i'm starting my first full time job on monday...any office etiquette advice? Also are jeans ok at work?

5/20/2007 12:54:36 PM

jeans depend on the office.

5/20/2007 12:56:12 PM

did you really think there was a blanket answer....every office is different

5/20/2007 12:57:07 PM

just go in with daisy dukes and a tank top........

[Edited on May 20, 2007 at 12:59 PM. Reason : u can never get back that first impression]

5/20/2007 12:59:07 PM

on Fridays

5/20/2007 12:59:11 PM

I know every office is different. I was just asking for general advice.

when i went in for the interview the dude was wearing a rolling stones t-shirt. but then agian i was a friday.


[Edited on May 20, 2007 at 1:01 PM. Reason : ]

5/20/2007 12:59:49 PM

well, if you dont know, dress up, then find out....you dont want to come in with jeans and everyone gives you the look like "this stupid just out of college chick thinks she can wear that to work?"


At my place of work, I can wear jeans everyday....

5/20/2007 1:02:47 PM

k, it's just that this is a highgly technical job...and i need to make a good impression to make up for my utter clueless look when they train me.

5/20/2007 1:05:41 PM

who scheduled the interview on friday?

idk that just strikes me as strange for some reason

5/20/2007 1:09:18 PM

they did. i have them my times. it was a 3 hr interview right after lunch!!!

5/20/2007 1:12:26 PM

don't wear jeans
wear nice slacks or khaki's.

Even if everyone else is wearing jeans still attempt to dress professionally. It will show that you take the job seriously.

5/20/2007 1:14:23 PM

at least for the first week. if it is an extra casual culture you dont want to be super dressed up constantly.

5/20/2007 1:19:09 PM

Why not just call your supervisor and ask the dress code?

I'm actually kind of in a similar situation, I'll start my first real world job on June 11...when I went for the interview I was in a suit and so was my interviewer. Everyone else there was wearing jeans/tshirt and kept asking him why he was so dressed up.

5/20/2007 1:20:42 PM

business casual is generally a safe bet. you dont look too dressy to stand out, but not bad enough either. most places dont require formal attire at work nowadays. so khakis and a polo or button-up with no tie. some people dress that way all the time anyways eh.

5/20/2007 1:23:02 PM

Are you stupid are something. Youwear clothes and say yes sir and what ever. You can't really mess up that badly.

Unless you are really shy, then you are screwed. The business world is very competitive. I hope you are a fast learner

5/20/2007 1:25:27 PM

you can take brownies if you are a real sucker

5/20/2007 1:27:56 PM

wow CiTRiC.

umm ya i'm nervous but that's typical. and do ppl even do the brownie thing?

5/20/2007 1:34:40 PM

yes - our new secretary brings in brownies and cupcakes just about every week

5/20/2007 1:39:31 PM

wow making brownies and cupcakes are a lot of work. i might just get doghnuts or food from panera. so much easier

5/20/2007 1:46:38 PM

oh geez.......

you dont want to stand out the first week, really, you are not gonna be in the "in crowd" at work until after 90 days......they probably will make bets on how long you stay.....

5/20/2007 2:18:01 PM

here's some advice:

Always over-do, and then find out what's acceptable. You're better off showing up in a tie and realizing that the next day jeans are okay than vice-versa.

5/20/2007 2:52:01 PM

Quote :

"yes - our new secretary brings in brownies and cupcakes just about every week "

I brought that and doughnuts when our office had a wager on weightloss. Everyone was doing a fad diet, a bastardized version of atkins, and doing way too much steady state cardio. It was comical. I wasn't playing because my goal was the opposite. You could see thier eyes follow the box as I walked in. It was funny how fast that shit went gone.

5/20/2007 3:01:19 PM

You know, if you told us the company we probably could tell you the dress code.

You said it was highly technical? RTP?

5/20/2007 3:08:16 PM

Don't wear jeans.

And as for office etiquette: be friendly, keep quiet, do your job, and go home. It's a good idea to hang back and get a feel for the place and for the people before you get involved with your coworkers and office politics.

5/20/2007 3:19:04 PM

dont confide in anyone...that over friendly bitch that wants to talk to you all the time, that seems like she wants to be your best friend.....is just digging for dirt..............my first real job lasted 6 months, you probably will not be a lifer at this job....maybe a stepping stone.....

5/20/2007 3:25:45 PM

Quote :

"Don't wear jeans. And as for office etiquette: be friendly, keep quiet, do your job, and go home. It's a good idea to hang back and get a feel for the place and for the people before you get involved with your coworkers and office politics."

well said. I'm the trainer at my office, and I've done hiring/interviewing and what not, so I can tell you that if you don't know if jeans are ok then don't wear them.

5/20/2007 3:30:57 PM

oh sorry it's not really in rtp...it's just outside rtp, the company is jdsu

5/20/2007 3:40:48 PM

you are acting like it's the first day of school or something. Now are you going to ask if you should bring your lunch?

Anyway. seriously the first day just dress up and don't bring anything...brownies lunch whatever. and don't talk about politics or anythign like that

5/20/2007 3:42:59 PM

haha arcgreek, who doesn't love a good doughnut

ya citric i was planning on exploring the area. i can't imagine that i would have a lot of work the first day. and don't worry i don't do politics it's not worth talking about

but i don't think we were doing a group lunch... we are on our own

5/20/2007 3:47:25 PM

Wait til the othe new peeps eat and just go with them. and watch your humor. I dont' think they will understand college humor

5/20/2007 3:51:34 PM

from my experience, the highly technical job employees are usually the most slack when it comes to dress code. But I would still dress nice for a first day.

5/20/2007 3:55:19 PM

no spring break either.....

5/20/2007 3:56:04 PM

just go in with daisy dukes and a tank top........

5/20/2007 4:14:14 PM

haha, so i'll go all out. i'll be hit on by some 40 yr old men...and probably some women...

5/20/2007 4:23:15 PM

1> Listen at least 3 times more than you talk... you can make a lot of observations about people that will work to your advantage later.

2> Remember that expectations are made based on what you do (and as a girl, you look like the mom/ caregiver when you do crap like bring brownies)

3> Leave work at work, leave home at home - never mix the two

4> Never dip your stick in company ink (or in a girls case, be dipped in)

I'm sure I could come up with more, but that should suffice for now.

5/20/2007 4:46:11 PM

Quote :

"k, it's just that this is a highgly technical job.."

made me laugh

5/20/2007 5:10:22 PM