If you find yourself cleaning out your desk and starting a new job every nine months to a year, the problem is you - not your boss or colleagues. You got hired because the boss thought you could do the job. But competence alone isnt enough to succeed. Be passionate about your work and take pride in it. Tossing things together at the last minute wont cut it.Leisure: Many young employees speak about having fun at work. Theres always an element of humour in a good office. Keep a thorough personality and like a good corporate citizen, remember that you work to make money for the company, not to have fun on the days between weekends.Attitude: When you are in a doubt behave traditionally. Traditional values are still held in high esteem by most employers. Go out of your way to help people.Protocol: Get a hang of all the internal meetings. Are they formal or informal? Is it acceptable to do other work on a laptop and occasionally check your cell phone for text messages, or would that drives the boss nuts? Have a checklist of each and every element that could matter.Be straight forward: No ones perfect, and if you make a mistake immediately take full responsibility for it. Dont rebuke others, and certainly dont try to marsh it off on your immediate boss. Saying, "Im sorry, my mistake. It wont happen again" will help you put all but hanging wrongdoings behind you.Know what your role is: No one wants a whine or a yes-man, but if you fail to understand the corporate culture and if you dont know whats expected of you, youre gone. Its possible to fit in without squashing your creativity. Remember whom you work for and why.Money isnt all: Dont create an impression that youre working just for a paycheck. Those are the hallmark of a clock-puncher and are likely to kill all chances for an appraisal. If youre extremely unsatisfied with your job that you live for the 15th and 30th of each month then its time to start sending out résumés.Maintain an image: Dont talk continuously about your life outside work. If youre having trouble in your personal life, keep it to one or two confidants. No one else at work needs to know - or more to the point wants to know - about your travails at home. Remember: There is no way that broadcasting your personal difficulties will improve your standing with the boss.
