Go Slow on Special Request
As new grads don't expect everything upfront at the beginning. When asking for an extra privilege it's best not to do so straight away. What counts most at the initial stage is your reliability and value to your boss before you negotiate for any concessions - minor or major like adjusting your lunch hour or taking a vacation before you're due for one.
Show Initiative
Showing initiative is one way of moving your supervisor. Ask, 'What can I help with?' or just take up a task everyone else is avoiding. Don't expect supervisors to act like school masters to say, 'This is what I expected you to do.' By putting in a few extra minutes each day, for instance in clearing up supply closet mess, or major backlog at filing cabinet or updating an important database will not interfere with your primary responsibilities. Yet it will win you your boss's admiration and your coworkers' gratitude. This helps a lot as you go ahead.
Tact is the Key
When offering your opinion which you consider valuable to the organization's growth remember to offer it gently and with respect. You may have a fresh perspective, but you need to present it in the right way. Instead of questioning the management why something is done in a certain way, ask if management has ever considered doing it another way. Suggesting a new process rather than questioning an existing one shows your forward thinking which is bound to be appreciated by your boss without making you look as an arrogant know-it-all.
Make it Businesslike
Never compromise on your professional relationships even if some coworker in your workplace becomes your best friend.
Coworkers are your competitors as you are essentially going to be compared to them. Your friend could get a big raise and a promotion ahead of you or if a business needs to downsize one of the deciding factor on who goes and who stays is each person's productivity and quality of work. Realize that when you socialize in the office, others are busy getting their work done.
Show Independent Thinking
Understand your boss's personality and individual preferences so as to adapt your behavior to ensure a positive relationship. Understanding your boss's personality can make your job much easier as well as more rewarding and a better learning experience overall. Bosses seek individuals who are self motivated, energized, and who exhibit a go-getter attitude that gets the work done right and completed on time. So don't ask a lot of questions all day long. You have to know when you need to go to your boss and when you don't.
New employees need to show a degree of independence and initiative. This is important from your supervisor's point of view as he or she will appreciate the fact that you've figured out how things work and that you've begun to build relationships throughout the company. You also need to learn your supervisor's management style that can make your life much easier. Never harp on the fact that you're new as that sounds old.
Be Honest About Mistakes
To err is human. Tell your boss when you've made an error or one of your reporting staff has made a mistake. Any attempt to cover-up can spoil an effective relationship. Lies or efforts to mislead always result in further stress for you as you worry about getting "caught" or slipping up on the veracity of your story. Learn to communicate daily or weekly so as to build a healthy relationship with your boss.
