The rules of the 'career' game

As you close the "college" chapter of your life, a new chapter opens – your career. And you are the author of this new chapter. How your career proceeds depends on many factors. Mary Crane, a career coach who works with Fortune 500 companies and top-tier law firms (marycrane.com), has identified these top five tips to make the most of the first critical year on the job.

Hard work is a great start, but it's not enough. The work force is not a meritocracy – do good work and you'll get rewarded. The most successful new employees know building relationships with their internal clients and associates is crucial. The importance of "face time" with supervisors and co-workers cannot be overestimated. Managers and supervisors are more likely to reward (through increased pay or promotion) the employees they know and like.

Be the whole package. Leave behind the relaxed informality of college. Create a persona of the "consummate professional." Everything new graduates do, from how they answer the phone to how they navigate social settings, communicates whether they have made the transition from student to professional.

Take a good look around. Every organization has a culture which is partially expressed by an accepted manner of dress. New hires should dress in a manner consistent with the culture of their employer. Dressing for an East Coast law firm may look different than dressing for a West Coast PR firm.

Know when to turn it off. Be hyperaware of the employer's communication culture. There is a time to turn off cell phones, BlackBerries, iPods and other devices, such as, a meeting with more senior members of the firm or a business lunch or dinner.

Build a network – and not the wireless kind. New hires should start building their professional networks immediately. Networking is critical for professional development and business development purposes. The good news is that the earlier in their career the new hire starts the easier networking becomes. New employees should immediately commit to staying in touch with people they meet at conferences and people they have met at school. Remember: Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer were once college classmates. Now, one is the richest man in the world and the other is a top wage earner and CEO of Microsoft.