Starting your first job can be terrifying. The pressure to perform can be hard to shake and could impair your overall mood. Keep in mind that everyone messes up at their first job. But you can avoid making simple mistakes if you come to your job well-prepared. To avoid falling into bad habits, here are 7 common first-job mistakes you can prevent.
1. Too much time behind a screen
We all love to keep our friends on social media updated whenever anything exciting happens at work. Though an occasional text to a friend isn’t a bad thing, being too screen-obsessed can be a damaging first-job mistake. Constantly reaching for your phone makes you look uninterested in the office and your work. Stay off social media when you can – your boss will appreciate it.
2. Question-phobia
We're all guilty of being too afraid of asking questions out of fear of looking stupid. Unless it’s an obvious question or something you can easily look up yourself, it is okay to ask questions. Training can only go so far – it’s necessary to follow up with inquiries to know your job well. Ensure you’re asking questions at the right moment and to the right people. A good first-day question might even be “Who is the best person to ask about X?”.
3. Glossing over orientation
Your orientation may seem dull and unimportant, but dazing off in this period is a common first-job mistake. Going over tax forms, vacation policy, payment details, etc, are all important aspects of your job. Take notes during your orientation, and if you need to make any financial decisions, take the time to research your options. Make sure to have the contact information of an HR representative for any follow-up questions.
4. Adding your coworkers on Facebook
Try to “friend” your new coworkers on professional social networks, like LinkedIn, instead of Facebook. You may not want all your coworkers to access the personal information you share on Facebook. Wait until you get to know your colleagues before you let them in.
5. Forgetting names
The faster you memorize the names of your colleagues, the better. It’s a basic form of respect for your coworkers. Plus, it’s an important way to orient yourself in the office and improve communication. Saying the wrong name can lead to a bad impression. Simply avoid making this first job mistake by taking the time to get to know each of your colleagues.
6. Getting into office politics
Although it’s important to understand office dynamics, try your best to stay out of office politics. It can be tempting to follow the lead of veteran colleagues but try not to partake in pessimistic thinking and instead have an open mind.
7. Trying to do too much
In efforts to impress their coworkers, newbies tend to say “yes” to everything. Though done with the best intentions, overextending yourself can torpedo your work performance. If you try to do too much, work quality can suffer, especially while you're still learning the ins and outs of your job.