SO now you have that new job you’ve been looking for. Don’t let a dream turn into a nightmare.

“Starting a new job can be like a honeymoon or your first night in hell; and you have unique control over which way it goes,” says Tom Gimbel, chief executive officer of The LaSalle Network, a Chicago-based staffing, recruiting and executive service firm that has worked to place employees at more than 800 companies.

Gimbel offers these tips to make sure you don’t get off to a bad start:

1. One-week warning. A week before you start, call in to ensure everything is in order. Ask if you need to bring in any additional information, and check again on work attire.

2. Clear your calendar. Don’t make personal plans during your first week. Managers don’t take kindly to you checking your watch, especially when you’ve just started.

3. Race to work. The commute can be maddening, so give yourself time. Arrive early? Have a cup of coffee. Arrive late? Your job may not be waiting tomorrow.

4. Patience and paperwork. Your first challenge will most likely be loads of paperwork. Expect it, and deal with it graciously and with enthusiasm.

5. Before you start, get smart. Learn names – of reports, supervisors, co-workers. Your initial effort to get acquainted makes a lasting impression, and goes a long way.

Flex your ‘funny bone’ at work, but…

EVERYONE appreciates a chance to smile and laugh at work. Flexing your funny bone appropriately can help move you up the corporate ladder.

A survey of executives conducted by Robert Half International, a staffing firm with a global network of more than 300 offices, reveals that 91 per cent consider a sense of humour important to career advancements.

Not to mention that displaying levity on the job can help you build a rapport with colleagues, facilitate open communication, make the work environment a positive one, and relieve tension on even the most stressful of days.

But remember, you must take into consideration the atmosphere of your workplace. Don’t go overboard, be inappropriate or mean-spirited at the expense of others.

Some tips follow:

. Say no to sarcasm. Being sarcastic is not the same as being facetious. Sarcasm aims to belittle; facetious remarks are jocular. For instance, saying, ‘I can’t believe you’re here on time… what’s the occasion?’ is not a good idea.

. Be the butt of your own joke. Poke fun at your own foibles. Doing so can put others at ease. Keep your comments light, as you don’t want co-workers to think of your attempt at humour as a cry for help.

. Laugh with others. Even if you don’t have any clever jokes, you can share in the fun when others do.