When recent college graduates and other applicants start a new job, they can feel like a fish out of water. That?s because they are unfamiliar with the people in the company, the company culture, company values, expectations, rituals and the acceptable behavior. However, new employees are almost always better off when they can quickly fit into the new work environment. With that in mind, there are seven areas that new employees must master, in order to be successful. They include:

1. Courtesy - You must be courteous to everyone you meet and treat everyone with respect. New employees are not entitled to mistakes and lapses in this area. Greet everyone with a smile on your face, a pleasant tone of voice and a few kind words.

If you are discourteous and disrespectful to others, you will likely find that you are on your way out.

2. Attitude - Wise employees always demonstrate a positive attitude. That means that you are anxious to please and willing to do anything that is needed. No necessary job is beneath you. There is no whining, complaining or looking for the negatives. You simply do what you are asked to do with a smile on your face and a upbeat tone in your voice, even for the really dirty jobs. A good attitude always works in your favor.

Nobody wants to waste time arguing with a person who questions everything, only sees the negatives and thinks that he/she should be treated like prima donna.

3. Work Behavior - Your behavior at work tells others whether you will succeed or fail.

- Consistently produce high quality work, even when you don?t feel like it
- Do what you say you will do when you say you will do it
- Strive to be friendly, cooperative, courteous and well-liked by everyone
- Return telephone calls or text messages and respond to e-mail messages promptly
- Don?t participate in the rumor mill
- Keep confidential information confidential and never betray confidences
- Be generous to others ~ Give them your time, listen actively and help them
- Be willing to come in early, stay late or work weekends, when needed

The best employees are viewed as positive contributors in all areas of the workplace.

4. Daily Interactions - In your daily work activities and interactions there are words and behaviors that can improve your relationship with others or damage them. New employees are obligated to establish working relationships that will benefit the organization.

- Behave is a businesslike manner
- Be friendly ~ Make it easy for others to approach you and talk to you
- Smile ~ It?s a good way to greet people
- Say “Yes,” “Please,” “May I,” “Excuse Me” and “Thank You” frequently
- Always say “Good Morning” and “Good Night”
- Open doors, hold the elevator and help others when you can
- Use positive body language that will match your positive words
- Avoid bad manners, swearing and slang

5. Personal Performance - Your job performance is important to your employer and therefore should be extremely important to you. It will determine if you stay or go.

- Listen carefully to your supervisor and the other executives
- Ask questions to obtain additional information
- Respect other people?s time
- Arrive early for meetings, come prepared, be ready to contribute
- Strive for exceptional performance in everything you do
- Meet or beat the deadlines for your assignments

The way you speak, dress, act and perform are all important for your success. Since your performance will be constantly evaluated, it is important for you to be viewed as effective, reliable, trustworthy and productive.

6. Expectations - Employers have high expectations for new employees. Don?t let your employer down. Here are a few employer expectations:

- Speak well of the company, it?s executives, products and services
- Act in the best interests of your company
- Make your supervisor and department look good
- Value customers
- Admit mistakes and fix them quickly
- Accept and learn from criticism

7. Culture - Since every employer has a culture (how things get done around here) in which their employees must operate, employers expect new employees to understand and adjust to that culture. The best way to quickly learn about the culture is to watch and listen to the people who are most respected. Successful employees operate comfortably within the culture.

No employee can be successful when they are out of step with the rest of the organization. That?s why all employees need to realize that everything they say and do reflects on them. Employees who quickly master the business behaviors that are common to most employers will find that they are much happier and more secure in their new jobs.