5 Things You Should Never Do When Starting a New Job

5 Things You Should Never Do When Starting a New Job Thinking of making a career move?Therecan benumerous upsides to starting a new job afresh culture, new relationships and colleagues, and (hopefully)exciting pay and benefits. There are plenty of things to do on your first day at a new job to set yourself up for success, too. However, its important to remember that new beginningsrequire a fresh perspective, too.For instance,you may haveformed bad habits at your previous job. Maybe you got too comfortable, or maybe you started getting lazy towards the end of it because your morale was low. Whatever the case, anew position is the perfect opportunity to do away with those habits and have a fresh start.What Should Avoid When Starting a New Job?There are several obvious things you shouldnt do a new job like complain about your old job, gossip, come in late, etc. But there are also some not-so-obvious behaviors you should avoid, too. Avoiding the following five behaviors will help set yo u up for success earlier on in your new job.1. Acting ImpulsivelyLanding a new job is exciting, but sometimes it can embolden us to make poor, impulsive decisions.You may, for instance, feel tempted to announce your new job immediately.However, its better to wait on these announcements, especially incontract positions.After all, you might receive a counter-offer, oryou may realize thenew position isnt what you expected.If youre wondering if you shouldgivenoticebefore leaving, the answer is a resounding yes. Why? Well, if you dont, youre kissing that professional reference goodbye. Secondly, proper notice promotes stability for your coworkers and manager. Burning bridges, however tempting, isnt the answer. Plus, you may need those bridges in the future.2. Forming Immediate RelationshipsProfessional friendships are undoubtedly important, and workplaces with strong communities are thought to be moreproductive and engaged. So, you may be ready tobecome friends with peopleon the first da y at your new job.Dontat least, not yet. Work should be yourhighestpriority when starting a new job, because those first few weeks will really prove whether or not youre a good fit. The compromise?Meet your colleagues, show youre a diligent worker, and let friendships form organically.This is also good advice for workplaces with a political nature. After all, you never know whatpolitics are at play when youstart a new job. Bepolite, and spend time learing about everyones roles.Youll naturally find yourflow in the company culture.3. Not Asking for HelpAsking for help feels uncomfortable, but it is crucial in any position. Although were eager to show our expertise, theres nothing wrong with vulnerability. Youll never know everything about a new position, so why pretend?Asking for help will allow you to form relationships with your team built on understanding and trust. If you dont know who to consult, or if you have specific goals in mind, considerfinding a mentor. Allow yourself to g row your existing skillsets as well asnew ones.4. OversharingEven if youre an open book with friends, you shouldnt be quite so candid at work, especially with yourbossorbosses. You want your leaders to look at you professionally. If youre constantly bringing personal issues to the office, however, your managers may feel youcant adequately handle responsibility. There are just some things you shouldnt share about yourself at work.On the other hand, if youre managing employees, its important to remember they are working for you, instead of looking for a friend. By all means, listen to your employees and give them advice, but as a manager, you havea responsibility to avoid oversharing. Even if your words seem harmless, consider first if they could be perceived in a negative way. Remember, your employees are trusting you to treat them withdignity and respect.5. TakingAdvantageWith the Internet, jobs are far more flexible than theyve ever been. Many positions give us the freedomof a heal thywork-life balancethrough nontraditional benefits.While you should never take advantage of employee privileges, you certainly dont want toover-utilize your benefitswhen you begin a new job. Many privileges are created for special circumstances (e.g. remote capabilities, unlimited paid leave, flexible hours, etc.), so its important to appreciate these freedoms, rather than abuse them. Then, when you really need them, theyll be available.The Bottom LineYou may feel youve made mistakes in previous positions. Weve all done things we could have done differently, but mistakes do allow us to revise and go into the next job with a renewed sense of self.If youre about to start a new job, take the lessons youve learned and the tips weve discussed today, and apply them to your new position. Start your dream job on the right foot.--Kaitlin Westbrook is a content writer forVecteezy.com. She covers business, creative content, professional writing, and more. When shes not writing, she enjoys mov ies, baking, and her Pomeranian. You can connect with her onTwitter.