I can't over-emphasize the importance of starting off on the right foot by bringing your best effort to your first job. The initial impression you make on your employer can mean a lot down the road - even if you don't stay with your first employer. Having positive references will show future employers - as well as graduate schools some of you might apply to - that you entered the working world as a mature and confident adult.

It goes without saying that if you do stay with your first employer for an extended period of time, the impact you make as a new recruit can be extremely helpful in the subsequent years. There are a number of examples. For instance, most employers keep good records on their employees, and these records become vitally important when employees are up for promotion. Also, the lower-level superiors you'll have as a new employee will more than likely move up in the firm ahead of you, remaining above you. They'll remember the kind of work you did, and can prove to be powerful allies in your own climb up the ladder.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes in your first year. It's inevitable, and there isn't anyone in the business world who didn't stumble in his or her early years. It really is true that you learn from your mistakes, so pick yourself up and move on. Equally important is avoiding being a blamer. Not many people are impressed by the ability to show that a mistake was someone else's fault.

Political correctness has become an important and controversial issue in corporate America. Part of being a responsible adult is having the common sense to know what is and what isn't appropriate to say in an office setting. If you've managed to earn a college degree, you're clearly bright enough to figure out what might offend someone of another gender or race - so play it smart.

I'll leave you with the best advice of all: enjoy yourself! Work hard and demonstrate that you're a competent and diligent worker, but also enjoy this interesting part of your life. You're embarking on a new adventure, so make the most of it. Much like college itself, many people look back fondly on their first few years in 'the real world' as a very special point in their lives. As your office becomes a second home for you, your co-workers will become an important new set of friends.