Newbie Mistakes

We’ve all heard the expression, “you only get one chance at a first impression,” but, more importantly, the first impression is the one that lasts. It’s critical in a new job to put forth the effort and make a great impression on your boss and coworkers. Unfortunately, there are some very common (but potentially career-limiting) mistakes that newbies make:

Mistake # 1 – Not paying attention to the culture around you.

Aside from the “written rules,” there are the unwritten rules of the company’s culture. All too often newbies don’t pay attention to this and focus solely on what’s written. The longer it takes you to adapt, the longer you’ll be referred to as the newbie.

Mistake # 2 – Being a know-it-all.

Almost everyone has one in the office and everyone tends to hate having them there. You were hired for a reason, so share your opinion when asked, just don’t go overboard and become disruptive or discouraging to the rest of the team. Whatever you do, avoid, “Well, at my last job…” It can be so annoying!

Mistake # 3 – Not building rapport with coworkers.

You don’t have to go out partying with these people every night, but you do have to work with them eight hours a day. A friendly gesture or two will go a long way and building good relationships with your coworkers can benefit you later on when you need help.

What are some other mistakes that newbies make, and are you guilty of any of these? Did you find them hard to overcome? [Yahoo Hot Jobs]