On working in a new office,
1. Read everything that is given to you. Read it
all the way through. Then, read it again. Ask if there is anything else you need to be reading and read that, too.
2. Write down acronyms, words, and ideas that are
unfamiliar to you. Look them up. Learn them.
3. If someone took the time to create guidelines
and procedures, follow them with a strict adherence to detail. At this stage, do not attempt to reinvent the wheel.
4. You work with a lot of smart and talented people. Learn their names. If you forget a name, apologize immediately and ask for it again. Also, figure out how each person fits into the office landscape. Use their expertise to your benefit.
5. There are stupid questions. Before you ask a
stupid question, use the Windows Search Bar or Google it. If you cannot find the answer
after an extensive search lasting over thirty minutes, then you can ask your
(hopefully not too) stupid question. Also, do not be stupid. Ask for help when you need it (see #4).
6. Get organized. Write in your notebook every day. Make lists. Update your Google calendar.
7. Be early. Stay late.
8. Every office has its own set of politics, drama, egos, and dead weight. Hear what your co-workers have to say, but form
your own opinions.
9. Ask to be included in all meetings. When they say yes, go, listen, and
take notes.
10. Schedule an hour meeting with your immediate
supervisor once every two weeks. Between meetings, keep a
running list of items you would like to discuss.
On living in a new city,
11. The GPS is to be used, but not trusted.
12. Do not give up your hobbies or interests. Find a new yoga studio, hair salon, and massage
therapist. Go to a cycling class. It will be different, yeah, but that's ok. Different is good.
13. Ride your bike when you can. The slower pace
makes it easier to process your surroundings and learn your way around.
On being the new girl,
14. All of the clichés are true. Every stinking one of them. They are clichés for
a reason.
15. You must smile, make eye contact, and find the
positive in every situation. If you cannot find the positive, then smile, make
eye contact, and keep your mouth shut.
16. Be social, but not too social. Always say hello
in the morning and goodbye in the afternoon. Also, be prepared to chat briefly
about yourself and your weekend, but do not linger too long in the
bathroom, break area, or hallways.
17. Dress professionally. Bring a cardigan or blazer
everywhere you go.
18. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. You
are not going to know the ins and outs for quite some time.
19. Decorate your space with a few personal items.
You will be amazed at what a plant and a lamp can do!
20. You are doing something completely different a long way from home and the people you love. It is ok to cry, be
homesick, and feel scared. It is also ok to do a happy dance for little
victories, buy yourself flowers, and sing at the top of your lungs to your
favorite song. Acknowledge all of your feelings, give them the appropriate
amount of time, and let them pass.
