Your First Days on the Job

By Marty Nemko

Your first days can make or break you. You start with invaluable assets that immediately start shrinking--use them or lose them. In the beginning, no one will criticize you for asking lots of questions, but wait a few weeks and you'll seem like a slow learner. In the beginning, your image is fluid, so even if you're a clerk, act like a CEO. For example, make comments like, "I'm wondering whether it might be more efficient to do it this way?" or "Might this represent a new profit center?" You'll be perceived as an up-and-comer, not a drone.