First Week-Don'ts

Be a Kickass Assistant: How to Get from a Grunt Job to a Great Career
By Heather Beckel

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• Don't assume your new boss likes everything the former assistant does. It's possible that while your boss was very comfortable with the former assistant, there are things that she'd like done differently. You'll become aware of these things quickly, and you may have an opportunity to ask your new boss if there is anything she'd like you to handle differently than her former assistant did.

• Don't show your vulnerability, if you are scared or unhappy. When people at work ask you, “How's it going?” answer, “Great!” with a smile, no matter what the truth is.

• Don't be star-struck, or jaded. If you're working in a glamorous environment, it is important to remain professional and not go to either extreme.

• Don't surf the Internet. And remember, your e-mail account at work is not your own, it belongs to the company and is for your professional use. Of course, everyone uses their office account to stay in touch with family and friends, just like the telephone, but your e-mails can, and probably will, be read and monitored. You can be fired for inappropriate things you send via e-mail, even to friends outside the company.

• Don't ask for things like special time off, special favors, etc. It sets a bad tone early in the relationship. Your new boss will be thinking, “Oh no, is this the way it's always going to be?”

• Don't chew gum-ever.

• Don't make personal phone calls. There's no hard and fast rule for when it will be appropriate for you to start making personal calls at work, but after the first week you should be able to judge when it is appropriate for you to make a quick personal call. You should always avoid letting your boss hear you on a personal call as it creates a bad impression, and never allow yourself a call of mindless chatter.

• Don't arrive with luggage. Particularly in big cities it's common to leave your apartment in the morning and not return until bedtime. There are thousands of women walking the streets carrying a purse, a bag for work, and a gym bag. Eliminate all but one of these for the first few days, otherwise you'll appear disorganized and unprofessional.

• Don't speak badly of your former boss and/or employer.

• Don't be late, or very early for your training period. Both are equally inconsiderate. It is not always good to arrive early; you can be in the way if the soon-to-be-former assistant isn't ready for your arrival. My advice is to get to the building a little early, and walk around the block until you can arrive at your new office exactly on time or five minutes early.

• Don't get paranoid if everyone misses the former assistant-and tells you. People who deal with your new boss will have become reliant upon your predecessor to help them. As much as they miss her as a person, they're reacting to the loss of an important relationship. Don't worry, with your finesse, they'll soon rely equally upon you.

• Don't distract the soon-to-be-former assistant as she trains you-remember, she has to keep the office running.

Expect to be confused and overwhelmed during your first days or weeks at your new job. If you are prepared to feel this way it will be easier to handle. If you ask the questions I've suggested here, and any others that occur to you, and if you take my advice and write down the answers, you'll be on your way to being more comfortable in your new workplace. I guarantee that in a month you'll walk into your office building without any of the “new kid” jitters, so as much as you can, enjoy the rush of nervousness and excitement during your early days on the job. And if you can't enjoy the feelings, manage them by concentrating on learning as much as possible about your new world.

Copyright © 2002 by Heather Beckel

About the Author

HEATHER BECKEL was the executive and personal assistant to George Stephanopoulos during the Clinton 1992 campaign and during the president's first term in office. She owns a restaurant in Connecticut and currently works in public relations for a luxury bath company.