“There are several things to be aware of with onboarding. Here are a few.
1). Watch your new boss. Regardless of what you’re told in the interviewing phase, the nuances of the corporate culture will not become clear until you’re actually on-board. …
2). Imitate your boss. If your boss is a very hard worker, you should be at least as a hard of a worker. Is the corporate culture strictly hierarchical? Don’t try to go around it. Watch and see what is valued and perform those functions exceedingly well.
3). Don’t take time off. You need to learn your new job. Every day you’re off is two to three days of getting back into the swing of it. Remember, if you take time off in the first six months, your boss might not remember why s/he hired you.
4). Your job is your top priority. If you are newly employed, put your social and personal life on hold and knuckle down to your work. …
5). They don’t know you. You may be a great employee. They don’t know that. So you desperately need to show them. Don’t do things that make you look undedicated, too family oriented or like a slacker. …
6). Quit smoking now! I have talked with many executives and numerous HR people. Many will not hire a smoker, and many, if they find out the person is a smoker, will get rid of him or her ASAP. …
7). Control your alcohol intake. This is especially true at company parties where “one” should be your limit, but it is also true even in the privacy of your own home. And, of course, many companies have a zero-tolerance policy for illegal substances.
8). Be very, very, very careful with emails. One rule of thumb is – if you wonder if you should send it or not – don’t. Stay off the company internet for anything but company business, even if it is technically OK to be on it.”
