WILL THE NEXT TWENTY MINUTES DECIDE THE COURSE OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE? DON’T WORRY! HERE ARE THE DOs AND DON’Ts:
DO:
• Be poised, confident, and on-time.
• Chest out, stomach in! Stand up straight and tall—but not like you have back pain.
• Look into the eye of the person you are greeting or talking to—but not like a rabid dog.
• Shake that man’s hand! Always be ready for a brisk handshake or high five. "Giving some skin" leaves a lasting good impression. Make yours a firm, friendly grip—but not a bone crusher! Don’t break any metacarpals!
• Smile like you mean it! Never forget to smile with your eyes.
• You are judged by what you say—and how you say it. Think before you speak—give thorough, concise answers. Speak distinctly, clearly and loudly—but don't shout. Lean forward, to make it look like you're listening. If you nod your head and agree, your opinion will be highly valued. When you are speaking with someone on the telephone, you are only a voice, and therefore need to be especially courteous, pleasant and even witty—but never clingy.
• Control grotesque or annoying mannerisms. Picking or fidgeting may give you the appearance of being ill-at-ease or deranged.
DON'T:
• Don't take a friend or family member. You have new friends, and a new family now.
• Don't arrive with packages and department-store bags full of purchases.
• Don't act like you want to go home.
• Don't act like you have nowhere else to go.
• Don't blather or make inappropriate remarks, suggestions or jokes.
• Don't "bad mouth" your former employer, or previous co-workers (unless you're induced to do so by your current employer).
• Don't take credit for things you didn't do. And even if there are things that you did do that you want to take credit for, think about whether your actions were under contract with another credit-taker at that time.
• Don’t show a lack of confidence in your employer/future employer or company. Nobody wants to hear your big ideas. Be certain your employer/future employer knows you’re willing to do things their way.
• Don't chew gum.
• Don't refer to your employer/future employer in casual terms such as "dude," "baby" or "sugar." "Sir" and "ma'am" are more appropriate.
• Don't sit in the wrong chair. Usually, the chair behind the big desk belongs to your employer/future employer.
• Don't rub yourself in any inexplicable manner.
• Don't become tense, impatient, emotional or self-critical.
• Don't be overly serious, or try to be funny.
• Don't make promises you know you can't keep. You'll just make a fool of yourself in the end, and possibly be liable for the expenses.
• Don't make any suggestions that concern the work that other people do. Who cares what's in your noodle anyway?
• Don't become enraged when you are given instructions.
• Don't lie about your past. Your employer/future employer probably knows everything about you anyway. And there are ways for them to check up.
• Don't smell your fingers, or offer your fingers to your employer/future employer to smell.
• Don't act like your employer/future employer finds you attractive. But, if you have the slightest suspicion that your employer/future employer does find you attractive, even in a "desert island" scenario, don't act like your employer/future employer does not find you attractive. Whether your employer is the same sex or the opposite sex, single or committed, don't discuss your own sexual orientation or single/committed status. If you are forced to reveal that you are participating in a relationship, don't imply that it is or is not monogamous, that it is or is not indicative of your primary sexual orientation. If you are a man, it would be advisable for you to turn back several pages to review the chapter that you may have skipped, entitled, "The Gal for the Job."
• Don't question authority. If something seems odd, incorrect, or self-contradictory to you, just do as you're instructed—don't make it your problem.