The accepted aesthetic of the modern office have unfolded and changed through the generations as dramatically as the typewriter’s evolution into the desktop PC. Few employers continue to force draconian, sterile environments upon their people; they now encourage flexibility, comfort and personal expression at work -- a concession that’s best proved by the personalization of your desk.

Now, that’s all very well -- thank goodness our days are no longer spent staring at Bartleby’s “dead-wall” -- but while corporate policy may have changed, human nature has not. This means that what your desk says about you will serve as the basis for what others will think about you.

You see, your desk is where your boss hovers over your shoulder, where clients will wait for your return and where your peers will judge you as they leave the office for lunch. As the rookie in the office, you may want to carefully consider what your desk says about you, but that’s not to say that the oldest veteran is free to express his inner salsa dancer. The calculated management of your workspace and the careful consideration of what your desk says about you are imperative if you seek to impress.

We've compiled some suggestions to help you make sure that what your desk says about you is positive.

Starting a new job is both exciting and nerve-racking. On the one hand, your future is wide open and filled with new opportunities, while, on the other, you’re in unfamiliar territory fraught with unprecedented dangers. That’s why it’s crucial for you to set your emotions aside and focus on how to make a good impression on your first day. For better or for worse, how your colleagues and supervisors perceive you on your first day can have a lasting impact on the rest of your career within the company.

Follow these six tips to make a good impression on your first day and keep your professional reputation intact.

Come in early

Your new employer should have indicated when your training begins. If you don’t have this information, make sure you call ahead to find out, and try to come into the office about 15 to 30 minutes early, which should give you plenty of extra time to deal with traffic jams and other unforeseen complications. You can’t afford to be late if you’re going to make a good impression on your first day. Keep in mind, however, that your supervisor is not likely to be ready until the scheduled time, so you may have to wait at reception.

Overdress

Try to remember what employees wore when you went in for your job interview, then dress just a bit more conservatively -- and we do mean a bit. Though you should avoid denim as a general rule if you’re trying to make a good impression on your first day, don’t show up in a three-piece suit if the average worker had on jeans and a T-shirt. If the case is as casual as this example, dress pants and a well-ironed shirt ought to be enough to make a good impression on your first day. If you can’t recollect your new office’s dress code, err on the side of caution and go with the classic suit and tie.