9781422274859

of lawyers on that first day just made her clam up. “By the end of the first day, I realized I’d blown it,” she says. “The initial signal that I sent was that I was meek, a poor communicator, and someone who couldn’t be counted on to get the job done. I quickly resolved to change this perception, but it took a week or two of conversations, a can-do attitude, and good body language to start reversing the initial image I’d created. Today, I’m a senior paralegal and am assigned some of the most challenging tasks for paralegals at the firm.”

TRUE OR FALSE? ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEW JOB?

1. You shouldwait a fewweeks to introduce yourself to your coworkers. 2. It’s ok to arrive late for work or take longer-than-approved coffee breaks if your coworkers do so. 3. You should never use your work computer for private purposes unless given permission by your company. Test yourself as you read. See the end of this chapter for True or False Answers. TWELVE THINGS TO DO ON YOUR FIRST DAY OF WORK There are many things you should do on your first day on the job. Here are some tips that will help you ace day one and beyond. Dress for success. Have you ever heard the saying “It’s better to dress for the job you want rather than the one you have”? If you’re unsure of what to wear on your first day of work, you should keep this adage in mind. Dressing appropriately sends a message that you take your job seriously. It can also put you in a professional mind-set from day one. You can always dress more

BECOME INVALUABLE IN THE WORKPLACE: SET YOURSELF APART 12 CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: BEC ME INVALUABLE