After graduating from school or university, the next challenge awaits you: starting your professional life. The search for your first job requires a lot of patience, hard work and initiative. But if you have found a suitable job and have been offered it, that doesn’t mean you can sit back and relax.
On the contrary: During the probationary period, you have to prove yourself and show your best side. There are a few pitfalls that can lead you into pretty unpleasant situations. Unfortunately, this will not leave a good impression on your colleagues and superiors. With our seven rules of etiquette, you can master the start of your career without any embarrassment.
Rule 1: Make sure you look well-groomed
Why is a well-groomed appearance so important, especially in the workplace? It’s simple: your appearance influences what others see in you. Someone who pays attention to their appearance appears more attractive, serious and competent to others. Your appearance plays an important role, especially if you have a lot of customer contact and have to appear convincing.
This creates a well-groomed appearance
Many factors determine the overall impression someone has of you:
- The skin: Smooth and healthy skin makes you look more vital and attractive overall. With the right skin care, you can effectively combat impurities and achieve an even complexion. But also take care of your lips and hands regularly so that they don’t become chapped or dry.
- The face: Beard wearers need to trim their beards regularly and take good care of their beards so that they don’t grow shapelessly. If you don’t want a beard, shaving daily is a must to avoid unsightly stubble. Also keep your eyebrows in shape by plucking them regularly and using a little gel.
- Hair: Make sure that your hair always looks good with the right care and regular visits to the hairdresser. Greasy or uncolored hair, split ends and an outgrown hairstyle do not make a good impression. Your hair should also always be combed and styled or tied back in a neat hairstyle.
- The teeth: A bright white smile looks friendly and appealing. Brush your teeth regularly and use dental floss after every meal if possible to remove food particles from between the teeth. Regular professional teeth cleaning or bleaching at the dentist can help to prevent dark discoloration.
- Fingernails: Flaking nail polish, bitten or otherwise unsightly nails make your hands look unkempt. Depending on your job, this is an absolute no-go. Regularly trim your fingernails with nail clippers or a nail file. If you use nail polish, it should be applied cleanly and renewed when it starts to peel.
- Body odors: Unpleasant body odors such as sweat and bad breath are an absolute no-go at work. You should always have a deodorant or deodorant wipes with you. In the height of summer, it is worth packing a change of top. If you sweat a lot, an antiperspirant that inhibits sweating is the remedy of choice. A care program consisting of dental floss, a tongue scraper and an antibacterial mouthwash helps against nasty bad breath. In between, mints or chewing gum ensure fresh breath.
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Tips for a healthy look
A healthy, well-groomed appearance is not defined by good personal hygiene alone. A healthy lifestyle and the famous “less is more” also contribute to this.
- Drink plenty of water: If you provide your body with enough fluids every day, your skin will look better and your dark circles will disappear.
- Get enough sleep: Give your body enough sleep. This reduces stress and improves your complexion and performance.
- Eat healthily: A healthy diet according to the food pyramid provides your body with the optimal amount of nutrients. This will make you feel better – and radiate that too.
- Exercise: Exercise is a real stress killer and provides you with enough oxygen. This makes you feel relaxed and alert and helps you concentrate better.
- Don’t use too much makeup: Your makeup should be subtle so that it doesn’t look overloaded and obtrusive. Make sure you do your makeup in daylight.
- Don’t wear too much perfume: For most people, an intrusive cloud of perfume is repulsive and annoying. Avoid strong perfumes and use your favorite scent very sparingly.
- Develop care routines: Get into the habit of taking care of your “construction sites” such as hair, fingernails and skin at regular intervals so that they always look good.
Rule 2: Observe the dress code
Nobody wants to stand out on their first day at work because their clothes don’t match what the other employees are wearing. To save you from this, we have compiled the most important dress codes for you and explain what people wear in which industry.
What dress codes are there and what do they mean?
To make a good impression right from the start and avoid making any fashion faux pas, you should be familiar with the different dress codes and know what style of clothing is behind each one. Some dress codes only differ from one another in nuances.
- Casual: “Casual” means “leisure wear” – but your outfit shouldn’t be too casual. A typical casual look is neutral, well-fitting jeans with a shirt or blouse. Trousers, dresses and skirts are also allowed. As for shoes, sneakers are fine, as long as they are clean, not too colorful and not too worn.
- Smart Casual: The Smart Casual dress code is essentially an elegant extension of the casual look. Combine simple tops made of high-quality fabrics with business-style clothing, such as a pencil skirt or fabric trousers.
