Office etiquette

 

This is a tricky affair especially if you are an office newbie with wonderful illusions of what an office environment looks like and what the people there will be like.

The reality is it will be nothing like the Devil Wears Prada landscape, unless you are lucky to be working for the Guardian as their office is pretty damn awesome (it’s true they have nap zones and everything). More than likely you will be resigned to a dank cubicle, or lined up like a conveyer belt worker with rows of other office monkeys typing away – a far more challenging field to navigate.

But there are some simple rules you can follow to ensure that you are not just another nameless face in the office crowd.

1)     Be the person that makes the coffee. The job everyone hates, so you will gain respect for stepping up to the plate. This is also a good opportunity to get to know people better even if all you know is that you shouldn’t give Sandra full fat milk or you may die a horrible death. This will ensure that you are known, which is always a good thing as you will find people will start to want to get to know you too.

 

2)     Be genuinely interested in peoples work, and to a certain degree their personal lives. Really listen when people tell you about their weekend or evening plans so that you can ask them how it all went the next day. Don’t be a chatty Cathy as that is a good way to get yourself fired but just be sincere.

 

3)     Be courteous. It sounds a little obvious but open doors for people, help when people drop things, be quiet when people near you are on the phone, and answer people’s desk phones if they have popped to the loo. They may be waiting for a very important call, and you taking it could make the world of difference to them and they won’t forget it.

 

4)     Smile! People like a smiley face. Don’t be all fake with it, but just let your face show you are genuinely happy to be there. You have a job. This is good. People will warm to you if you are the smiler… smiling is infectious.

 

5)      Always dress smart. You never know who may walk through that office door who you may want/need to impress. Sack off dress down Friday’s, be known as the gal that means business. Appearance counts for everything not only when it comes to first impressions; but lasting impressions.

 

Follow these office etiquette tips and you will be queen bee of the office hive before you know it.