This may apply more to salaried positions than hourly (posted this on tumblr, but thought it fit here)
- Do the job, do the work well, but don’t do things that aren’t your job
- Management is not your friend
- You meet the deadline, but you make sure the deadline is actually doable without extra unpaid work.
- You never underestimate how long something will take to make your boss feel good.
- You always pad your estimates to account for random stuff that always comes up.
- Someone else’s promise is not your promise.
- If they promise you some reward for getting something done quicker or extra work, make them put it in writing.
- A raise in pay is better than a one time bonus, unless it is a big bonus
- If you are salaried, don’t work over 40 hours, otherwise you are giving away your time for nothing.
- The only recognition that matters is more money in your paycheck