- Business Casual: This is usually the dress code for internal meetings or “Casual Friday”, where things are not quite so formal. For men, this means a colored shirt, a polo shirt or a fine knit sweater with matching trousers. For women, business casual means a blouse or sweater with a skirt or cotton trousers. Open shoes such as peep-toes and sandals are also allowed.
- Business Attire: This dress code is the upscale version of business casual. For men, a suit in a subtle color including a tie is a must. Underneath the suit should be a light, plain shirt, dark socks and simple shoes. Women can wear a pants suit or fabric trousers combined with a blouse, closed shoes with a low heel and subtle jewelry.
- Business formal: Outfits in the business formal style are a little more formal: men wear a two- or three-piece suit in subtle colors with a shirt, tie and leather shoes. Women are appropriately dressed in a smart suit or a pantsuit with a blouse. Skirts and dresses should be at least knee-length. The outfit also includes skin-colored tights and pumps with a heel of no more than six centimeters.
- Semi-formal: Even if the name suggests otherwise, this is the most upscale dress code. For men: dark suit with shirt and tie. For women: suit or dress that is at least knee-length, with opaque tights, or a pantsuit.
Important: Dress codes are a good guide, but they are not set in stone. Every industry and every company interprets the dress code a little differently.
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Which dress code applies in which industry?
How strict the dress code is in a company depends primarily on the industry. If you are unsure about the dress code in your job, you should ask.
- Consulting: Consultants have a lot of customer contact and usually conduct crucial sales discussions. That’s why a strict business dress code is still standard here.
- Banking and finance industry: A strict dress code is no longer necessarily in vogue in the German banking sector, but the clothing style is still rather formal.
- Legal activities : Formal dress codes between business attire and business formal are a must in most legal professions.
- PR, marketing, advertising: In these industries, a casual look is usually completely sufficient.
- IT: In the IT industry, there is usually no specific dress code, at least for staff who do not have contact with customers. For all other employees, a look between casual and business casual applies.
tips on accessories
The more formal the dress code, the more important it is to have the right accessories. Male newcomers to the job should learn how to tie a tie properly. In the event that the dress code requires a tie, you need to know how to do it.
It can be tied in different ways, depending on the tie knot you want. For beginners, the four-in-hand knot and the Kent knot are best because they are easy to learn and require little time. They are particularly suitable for narrow collar shapes. The simple Windsor knot is a little more difficult to tie and is more suitable for wider collar shapes. The most complicated are the double Windsor and the Prince Albert knot.
Women love to wear scarves to spice up their outfits, and from autumn onwards, scarves are back in season as accessories. So that they don’t just hang around your neck and look neat and stylish at the same time, there are various ways you can tie them. This makes them a beautiful eye-catcher that can be combined well with your outfit.
Rule 3: Listen carefully instead of talking too much
As a newcomer, it is your job on the first day to briefly introduce yourself to all employees or – depending on the size of the company – to each department. Be confident and in a good mood and speak loudly and clearly. Do your best to remember the names of your new colleagues. But there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to communication, not just on the first day but also in everyday work.
Should you address us informally or formally?
How do people address each other in the company? How do colleagues address each other and how do employees and superiors address each other? You should find out this on the first day so that you don’t put your foot in it. Listen carefully before you start speaking.
But: As the newest member of the team, it is appropriate to address everyone formally at the beginning. If a colleague wants you to address them informally, they will point this out to you. This is more polite and respectful than simply addressing everyone informally – even if that is the norm among colleagues.
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Hold back
One of the most important tips for the beginning is to hold back. Whether in meetings or casual discussions with colleagues – as a newcomer it is better to observe and listen carefully than to talk a lot. Especially when it comes to private matters, you should not reveal too much about yourself at the beginning – unless you are asked. Otherwise, pay attention to how much the others tell you about themselves.
Rule 4: Show interest
You will spend the first few weeks mainly learning the work processes. You will often be bombarded with information. Take the time to process the flood of information and ask questions if necessary.
Understood?
It’s completely normal that you can’t remember everything at once and understand everything straight away. It only becomes problematic when you pretend to. This can lead to fatal mistakes later on. It’s better to ask too many questions if you’re unsure and clear up any ambiguities as soon as possible. This will help you get fit for the job and avoid mistakes.
In general, it makes a good impression if you, as a newcomer, are interested in the work processes and want to learn a lot. Asking questions shows others that you are enthusiastic about the job and motivated to do it well. So if there is something that piques your curiosity, don’t be afraid to ask.
