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"Executives often complain to me about the new generation of employees \u2014 they aren't as committed, sophisticated or knowledgeable as more experienced employees would like them to be. They get bored or disillusioned quickly. Turnover is a problem, and so on. Just as often, I respond that youth may not be the main problem new hires have.\nPeople face many pressures at the start of their career. In addition to understanding their new position, they are trying to figure out the who, what, where, why and how of daily work life. So a lot of new employees are grateful when someone offers to show them the ropes. Some organizations even assign mentors to get new hires up to speed.\nAlthough well-intentioned, that's where the trouble can start. Here are a few simple precautions for those just launching their careers:\nSEE ALSO: What the Incompetent Executive Can Teach You\nRemain a free agent as long as you need to\nWhen you walk into an organization, the formal hierarchy may seem clear, but it takes time to learn how things really work. Who get things done? Who are the power players? They may not be the same people. What are your goals and who will foster them? Be friendly with as many people as possible. Try not to be thought of as belonging to one clique or another. Think of your early weeks and months as a B-school assignment. Map the organization to gain a deep understanding about the people and the place and who is most likely to advance your objectives. Advantages don't always come from the most obvious sources. Take time to search them out.\nFigure out your boss's agenda\nWhile this may sound counterintuitive at first, be wary of buying into your boss's agenda hook, line and sinker. Of course, you will want to be supportive and dedicate yourself to the team's projects. But understand that no one's interests will be fully aligned with yours \u2014 not even your boss's. Their agenda may be deeply at odds with what you are trying to accomplish in the position and in your career. During the hiring process, everyone puts on the team smile, but it will take time to understand where your boss really stands and what his or her true plans are. Advance cautiously, and include your boss in your mapping assignment.\nAvoid being sucked into others' games\nIf you don't become part of a group when you start work, the folks in the office may try to draw you in. Your colleague in sales may tell you some juicy gossip about what's \"really going on\" in marketing. Many offices have a chronic complainer, someone who isn't happy and uses every opportunity to let you know about it. As a consultant, I'm not even at a company full time and I hear speculation about conspiracies, secret dating and other spurious tidbits \u2014 all the time. Remain as neutral as possible. Your response will allow others to make \u2014 and pass along \u2014 judgment about your character. Neutralize the conversation, by responding \"I don\u2019t know about that. Let\u2019s talk about this new account\u2026\"\nSEE ALSO: Mold Yourself Into a Great MBA Candidate in Three Years\nNot all company cultures will allow you to stay neutral. Help yourself by being prudent when talking to colleagues and making friends. If you do, you may find more experienced workers wondering aloud why the rest of your generation can't be like you.\nSEE ALSO: Blew the Interview? There's Still Hope"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/07/07/first-job-office-politics/>