Rules of the office?

Can someone provide some general rules of the office?

I am at my first full time gig. I find it hard to find balance between being a prick and not saying anything and getting too comfortable with my colleagues.

I also find it hard to fit in. I didn’t want to be over the top initially and come into work excessively early or leave excessively late. I’m generally finding that I’m showing up a few mins before or after the start time and it feels weird. I feel like I should come way earlier.

Can someone layout the principles to follow?

I am nervous I’ll damage my reputation at my first gig.

11 Comments
 

Depends on office culture, but generally speaking, just do your job well. No one really cares when you get in or when you leave if all the work is getting done accurately. Rule of thumb is to try to arrive around the same time as your immediate team.

You should never "be a prick" if this is your first gig, but certainly don't be a yes man. No one likes a young kid w/ a big personality.

You'll only damage your reputation through poor performance... I can't stress that enough. Think of it like being the best player on a sports team. Everyone loves the dude (or girl) right? Focus on being the best in the room at your level and the pieces will fall into place.

 
Most Helpful

This is tough to give a general ballpark answer here because of the nuances of every side of the industry and then firms within that industry.

In terms of "fitting in" just be yourself, I know it sounds cliche but if you try to put on a front, you'll be stuck in this fake personality and your productivity will likely suffer. Make sure you ask questions, it seems obvious but this is a great indication of someone's willingness to learn. You said this is your first paper route so your senior guys won't expect you to know everything.

It's hard to give a general answer to that because it really depends on the culture of the firm and what sector of the industry you're in. I would say, as a general rule of thumb, a half hour before you're supposed to be in, and a half hour after you can leave. It's not excessive but it shows you're not there to get a paycheck and bounce. But again, it depends on the culture of the firm.

Lastly, network. You'll meet a ton of people in the same position as you and you'll be able to feel out the personalities that comprise this industry. Once you feel confident with this core group of people it will spill into your workplace and you'll feel like you truly belong in the industry and subsequently at your firm.

I know this isn't the sort of cut and dry list you were looking for but every culture and every firm has a different vibe, just feel it out and roll with it.

P.S. Limit your use of the fuck word as a junior guy.

 
"Anonymous Monkey" Can someone provide some general rules of the office?

I am at my first full time gig. I find it hard to find balance between being a prick and not saying anything and getting too comfortable with my colleagues.

I also find it hard to fit in. I didn’t want to be over the top initially and come into work excessively early or leave excessively late. I’m generally finding that I’m showing up a few mins before or after the start time and it feels weird. I feel like I should come way earlier.

Can someone layout the principles to follow?

I am nervous I’ll damage my reputation at my first gig.

You are thinking waaaaay too much into this and frankly, being dramatic.

Your options aren't coming to work "excessively early" or "a few minutes before or after the start time." Come to work when you can be productive when you're there. If that's the same time as the rest of your team, great. If that's a half hour before them to allow you to prepare for the day, cool. If everyone in your office rolls in at 9:30 but stays until 8, you should probably do that. Likewise, if everyone is there at 7 but leaves at 4:30, you should probably do that.

Just get a feel for it and don't be so stressed about the smallest things

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Just to go off this.

I had a team for a while that rolled in at 7 then left at 4, mainly due to each individuals commute. This team had very undefined hours. I however lived on a different side of town where that was less necessary, I showed up at 9 left at 5:30/6. This was looked as a huge downside come reviews, because I was missing a lot of face time and was not getting up to speed quickly.

I would say if you do not have a time frame that meshes with your team, you need to suck it up for at least 6 months until you start to understand what you are doing and can be a little self sufficient.

 

I hear the above on over-thinking it. At the same time, I understand the anxiety. But being that you are putting such effort into this, my hunch says you'll be fine. You'd be shocked by the amount of people who don't consider the effect of their actions on first impressions when new. Just be laid back, and say less not more - feel everything out I think. Everyone will want to "meet the new person", so you will get to see pretty much everyone you will be working around, and their general personalities. And nothing is wrong with being social during social times - i.e. morning coffee, lunch, or just a quick chat when walking by. First impressions are important, so I see your desire to want to get it right. As for your boss, you can't go wrong with putting in extra time. The general rule of thumb "get in before your boss and don't leave until he leaves" wont hurt. It's old school thinking, but it shows you "get it". Put it this way, any supervisor at worst wont notice it, likely or at best will appreciate it. However, if you're the new guy and he's at his desk at 8am and you are nowhere to be found -- opposite applies. I know a situation where a new, relatively senior hire, came in the first day at 10am. When confronted, he apparently said "no one told me when to be in and I had errands to take care of". He was let go that day...

 

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