Summer's almost over, which means new grads who took the summer off may be job hunting.

For those of you settling in to your first post-college jobs, here are a few tips I must share:

1) Use spellcheck. It's built-in for a reason. And it won't catch everything (like names) but it's a start. I can't tell you how annoyed I get before I start reviewing a document when I see it's filled with typo's.

2) Pay attention to detail. If someone gives you editsm incorporate them and the proofread the changes. Then proofread it again. And do it once more for good measure.

3) Write an office e-mail as you would a letter or a memo. If you're new and e-mailing a supervisor or office group for work-related reasons, don't use AIM abbreviations like "b4" or "ttfn."

3a) Observe that business people have their own abbreviations, such as: EOD (end of day), COB (close of business), SOM (share of market) and POV (point of view).

4) Get everything in writing. If kinko's quotes you a special price or an endtime for your project to be done, have them document it to you in an e-mail, or you document it to them in the form of a confirmation e-mail. Then print and file this e-mail.

4a) Get the terms of your new job and salary in a letter from your potential employer. If they promise to review you for financial compensation (a raise) in 6 months, make sure it's in writing.

5) Don't complain at work. Not quietly on your phone, not in e-mails to your friends, not in the lobby and not in the elevator. The walls have ears my friends, and lots of times, the walls can talk. It never ceases to amaze me.

6) Never let them see you cry. There's no crying in baseball and there's no crying at work. First of all, it's just not worth it. These people aren't friends or family so what the hell do you care if their contructive criticism or shoddy management styles offend you. You are there to get the work done and get paid. Period. Second, they will lose respect for you and it won't make you situation better. For about 1 day they will see you as a human being and then they will go back to treating you like an android, but for them on they will treat you like a retarded android, that sucks even worse.

7) Blow your own horn. Subtley. Don't rely on your supervisor to communicate the good work that you've done, but when you have the opportunity to speak with those in charge and they ask you how it's going, work in enthusiastic and strategic responses such as, "Things are great! I love my team and I am really excited that I was able to get X on the phone yesterday and get Y achieved." It's smart and more importantly, makes you look smart for knowing how to play the game.

8) If you can't get it done, lie. I tell all my reports this. If I ask if they got X done, and they haven't gotten to it, lie and tell me you placed the call and then the minute I walk away, switch gears and DO IT. Supervisors don't want to hear excuses. Everybody today has a million things to do. Supervisors are like clients and they want to know that you are treating their assignments with priority. If you can't get something done, then alert your supervisor BEFORE they ask.

9) Don't look at porn on your work computer. It's just not good. Unless you work for a porn-related company.

10) Send handwritten thank you notes to every person you meet. In a world of electronic media, people really appreciate this simple, human touch. People forget the art of thank you notes - and they are an art. This will come back to you tenfold. Trust me.

11) Photocopy all handwritten correspondence to clients and vendors. It's called a papertrail. Learn this. It's your friend.

12) Be respectful of every person you meet. The receptionist and the mailroom guy tend to go places.

13) Don't get drunk at company gatherings. There's always someone who violates this rule. Don't be that girl. Or guy.

14) Ask questions at staff meetings. Management loves this. They think someone cares. A simple one is, "How will this new policy affect X?"

15) Make suggestions to improve company morale to HR and copy your supervisor. Makes you look like a company supporter.

There's so much more but I don't want to overwhelm. Try that for starters.

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