Really, truly trying to be better about posting regularly. Have been working for days on a new Weekly News Gimmick, yet it is lots of work what with all that reading of articles and thinking about them... and have had important tasks to fulfill, such as sleeping off hangovers and watching Grey's Anatomy. Also went to a friend's tea party yesterday (the type of friend whose idea of 'light refreshments' more closely resembles 'all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet' - god, I adore that girl) and spent many hours consuming tasty treats, which means I had best seriously consider going for a run today. ('Seriously considering' exercise, esp if you think about it really hard, ought to burn some calories, right? Can't my mental idiosyncrasies work for me, for once?) And then there is this little issue of the work I brought home over the weekend, a 'small project' that consists of at least 100 pgs of reading... I mean, really, why didn't I just go into work?
So anyway, the news post is definitely going to have to wait. But don't worry! I still have plenty of helpful advice to give, especially to all those crazy kids who recently entered the working world. Based on behaviors I have actually seen with my very own eyes!
Working Etiquette: Meeting DON'Ts
- Wearing clothing inappropriate to the working environment. I understand how someone new to 'Casual Friday' may not understand this relaxed dress code does not apply to meetings with clients. I do not understand how a person would find a jean skirt with sideslits up to her ass as appropriate workgear outside the set of 'Pretty Woman'.
- Telling long and inane personal stories, without any relevance or even the hint of a punchline. Repeated storytelling offenses along the lines of "one time, me and my boyfriend/girlfriend/other random person... did something completely boring (which I will describe at length! 'cuz it's so funny!)... and then there was something else... and (10min later) so... yeah" will seriously tempt your coworkers to pitch you out a window. All the better if you're 30 stories up and the window is shut. Really - WE DO NOT CARE.
- Yawning loudly and repeatedly during meetings. I definitely know the feeling of fighting to stay awake during a meeting. However, making a huge display of how boring you find your higher-ups is really not the best way to professional advancement. It is a great way to make the rest of us fantasize about throwing paperclips in your open mouth to see if we can get you to choke on them.
- Putting your head down during the meeting. Work is strangely different from nursery school... especially in how there is no official nap time. Be smart and learn to sleep inconspicuously at your desk, like the rest of us.
- Making snide remarks about a project to which you have contributed exactly zero effort. If your job is basically window dressing, learn to keep a low profile. Do not annoy people who actually do work. Unless you like being attacked with powerpoint presentations and pointy Bic pens.
Avoid these and any other behaviors featured in a Dilbert comic, and you may just survive that daily grind...
Really. It's just that simple.
Who are these people? Who puts his/her head down during a meeting? Who DOES that?
As for skirt side slits...man, we used to have this girl working on our floor (she was an admin, so I personally think that she was given a lot more latitude in her dress than, for instance, ME) and in the spring/summer, she CONSISTENTLY wore mini skirts. Not short skirts. Mini skirts. as in, oh look I can see your underpants when you sit down! If, indeed, you are wearing underpants this fine day.
Posted by: ahe | February 21, 2006 at 05:59 PM
Couldn't agree more with these don'ts. Sheesh--youngsters!
Posted by: Sweet | February 21, 2006 at 10:05 AM