READING 5 B1

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Five things you mustn’t do when starting your first job

by Annie Smith
You’ve got your first job – congratulations! Finding a job isn’t
easy nowadays. And even if this isn’t the job of your dreams, it
will allow you to gain valuable experience. So here are some tips
that will help you to keep that job for a while - five important
things to keep in mind when you start a new job. Good luck!
Don’t be late
Sounds obvious, doesn’t it, but you’d be surprised how many
people turn up late to work on the first day. Are you going to
drive to work? Then, make sure you know the route. Getting lost
is no excuse! Do you know how long your drive will take? Have
you even done it yet? (You know, at eight o’clock when everyone
else is driving to work?). Make sure you know exactly how long
your journey will take and leave plenty of time in the morning.
It’s no good turning up late on day one and blaming the traffic!
Leave your jeans in the closet
As a general rule, smart clothes make you look more professional. Of
course, you’ll feel anxious on your first day (everyone does!), but in the
right clothes you will at least appear confident. If you can afford it, buy
yourself some smart office clothes. If not, pick the smartest things from
your closet. Of course, different offices have very different ideas about
what clothes are acceptable. In time, you may find that more casual
clothes are okay in your office, but on day one, look smart.
Forget personal calls
You are being paid to work, and not to chat on the phone with your
best friend or book tickets for a concert. Of course, we all need to
make personal calls during the working week – we have dentist’s
appointments to make, and so on – but try to save these for your
lunch break. If friends or family members call you while you’re at
work, remind them of your working hours and request that they only
call you during work hours in an emergency. They know that your
new job is important to you – they will understand.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
There’s a lot to learn when you start a new job – the way that the
company is organised, the way that they do things – their systems,
their software etc. etc. Nothing is familiar, everything is new and no
one finds it easy. Don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues if you don’t
know something. They won’t expect you to know everything.
Don’t be shy
Finally, remember that no one works on their own. We are all part of
a team – or several teams. Get to know your colleagues. Go for lunch
and coffee with them and accept invitations to social events. Do what
you can to build relationships with them. The key to success at work
is to have positive working relationships.

1 Read the website quickly and choose the correct words to 2 Read the website again. Are these sentences true or false?
complete the sentences. 1 According to the website, even a job that is not perfect for
you will bring you some benefits. TRUE/FALSE
ask concentrate get on make practise spend
2 According to the website, a surprising number of people
1 The website advises people to their drive to are late for work on day one of their new job. TRUE/FALSE
work before starting their job. 3 The website recommends that people wear the clothes
2 It says they should an effort to look smart, at that make them feel confident, even if they are very
least to begin with. casual clothes. TRUE/FALSE
3 It tells them to on their work rather than 4 It says that casual clothes are never suitable for the
making personal calls. office. TRUE/FALSE
4 It reminds people that it is perfectly acceptable to 5 It admits that people sometimes have to make personal
colleagues for help when starting a job. calls during a working day. TRUE/FALSE
5 It suggests that people should some time 6 It suggests that a small amount of chatting on the phone
with their colleagues when not at work. to friends is acceptable. TRUE/FALSE
6 It says it is very important to with your 7 According to the website, when you start a job, you should
colleagues. try to find out information yourself rather than ask a
colleague. TRUE/FALSE
8 It suggests that you will not succeed at work if you do not
get on with your colleagues. TRUE/FALSE

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