Last modified: Thursday, July 3, 2008 2:12 AM EDT Five steps to surviving your first job BY AUDREY COULTER ATTLEBORO HIGH SCHOOL You've done the impossible. You've submitted an application, you've aced (or at least survived) the interview, you've beaten out the competition - you've been hired. Take a breath and bask in the joy that you're making minimum wage and might be able to pay your car insurance this month. It's a wonderful thing. Don't worry, that feeling of joy will pass in a minute. No matter what other jobs you've had, no matter where else you've worked, you've been demoted back down to the position that strikes fear in the heart of every employee - the newbie. There are many challenges for a newbie, from fearing customers to accidentally offending your boss. Luckily, however, there is an easy, five-step program that will help you move up the ranks from new employee to experienced pro. Step One: Acceptance The first step on the path to a happy workplace is acceptance. Yes, you're a newbie. Everyone was a newbie once, including that manager who's rolling her eyes at you. Even our beloved hero Tom Brady had to deliver pizzas to Robert Kraft. You'll get over it, if you don't get fired first. The powers of Zen will help you. Take a deep breath and repeat after me: "I am a newbie. I will survive. I will conquer the world and take over Chuck E. Cheese!" OK, you don't have to say the last part. But just remember, there are worse challenges to face than being new. You could, for example, have your head eaten by a piranha. Cheer up. Step Two: Take a Deep Breath Whether you're dealing with an angry boss or an evil customer, or even a product that won't scan, the key is to remain calm. If an irate customer is yelling at you, get a manager. If you're working the deep fryer and it begins to go haywire, get help. It's better to call your manager than to turn your fingers into french fries or charge someone $100 for a pair of socks, both of which are very bad for your future prospects. Step Three: The Customer is Always Right OK, I have a little secret to tell you. The customer? Yeah, a lot of the time the customer is very, very wrong. But, in the contradictory way of customer service, that customer who is always wrong is always right. Got that? If you have, you've mastered one of the crucial steps of being an employee. Yes, the air conditioning is too cold; yes, the prices are too high (though we do our best to keep them down); yes, Coke and fried mushrooms is a wonderful meal; yes, that dress looks great on you. It doesn't matter if it's boiling hot, the prices are ridiculously low, Coke and fried mushrooms are disgusting, or the dress is the worst plaid monstrosity you've ever seen - the customer is always right. Step Four: Make Friends This is a crucial step to success. No matter how tough your work day is, no matter how boring the work is, a friend can always make it better. Work friends, besides being the people you spend large amounts of time with, are your life vests in the vast sea of impersonal faces. You laugh with them, you cry with them, you make funny faces when they're answering the phone. Friends don't just have to be your co-workers. Friends can be a boss or a customer - both have more potential than you think. Although it's impossible to be buddies with everyone (who would want to?), it is possible to have a good attitude and give a little respect. Step Five: Keep it in Perspective At the end of the day, the job is just a job. Over time, you'll have great jobs and terrible jobs. You may love it; you may hate it. No matter what you think or how you feel about your place of employment, remember, it's just a job. And don't stick your hand in the deep fryer.