About the CRL

Getting Started

• Career Resources By Major or Field
• Graduate School Planning
• Resumes and Cover Letters
• Job Hunting Online
• Get Help from a Librarian
• Workshops and Instruction

• Resources for:
  • New Graduates
  • Undergraduates
  • Graduate Students
  • Alumnae/i
  • Faculty and Staff
  • International Students
  • Jobseekers with Disabilities
  • ALANA (African, Latina, Asian, Native American) Jobseekers
  • LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Jobseekers
  • Women and Careers

Career Resource
e-Library

Choose your resource Career Exploration Career Search dbase Company/Ind. Research Fellowships and Grants Gap Year Grad School Planning Internships Internships USA dbase International Study International Work Interviewing Job Search Tools Networking Job Hunting Online Get Help from a Librarian Relocation Resources for Alumnae/i . . . for Career Changers . . . for Faculty & Staff . . . for Graduate Students . . . for Undergraduates . . . for International Students . . . for Jobseekers with Disabilities . . . for ALANA Jobseekers . . . for LGBT Jobseekers . . . for Women and Careers Resources by Major/Field Resumes & Cover Letters Salary Information Self-Assessment Transitions (new grads) Vault for students/staff Vault for alumni Workshops and Instruction

Library Catalog

• Search here for Career Books and more*
  *For a list of all books in the Career Resources Library, search by Non-LC call number and enter "CRL."
• Suggest an item for CRL

Related Resources

• Career Education Center -- Simmons career counseling
• CareerLink-- Simmons online recruiting
• CA$H -- Simmons work study and on-campus jobline
• Alumnet Professional Connections
• School of Management Library -- additional career and business resources at Simmons
• Study Abroad Office

Transitions: Classroom to Career

Funded by a Centennial Grant from the Alumnae Association
of Simmons College

New Kid on the Block: Tips to Succeed as a New Hire

How should I dress?
Where can I get some tips about general business etiquette?
Are there certain manners that one should go by when communicating with other employees at work?
Why should I develop a mentoring relationship with a co-worker? How do I go about doing so?
How do I handle office politics?
How do I learn about the policies and procedures for my new job?

How should I dress?

Syms Dress for Achievement is a web site that was "created to help educate college seniors about the basics of proper dress and other helpful tips to present themselves in the best possible light during job interviews." As you enter the building where your interview is going to be, pay close attention to the way the people who already work there are dressed. This can be a big clue about how you should be dressing should you get the position.
http://www.symsdressforsuccess.com/

Books on this topic available in the Career Resource Library:

-- The New Professional Image (1997) in the Career Planning section. Covers traditional and business casual dress, as well as how to establish professional presence.

Where can I get some tips about general business etiquette?

Ravenwerks, a web site created by Paula Garmonal, a seasoned business consultant, touches upon some general aspects of business etiquette, including information about dress, introductions, table manners, and more. Containing the rules of etiquette about customer services, marketing, teamwork, leadership, and more, this sit is perfect for brushing up on best practices when it comes to appropriate business etiquette.
http://www.ravenwerks.com

Another great web site is Manners That Sell, from Lydia Ramsey. Ramsey is a business etiquette speaker and trainer. Her website offers all sorts of great advice (such as how to properly use the utensils at a business dinner and efficiently use a voice mail system) for people looking to impress prospective employers with their unbridled mastery of proper business etiquette.
http://www.mannersthatsell.com/index.html

Books on this topic available in the Career Resource Library:

-- Emily Posts' The Etiquette Advantage in Business (2005) in the Career Planning section. Covers dress, ethics, communication, business events, meetings, traveling, and more.

-- VGM's Complete Guide to Career Etiquette (1996) in the Career Planning section. Covers all stages of employment from the job search through advancement or separation.

Are there certain manners that one should go by when communicating with other employees at work?

Yes, there are many rules pertaining to the use of proper e-mail ettiquette (or, "nettiquette"), which should definitely be followed when writing a business email. The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University has compiled this handout about the proper use of email ettiquette.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/p_emailett.html

Webfoot, the personal site of Kaitlyn Duck Sherwood, a graduate student at the University of British Columbia's School of Computer Science and author of several computer "how-to" books, contains tips to help you become a "more efficient, clear, and effective" user of e-mail.
http://www.webfoot.com/advice/email.intonation.html

Why should I develop a mentoring relationship with a co-worker? How do I go about doing so?

It has become common practice for many employees to develop a mentor/protégé-relationship with a co-worker, as a means of "learning the ropes" at a new job. This relationship can be rewarding and positive for all parties involved. Encouragementors is a commercial web site with some nice information about mentoring, including definitions and ways to begin a formal mentoring program. When looking at this site, just keep in mind that this is a commercial site.
www.encouragementors.com

The Council on Library/Media Technicians developed this wonderful website which contains a bibliography with tons of resources about mentoring. It focuses on the concept of mentoring within the field of Library and Information Sciences but includes many general resources as well. This massive bibliography contains about 100 titles!
http://colt.ucr.edu/bibmentoring.html

How do I handle office politics?

This web site for women, out of Great Britain, offers a page with links to articles on topics ranging from "Gossip Galore" to "How to hang on to good projects." The articles on this site give some very practical advice for new employees (or even seasoned ones) on how to deal with many aspects of office politics. The link below will bring you to a list of hyperlinked articles on a variety of topics related to office politics.
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/workcareer/survive/archive/0,,156475,00.html

Books on this topic available in the Career Resource Library:
--Don't sabotage your success! : make office politics work (2001)
--New rules @ work : 79 etiquette tips, tools, and techniques to get ahead and stay ahead (2006)
--You want me to work with who? : eleven keys to a stress-free, satisfying, and successful work life-- no matter who you work with (2006)

How do I learn about the policies and procedures for my new job?

Many companies and organizations will offer some form of orientation for new employees, although this can sometimes be as simple as a quick walking tour. This website also recommends looking at the Chamber of Commerce salary and benefits reports for your area. They also recommend using industry associations as a source of this information. Pay attention, and ask questions. If you are unsure of how to locate the company's policies, ask your supervisor or contact the Human Resources department could for this information. Many organizations list their policies on their websites or staff intranet, so take some time to explore what information is available to you. (For example, Simmons staff policies can be found on this HR page.)
http://www.allbusiness.com/articles/EmploymentHR/963-33-1773.html

 

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Page updated: March 16, 2007