How To Mess Up Your First Days On The Job

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(Image: Alphaspirit/iStockPhoto)

You nailed the interview and got the job -- congrats! Now it's time to make a strong, positive first impression on your new managers and colleagues.

Nervous? Of course you are. If you're embarking on a new IT role, you have already undergone a painfully lengthy interview process and are likely hoping the effort pays off.

In the days before you start a new job, you're already thinking about the type of work you'll be doing and how you can best impress your boss and co-workers with a strong work ethic and fresh, innovative ideas.

[ What's the talent shortage all about? Read: IT Skills Gap: A Failure to Communicate. ]

That's a good attitude to have, but it's not always the right one. Leaving your comfort zone for another gig is exciting, but it also involves a different culture, different friends, and a different boss to impress. You want to do a good job, but you also want to be a good employee.

From the moment you walk into your new office, you're under a microscope. Your new managers and co-workers will be trying to get a sense of your personality, your approach to collaboration, and whether you fit into the office culture.

As the new worker in the office, the most important thing you can do on day one is meet with your supervisor and get a better understanding of how to get off to a good start, explained John Reed, senior executive director at Robert Half Technology, in an interview. What are their expectations? Where are your boundaries?

How you act during your first day -- and in the ensuing weeks -- can have a tremendous impact on your future at a new company. Here, we take a deeper dive into the common mistakes new employees make when starting a job.

What are some slip-ups you've noticed among new employees in your place of work? Are you guilty of any of these mistakes? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below -- we'd love to hear them.

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