubicle & ride the company for all it's worth.

The 1st day of ones career is (in my opinion) not the day to push the envelope!

[KYA]

Ah, in that case i am in entire agreement. (Did i misread your original post?)


Better to watch and learn the environment the first few days...

[no2pencil]

KYA, on 1 May, 2008 - 02:57 AM, said:

Did i misread your original post?

I may not have been specific, since the topic is "1st day on the job"...

[KYA]

I was thinking it wasn't literally the first day, but the first week/month or so with the job. Anyways...

[baavgai]

no2pencil, on 29 Apr, 2008 - 09:44 PM, said:

Above all else... do not try to show up co-workers. Remember that you are not there to impress people, you are there to take home a check. Even if you can do something better than someone else, remember where your boundaries are, feel free to give input, but just be suggestive, don't try to show off!

Agree. Along those lines:

Your prior job is like your prior girlfriend; never compare the new one to the old one. In particular, never say they did it better somewhere else. Adititonally, don't put down the current system. It works, be quiet.

This doesn't mean be a idiot. Rather keep an open mind and try to understand how stuff is done. You may get asked your opinion and you want to have enough information to intelligently form one. If you get asked you opinion on the first day, dodge it. You haven't been there long enough to figure out everything, you'll be able to better answer after you know the ropes a little better.

[ajaymatrix]

baavgai.. that was good advice..

[CalumJR]

MarkoDaGeek, on 30 Apr, 2008 - 01:43 PM, said:

I kiss ass sometimes, it works.

I know it sounds bad, but I have to admit, I do that a fair bit too and it works

I haven't got a full-time job, this is just a part-time job at Marks & Spencer whilst I'm at university.

I wouldn't say I lie, but when I agree with something a manager says/does, I make it known that I agree with them and also I just generally talk to the higher up managers. E.g. I say "hi, how are you?" when I see them, which no-one else really does, apart from lower down managers lol.

It works, because I have been told by about 5 different managers already that I should be an M&S manager after I finish my degree and they meant it seriously - although that could be because of my active selling skills too.

The moral of this long post is that sucking up works, with the managers! lol. Just don't make it obvious in front of other colleagues

I got a few people disliking me & becoming jealous, just because the managers at M&S let me wear a nice shirt instead of the uniform when I was active selling

----------------
Now playing on iTunes: Metallica - The Four Horsemen [Live]
via FoxyTunes