Those who know me know that one of the things I’m passionate about is helping young people get their careers started – a daunting goal these days. I’ve written and spoken a lot about job-hunting and networking, and I’ll continue to do that.
But today, I’d like to take a different tack and share some tips that may help those of you who are starting a first job or internship.
This topic is fresh on my mind because we have two interns on board this summer, and we’re going to great pains to help them learn some of the unwritten rules of the business world.
So, in no particular order and with the caveat that this is but a beginning of what could be a long list, here are five tips for conduct in the workplace that no one is likely to tell you, but which could have an impact on how you are perceived.
1. Always put your name badge on the right side of your body. The reason for this is pure practicality – as you shake hands, your gaze naturally moves right up the other person’s right arm and lands, logically, on the name tag.
2. Always use your name when you are meeting or re-meeting someone. Unless you know the other person very well, or are absolutely certain that they know your name, do everyone a favor and remind them who you are. “Bob, Susan James from the Marketing Department. You and I met at the investor conference last month.” Many folks will act as if you are stating the obvious. But trust me on this: they will also be incredibly grateful that you saved them from trying to retrieve a name or avoid an awkward moment.
If you practice this regularly, you will get a reputation for being an easy and pleasant person to talk to. Whatever you do, don’t make the rookie mistake of simply shaking hands when someone says, “You two have met, haven’t you?” Take that as an invitation to state your name and affiliation. And if the other person doesn’t pick up the cue (and a shocking number of folks will not), don’t be afraid to say, “Remind me of your name again,” or, “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.” Many people are surprisingly weak at this part of networking. If you take the lead in introducing yourself and asking others for their names, you’ll develop a reputation as a great networker.
3. Don’t take your seat at a conference table until you see where others are sitting. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen interns or junior associates take the 
“power seat” at a conference table (typically the head of the table or the center) without even realizing it. Wait until the most senior folks have seated themselves, unless you are running the meeting, in which case you will want to grab a prominent seat. Better yet, ask your manager where she suggests you sit. Even if she hasn’t given it two seconds of thought, she’ll probably be impressed that you were sensitive enough to ask.
4. If someone summons you to their office, never, ever, ever arrive without a pad of paper and a writing instrument. Even if all they want to do is ask you what you thought of last night’s Phillies game, you’ll make a good impression by looking prepared. And if they do have an assignment to hand you, you won’t have to put everything on hold to go back and grab a notebook.
5. Before you go to any meeting, find out what your role should be. Ask your manager or mentor what role he envisions for you at an upcoming meeting. Are you there to listen? Absorb? Take notes? Should you speak? Stay silent? Your boss may not have given this any thought, but he’ll probably be impressed that you have. I had a young employee once who was very concerned about making a good impression at a first meeting with a client. When he asked my advice on how to comport himself at the meeting, I responded: “Feel free to ask a question, if it’s a good one. But don’t feel compelled to speak if you don’t have anything intelligent to add.” He did ask a question – and it was a good one. He made a favorable impression on our client, and on me, his manager.
There are five tips to get you started. I plan to add to this list regularly. What would you suggest a new employee pay attention to in her first job?
Great blog as usual, Anne. Here’s what I would add: as the keeper of sartorial sensibility, always dress professionally. In my opinion, you can never be overdressed, but you can often be underdressed. We’re in the business of promoting positive images, so start with yourself. Unfortunately, a lot of young business people (and employees here in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley) seem to think wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt is appropriate office wear. It is not. If you’re a guy, wear that suit and tie proudly, especially if you are meeting clients — and if you’re a lady, don’t forget the heels and pearls! Cheers, David
Love this post, Anne. And I really like #4 and 5. I got the same tip on #4 early in my career and that one has paid off big-time. Same goes for interviews, by the way. I don’t know how many interviews I’ve been in where the interviewee never wrote down a single thing. To your point in #4, even if you don’t write anything down, just having the pen and paper out *anticipating* to take notes makes a difference. Great post!
I would remind young employees that their non-verbal communication can speak very loudly in certain situations. In working with our interns this summer, I noticed several of them whispering to each other while an employee was giving a demonstration of our product, or writing notes to each other during meetings (which I suspect were not related to the meeting), and, well, fidgeting during an presentation given by the CEO. Needless to say, I’ll be adding a basic office comportment class to the beginning of next year’s intern program.
Also: Never leave before your immediate supervisor/manager/AE. If possible, stay later than the bosses.
Great stuff Anne. I’d add: participate and contribute, whether it’s an internal status update meeting or a luncheon or mixer.
Set the cell phone on “airplane mode” before meetings start.
Great post, these little things make a HUGE difference. With these tips, you’re bound to make a great impression on your colleagues to start.
How and WHERE do we advertise this material to help our post-job seekers?
I’m happy to have access to advice like this on a daily basis (thanks, Anne!).
One thing I would add: when interning or starting an entry-level job, try to make everyone’s job a little bit easier. You’ll really make an impact on the organization. For example, if your supervisor asks you about a previous email they sent, never say “uhhh, could you resend that?” Instead, take the time to organize your materials and search through your inbox. Everyone’s time is valuable, and you don’t want to make others spend time searching for something they know you have, somewhere.
Kathleen, this is so true! If your first job or internship is at a busy agency or office, you will quickly learn that you can have a strong impact by anticipating needs and responding quickly to requests. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate a staff member who is always trying to make my life easier. The pace of work is so fast and intense that a very organized and responsive junior staffer will stand out quickly. Thanks for being one of those people, Kathleen. It is much appreciated!