Starting a new job can make us feel like we’ve gone back in time to our first day of junior high school. We want people to like us, but we don’t want to seem too eager. We hope we’ve worn the right clothes and dressed up enough, but not too much. The self-confidence we had in the interview that landed us the job is slowly taken over by nerves as our first day approaches, and we worry about making a good first impression.

開始新工作會讓我們感到仿佛又回到了初一開學第一天。我們希望人們會喜歡我們，但是又不希望自己看上去過于心切；我們希望穿著得當、得體，可又不想過份講究。幫助我們贏得這份工作的面試中的自信隨著工作第一天臨近逐漸被緊張情緒代替，我們擔心能否給同事留下好的第一印象。

But new jobs should be exciting, not stressful. We’re taking on a new role, a fresh start, one filled with opportunities and a future—we’re not going to the dentist. Use the following six ways to fit in at your new job.

不過新工作給人們帶來的應該是興奮而不是壓力。我們將扮演一個新角色，有一個全新的開始，一個富有機會和未來的起點。我們不是去看牙醫（沒必要太緊張）。下面六條建議可以幫你適應第一天的工作。

1. Show your true colors—it got you the job, after all.

展現本色——畢竟你因此才獲得這份工作

Before any big “first day,” remember what our parents always told us, “Just be yourself!” It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. For example, if you’re more of a calm, mellow kind of person and on your first few days at the office you’re overly friendly, hyper, and super smiley, chances are your act won’t last. When your true colors show a few weeks down the line, people might think you’re a phony. The classic rule of being polite and smiling goes a long way.

在任何重大的“第一天”之前，記住父母一直對我們說的“做你自己！”雖然聽起來千篇一律，但這是真理。例如：如果你性格比較沉著、穩健，而工作開始的幾天中，你過于友善、活躍、笑容可掬，那么你的做作可能不會持續多久。等到幾周后你“原形畢露”時，人們也許認為你這個人很虛偽。禮貌待人、面帶微笑的經典原則才能持久。

2. Let people talk about themselves.

讓別人談談他們自己

In a new job, it’s crucial to remember people’s names and titles, so meeting all your new coworkers on the same day can be overwhelming. Try writing things you want to remember in a notebook. When meeting a new coworker, simply ask, “So tell me about yourself. How did you end up at this company?” The person’s reaction and answer can tell you a lot about her. Hearing a little bit of her story will help you to remember her name, position, as well as her manner.

剛開始新工作，要記住別人的名字、頭銜，這一點很重要，在第一天和全部新同事見面是不可避免的?？梢試L試把要記住的東西寫在筆記本上。在見到一位新同事時，可以簡單地說：“說說你自己吧。你是怎么進入這家公司的？”她的回答和反應可以透露大量的個人信息。稍微了解對方的故事會幫你記住他/她的名字、職位、還有風格。

3. Observe company culture.

觀察企業文化

Learn the company’s culture through observation—never make assumptions. Your last job might have allowed coffee breaks throughout the day, but your new one might not encourage leaving the office irregularly when there’s work to be done. Does everyone leave at five o’clock sharp? Is there a separate area for taking personal calls? As for work attire, always dress a little nicer than expected; it’s better than being underdressed. Take cues from your coworkers and follow their lead. Remember, you’re new—you kinda have to be a sheep (for a little while, anyway).

通過觀察來了解公司文化——絕對不要想象。你的上一份工作也許允許人們整天喝咖啡，但是新工作也許不會鼓勵人們在有工作時隔一會兒就離開辦公室。別人都在五點鐘準時下班嗎？要在單獨一個地方接私人電話嗎? 在著裝方面，你穿得一定要比要求高一點點；這比穿著不得體好。從同事們身上去發現暗示，去“跟幫”。記住，你是新人——你多少要去照葫蘆畫瓢(至少一小段時間內是如此)。

(to be continued)