what the hell am i getting myself into w/this new job thing

after many years as a freelance/stay-at-home-dad/chief-cook-and-bottle-washer i am starting a fulltime office job next week. i am excited and NERVOUS. it's been awhile. wish me luck guys and please school me on the 21st century workplace

good luck!

don't do it, man

Where to begin?

you have to wear trousers

:(

damn no hot pants?

Good luck, and please post lots of updates -- I go back and forth constantly on whether to try to find an office job again.

xp Only on Casual Fabulous Fridays.

it's casual. will probably overdress just because i'm tired of wearing w/e (t-shirts jeans shorts etc) every day

i have had jobs where there are not so many perks & so if one of the perks is "you don't have to dress smart" i have really maxed this out & gone in all kevin shields

You gott aplay the game man - get there on time, don't whistle or be loud at all, smile at people, agree with yoru boss, be helpfull (but not too much), listen to what people say - make nice comments like "That butt looks good enough for a nibble"

Definitely consult the "stupid annoying coworkers" thread for protips.

thanks

xpost to wmC: i've been applying for six-to-nine months. got lucky considering my age and how long i've been out of the workforce. keeping it semi-anon for now, the gig is senior editor at a media outlet owned by a huge tech co. i feel confident about the actual work, my skills are rusty but haven't totally decayed. while i pride myself on being a "quick study" the changes in technology will make this a challenge. for example: EMAIL

try not to forget names.
mistakes are allowed for (more or less) the 1st month only. after that - beware and always admit and apologize if you made a mistake.
sniff around and look for the people who can help you get a promotion in the future - be nice to them.
make sure your boss knows about the work you did when you go "the extra mile".

most workplaces - you get ahead not for achieving but for not annoying everyone

make nice comments like "That butt looks good enough for a nibble"

twenty years ago you would hear not this but some amazingly blatant sexual stuff at work

you get ahead not for achieving but for not annoying everyone flattering

It took me a while bt now I reallt do see work as kind of a game - depressing to think thatat first but eventually I think "better than picking potatos all day or something"

yes flirtation has left the workplace. I guess its all part of the effort to please everyone all of the time

make sure your boss knows about the work you did when you go "the extra mile".

how do you stop them from taking credit for it (like one a-hole boss of mine did)

I'm starting from scratch w/this job, whereas in the past I was always a freelance contributor who was added on to the staff and hence already known to my bosses for good or ill. Thinking this clean slate is going to help me avoid heavy office politics and just be a workhorse (my goal)

I always followed the 95% rule.

Because you will always be asked to do more than is sane or reasonable, you should discard the least important 5% of what you are asked to do and concentrate on the other 95%. This will make you an outstanding employee. If you only manage to do the most important 90% you'll still be doing a damn good job.

you can't. i hope your new boss will be ok.but even if he's not - at least he will know you are a good worker. (and maybe some other manager will notice your work.)
xpost

that sounds right. my sense is this new thing is nothing like the hyper-competitive environment that previous job was.

congratulations and good luck! Stay calm and keep your sense of humor.

Definitely consult the "stupid annoying coworkers" thread for protips.

― quincie

also crossed my mind

i personally follow the 35% rule

will take a look, hopefully it includes tips on how not to be a s/a co-worker

thanks jaq. best advice yet

6 1/2 weeks in, so far so good! providing content like there's no tomorrow. atmosphere busy/businesslike but not pressure-cooker intense. people are easygoing, friendly but not "social" like folks in journalism. similarly the absence of extravagant/larger than life personalties like the ones who populated every print publication i worked/wrote for is appreciated. new colleagues are laid back, not as ego-driven. free meals are a plus too!

hey so how's this going