Sam Allardyce has lost his job as England manager after only 67 days in the role. After his appointment he said ‘I can’t stop smiling because I’ve got this job’, but lasted only one match before being forced to resign after a newspaper sting alleged that he was negotiating a £400,000 personal deal that would involve giving advice on how to ‘get around’ certain FA rules. For Allardyce it’s a devastating and premature end to what was his footballing dream. For the FA it’s an embarrassing moment at a time when the English National team was already at an all time low. So in the midst of such a foolish mistake causing the loss of the biggest job in English football, what are the simple things you need to know to ensure that you can get off to a good start in your job? Arrive proper and have a positive attitude Arrive to the office dressed in your best work clothes, or at least in accordance with how your work colleagues dress. Once there, take the first step to engage with them. Introduce yourself, they might not have time to set aside to find you, so you make the first move. While you’re at it, learn their name. It’s simple but effective, and the next time you see them saying ‘Good morning, Helen’ instead of just hello, will make all the difference. Ask questions ‘Can you help me?’ is a good one to start with. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance, and definitely don’t be afraid to ask ‘stupid’ questions. Have faith in yourself: if you can’t figure it out, it’s probably not that obvious. This counts for the small stuff too. Figuring out how the coffee routine works can be as important to establish as anything. Work full days Get in early and be in no rush to leave. Most bosses will admit that they prefer to see their employees in before the actually have to be, and it’s pretty common knowledge that if you’re seen sprinting from the office the second it hits five o’clock, it won’t look brilliant for your work ethic. Establish relationships Whether it be developing a good rapport with your boss, finding a mentor, or even just a work buddy, office relationships are what will settle you into a new job and help you build a happy working mentality. These relationships can start small, through finding someone that seems keen to offer you advice or a fellow workmate who you enjoy having a coffee with. Stay out of gossip and get into office socialising Whatever you do, stay away from the office gossips for now. These things are normal, and you’ll probably find yourself drawn to them – or even involved in them! – eventually. Still, it’s not a great thing to add to the offices initial impression of you. It’s much better to be a keen participant in out-of-office activities, be they sports or office dinners. Take, take, take! Take notes, take initiative and take your time. Having a note book and jotting down how computer systems work in your own words will help you get used to them. You might find yourself getting into the routine of how the computer system works, only to arrive the next morning and realise you’ve forgot. Take notes that you can refer to, you’ll probably find your own instructions easier to follow than anyone else’s. Don’t sit around all day waiting for someone to tell you what to do. Try and find something for yourself. This shouldn’t mean you’re afraid to ask for help, but at least have a go by yourself first. Asking ‘what do I have to do next?’ is better than ‘how do I start?’ Ease yourself in to these things. They’re great things to do, but it doesn’t have to happen all at once, and hopefully you’ll have more than 67 days to settle in!