Rules of behavior for a new job…

Big props to Lidsay Olson and US News for this great article; the original can be found here

This time of year, the only turkey around should be the one you’re carving. If you’re starting a new job, here are 10 sure-fire ways to serve your own head on a platter.

1. The late bird gets in trouble. Being late occasionally is one thing, but chronic tardiness is another. Showing up perpetually late will put your new job at risk, so set your alarm earlier and get out the door on time.

2. Be a know-it-all. You may know everything there is to know about investment banking and then some. But, when you start that new job, you’re starting from scratch in some ways. Every company has different ways of doing business, so don’t assume you know it all. Open your ears and your mind, and be open to learning new things. Who knows? You just might learn something!

3. Be a Betty blabber. Gossiping can get you in trouble, and being new, you don’t yet know the office politics. At all costs, avoid getting involved in office wars. Resist the temptation to join in on other people’s gossip, and you’ll stay safe.

4. Be a negative Nelly. You’re the new kid on the block. Listen and learn, and avoid sending out a negative vibe. If your co-worker is late every day, avoid the temptation to tattle; it’s not your place. As a newbie in the office, avoid being negative about people, places, and procedures. Sit back, relax, and have a positive attitude.

5. Dress however you want. Even if you’d rather wear your slippers and daisy dukes to your new job, it could make you some enemies and put you on the black list immediately. Check out what everybody is wearing when you visit the office. A good rule of thumb is to dress more formally when you first start work. You can always dress down once you see that everyone is more casual. Also, pay attention to who dresses in what way. Managers may be dressier than their subordinates, so follow suit (pun intended). It never hurts to dress nicely!

6. Be a bragging Bart. While you may be tempted to toot your own horn about the work you’ve done in the past, let your current work speak for you, and let your manager see what you can do, rather than telling him.

7. Figure out the hard stuff on your own. Hate asking for help? Failing to do so could be detrimental to your paycheck if you make a big enough mistake. Don’t be a turkey—ask for help, ask questions. No one expects you to know everything early on, so it’s perfectly acceptable to ask once how to do something. Take notes to avoid having to ask the same question over and over.

8. Let your tasks stretch further than your job description. This one might not get you fired, but if you’re getting more and more work dumped on you that wasn’t mentioned in the interviews, you may be overloaded and want to quit. Make sure you fully understand the role. While many companies will want you to get your hands dirty and participate in duties that might not be “part of the job description,” you’ll have to approach the subject with your manager if you find yourself in a situation where you are given much more than one person can handle.

9. Be who you think people want you to be. Everyone wants to put their best foot forward on a new job, but going overboard can make it hard for people to get to know the real you. Let your personality shine (quietly, if it’s a strong one). Never lie about your skills (or anything, really), and you’ll be on the fast track for success.

10. Be as antisocial as possible. Jealous of Milton from Office Space getting to work in the basement? Being antisocial won’t help your career any, and friends are good to have in the workplace. Even if you’re shy, put on a smile and say hello to people in the hall.

Lindsay Olson is a founding partner and public relations recruiter with Paradigm Staffing and Hoojobs, a niche job board for public relations, communications and social media jobs. She blogs at LindsayOlson.com, where she discusses recruiting and job search issues.

Great article on career change

Career Change Is Inevitable

Is your career changing? If you are like the majority of people in the workforce today, the answer is probably yes. Companies thrive on change, and most change very quickly.

But how are you handling your change? Are you going with it, or hoping that you can ride it out? Or, are you wishing that your change would go away?

Change is not easy for most people. We like our routines and want to know what is coming our way. Change throws us off course. It makes us think and makes us do more work. Change forces us to look at ourselves and come up with a new plan or perspective. Change adds fear and uncertainty to our lives. The truth is we just don’t like it very much.

But change is inevitable in your career. Maybe it’s a new boss that you weren’t expecting. Or, a new job or career. Maybe your industry is going away or your company is closing. Maybe your skills are not needed anymore. Whatever the change, you have a decision to make. Either bury your head in the sand or tackle it head on.

So How Can You Effectively Handle Change In Your Career? Follow These 4 Steps Below.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
You know what I mean. You see change coming, but you believe it won’t affect you. So, you go along your merry way and then “bam” all of a sudden, you are hit in the face with change, and your world is turned upside down. Don’t let this happen to you. As soon as you see change, accept it. Expect it to affect you. Expect it to alter the way you see yourself and your career. This way you will take it seriously and do something about it.

Understand That You Have The Power To Make Your Change
When change is upon us, and we haven’t prepared for it, we feel powerless. We feel like something is happening to us, and forget that we have a say. If you put the power back into your hands, you will feel better. You will have hope. Hope gives you energy and the momentum to move past fear and uncertainty, and into something that will be better suited and less stressful for you.

Research Your Change
Most people fear change because it can happen quickly. But there is a way to slow change down and that’s through the power of research. Anticipating change early on will give you time to plan for it. Do your homework. Ask yourself what the change will mean to your career and what your choices are. Then, go online and get your answers. And what you can’t find online, get from people. Research makes your decisions easier and more powerful because you know what your options are, and you can act based on sound reasoning and judgment and not how you feel in the moment.

Make Your Change
There are times in life when you have to take a leap of faith. Once you have accepted that change is inevitable and you have done the legwork, it’s time to go for it and implement your change. Want a guarantee that it will work out or this is your last change? I can’t give you one. But I can tell you that your change will be easier to make when you ride the tide instead of going against it.

So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!

– Deboarh Volkman-Brown

Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC, is the President of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc. a successful career, life, and mentor coaching company that works with Senior Executives, Vice Presidents, and Managers who are looking for new career opportunities or seek to become more productive in their current role. She is the author of “Coach Yourself To A New Career”, “Don’t Blow It! The Right Words For The Right Job” and “How To Feel Great At Work Everyday.” Deborah can be reached at http://www.supassyoudreams.com or at (631) 874-2877.