Get to know your colleagues
Speaking of curiosity: getting to know your colleagues is also part of settling in. If you are not interested in your colleagues, you are turning yourself into an outsider that no one wants to work with. Be open-minded and sociable without seeming too curious. After all, you are not supposed to conduct an interview with your colleagues, but rather get to know them better little by little and become part of the team.
But what is the best way to start? The simple answer: with small talk. If you know the essential tricks, it will be easy for you to start a conversation with someone. It is important that you actively listen to the person you are talking to: concentrate on what he or she is saying, show your concern and ask questions if you want to know something in more detail.
For example, you can ask about the person’s professional field or why they chose this profession. Choose harmless topics for the conversation that won’t trigger a fundamental discussion.
Rule 5: Use body language correctly
Pay attention to your body language when dealing with colleagues, your superiors and customers so as not to inadvertently leave a negative impression. This also applies to maintaining distance zones.
- Straight posture: Whether you are standing or sitting, always stand straight without appearing tense. This signals self-confidence. Avoid hectic, excited gestures. Leaning back too relaxed in a meeting indicates disinterest.
- Firm and secure stance: Concentrate on putting equal weight on both legs to ensure a stable stance. Bend your knees slightly and lean forward a little. If you constantly change your position, you will appear fidgety and unsure.
- Strong handshake: The handshake should be strong, but not too short and not too long. Always grasp the whole hand of the person you are shaking hands with.
- Maintain eye contact: Eye contact is a sign of interest, attention and appreciation. Don’t let yourself be distracted and concentrate fully on the person you are talking to.
- Let your hands do the talking: If your hands are open, you are also signaling openness. Interlocked fingers, on the other hand, are a sign of closedness. If you place the fingertips of both hands gently together in a dome shape, you are showing that you are thinking.
- Control your arms: Arms crossed in front of your chest are interpreted as a defensive posture. If your hands are crossed behind your head and your elbows are stretched outwards, this means: “I am very confident in myself.”
- Maintain your distance: Keep enough distance from the person you are talking to to maintain their distance zone and not invade their personal space. Most people feel uncomfortable when a person they don’t know well gets too close to them. A distance of about one meter is enough.
Rule 6: Be polite and respectful to others
Politeness, friendly gestures and good manners make your everyday work life much more pleasant. Always behave politely and respectfully towards your colleagues, superiors and customers. But maintaining eye contact and letting the person you are talking to finish speaking is not everything.
The right greeting
“Hello” is more of a greeting for leisure time. It has no place in the workplace. “Good morning” or “Good day” are clearly the better choice. Also pay attention to the correct order: the highest-ranking person is greeted first, even if a woman is present. After that, older people are greeted before younger people and women before men.
Always remain polite
When speaking to colleagues, superiors and customers, you should always use an appropriate tone of voice. This also applies to telephone conversations and communication via email. In stressful and conflict situations in particular, you should act appropriately and not become abusive or take out your anger on others.
Admittedly, this can be a real challenge at times, but the consequences are not to be taken lightly. And it doesn’t look confident if you freak out and scream. Instead, stay calm and listen to the other person’s point of view.
Give appropriate criticism
Nobody likes to have their mistakes and weaknesses pointed out. But if there is something you need to get off your chest, you should do it in private and not in front of the whole team. Avoid general phrases like “never” and “always” and give concrete examples instead. Always remain polite and objective here too.
Rule 7: Behave appropriately at company events
Company events give you the opportunity to talk to other employees in what is often a more relaxed setting. The prospect of alcohol and a lively atmosphere doesn’t mean that you can throw all good manners overboard. Quite the opposite: rules of etiquette also apply to Christmas parties, company outings and similar company events.
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- Don’t drink too much alcohol: There’s nothing wrong with having a glass or two, but you should keep your consumption under control so as not to attract unpleasant attention.
- No inappropriate clothing: Even for company events, dress codes may apply. In general, you should not dress too revealingly.
- No indecency: Lewd jokes, bad manners or other indecency usually only cause embarrassment in others and have no place at a company party.
- No gossiping: Gossiping about colleagues or the boss is not a good idea. It doesn’t go down well if the newcomer turns out to be a gossip.
- No intimacy with other employees : If you flirt with a colleague at a company party, you will quickly become the talk of the whole company – but not in a positive way. You also risk a warning.
Despite all the rules, you shouldn’t be a killjoy, standing in the corner and spreading bad vibes. Enjoy the event and make small talk with your colleagues and you’ll have a fun evening together.
