It could be the doughnuts. Or, it might be the way you dress. Perhaps it’s the photo you choose to display on your desk.

According to some hiring managers, it’s the little things that often trip up new employees such as wearing a casual suit when a more formal one is required. Maybe it’s the faux pas of eating a donut at a desk when snacking outside the break room is a no-no. Or it could be the new worker who uses his or her cubicle as a standing art exhibit of a child’s finger painting.

“You would not go to another country and not be prepared to observe what the differences are, and yet people go to a new corporate culture and assume things are the same,” says Maureen Crawford Hentz, manager of talent acquisition, development and compliance for Sylvania in Danvers.

While Hentz says that learning the specific skills of a new job and getting to know other people on a team are important, it’s often the nuances of a company culture that can cause a new employee to stumble the most in the beginning.

“You’ve got to have a checklist in your mind and be on the lookout for things you might do that are not acceptable in that culture,” she says.

Bob Horst, head of recruitment and professional development for Nelson Levine deLuca and Horst, says that his 106-member firm has made about eight new hires in the last year, and while there is formal training for new workers regarding the company and individual duties, he still has some “pet peeves.”

“No one wants to hear the ‘new guy’ endlessly spouting advice and wisdom on his first day,” Horst says. “And I don’t want to hear about how you used to do things at your last employer.”

Stand And Deliver

Linda Matzigkeit, senior vice president of human resources for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, says that new employees also should be prepared to walk the talk that got them hired in the first place. In other words, new employees should immediately demonstrate they can actually do all the things they promised in order to get the job in the first place.

At the same time, employers say they want to see the same person they hired, especially when it comes to appearance and personal habits.

Those interviewed for this story agree that in today’s lean workplace, they’re counting on new employees to add value as soon as possible, and learn the company’s “do’s and don’t’s” so that co-workers and bosses feel comfortable with them.

“It’s the little things in the beginning that often put a stink on you for the rest of your career,” Crawford says. “Then you have to work twice as hard to erase them.”

If you want to help smooth your way the first days on a new job, some suggestions from those interviewed include:

Learning appropriate ways to communicate. Can you question a boss in a meeting? Is it OK to Twitter at work? Should e-mails be formal? Is it OK to address everyone by their first name, or does it depend on their title? “Spend time walking around and watching what people do. Do they talk casually with one another, or do they use formal e-mail?” Crawford says. “These are the things people don’t tell you, but you need to figure out on your own.”

Not watching the clock. Don’t be late and don’t rush out the door as soon as the clock says it’s time. You want to make it appear to others that you’re happy to be there and it’s important to you.

Maintaining a professional workspace. “There is a difference between the workplace and the front of your refrigerator,” Horst says. “I like to see a tasteful family photo because my family is important to me. But I don’t want to see a whole bunch of your child’s artwork all over the place. It is a workplace.”

Keeping socialization under control. “It’s important to fit in, but your main focus should be learning your job,” Matzigkeit says. “I don’t want to see a new employee worrying too much about making friends.”

Understanding the difference between policy and reality. “Yes, lunch is 12-1 (p.m.), but do people really go? Is it acceptable to eat at your desk?” Crawford asks. “Is it OK to bring your coffee or some doughnuts to a meeting?”

Crawford says that while it can be tough knowing what to do and what not to do, new workers can always go to human resources to get the inside skinny on the new workplace.

“Sometimes there are no hard and fast rules,” Crawford says. “You just have to understand what’s happening and then make your choices.”

Anita Bruzzese is author of "45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy…And How To Avoid Them."