Starting Work

[JingleBells]

I start my student work placement on Monday (23rd) back in rainy Manchester. This will be my first actual job (i don't count the days i spent in a milk factory), and I was wondering if anyone had any tips/suggestions/funny stories about starting office work, especially those who are either on placement, or have done so in the past.

 

[Tom]

I started off doing work experience while at college. The best advice I can give is not to set out to change any working practices (you might know better but they don't like being told), don't volunteer to do work that nobody else will do (because you'll piss your collegues off), and ask lots of questions.

Oh, and don't get taken for granted. If somebody asks you to do something, and its going to cost you money, make sure you get that money back.

 

[Aada]

Just dont let them take you for an idiot basicly

 

[dave]

try and be as enthusiastic, be keen to meet and talk to people. If someone asks you to do something you know you can't do, be honest and tell them you'll give it a go. Don't take on too much work that you can't handle it!

Good luck pete!

 

[gmloki]

Be Prepared for the "iv'e done this job for 25 years son, there is nothing you can tell me"

 

[Clown]

Office work is good in that everything is straight forward. Try not to do the work as fast as possible because there will always be something else for you to do. If you don't understand a procedure, ask how to do it. Don't ask too much though, or they will probably shit in your face.

Plan toilet breaks. Work gets extremely boring and repetetive, so just chill on the bog or something when you feel your eyes getting heavy.

Or stuff.

 

[Danya]

I disagree on the fast thing, but don't do work so fast you make silly mistakes - better to take a bit longer and make sure it's right first time, after all it'll you that has to redo it if it's rubbish.

Incidientally, what sort of office job is it?

 

[nath]

If you feel like doing fuck all but want to look really busy, look pissed off. Whenever someone of authority comes buy, stare at your screen (assuming you're working on a computer) and just look moody. They'll assume that you're really in to something, and leave you alone. Well, it worked for me anyway

 

[JingleBells]

what sort of office job is it?

I'm going to be doing work in the IT Department for a graduate careers company doing
"further development, management and maintenance of the website and related projects; working with the company's in-house CMS; programming in Java, JavaScript, XHTML and XML; JSP development; MS SQL database development and administration; and documenting new and existing systems"

so basically its web development

 

[dr_jo]

That sounds remarkably similar to my boyfriend's curret placement, except he's already started (6 weeks in), and he's in Bracknell.
I'd suggest giving him a pm, since he can't access the forums from work (filtering etc).
His username is Shovel.

He's having a great time, so my personal advice would be to enjoy it

 

[JingleBells]

It probably sounds similar as Shovel, and Dave are both on the same course as me at Uni . My placement starts considerably later to most peoples, which has meant i'm now exceedingly skint but i have been all summer

 

[JBP|]

my tip is....

don't get caught masterbating in the toilets

 

[Wazzerphuk]

If you feel like doing fuck all but want to look really busy, look pissed off. Whenever someone of authority comes buy, stare at your screen (assuming you're working on a computer) and just look moody. They'll assume that you're really in to something, and leave you alone. Well, it worked for me anyway

Maybe they just hated you?

 

[TdC]

be honest. if you've never done something before, or never used a certain tool then say so. however, never do so in front of a customer.

be keen and enthused, but try not to make people sick of you (hehe). you're an upcoming webgod, not a puppy.

ask questions and write down answers. not all, but some of the people you'll encounter will know tips and tweaks that just aren't in the books. experience is something they have and you want. suck their brains dry, but let them do their jobs. they will be perfectly willing to tell you things, but not if they have a rush job and you're in the way.

don't think you will reach guru status in weeks. it takes time, so don't let it frustrate you.

never, ever, ever put down your company, it's methods or a coworker in front of a customer. trust me, you'll want to. just not in front of the bad men mmmmkay. nb. if you find that you don't have grief with your company *at all*, tell me who they are as I will want to work for them