Considering the dilligence with which you preceeded putting this meditation online, I'd bet that *you* personally would be a good employee to have. That's my first impression. Kudos to you on that account.

My second impression: although these may be good pointers for starters ... there's also a flip side to nearly every one of the points you raised, and the 'naysayers' of the world will do their part to reveal the antithesis.

There is no substitute for experience, understanding, and wisdom.

Grist for the mill, here are just some bits to chew on ... (assuming we're talking about programming jobs)

Certain positions and professions place a premium on maintaining the appearance of 'knowitall-super-genius' ... but this also tends to (justifiably and unjustifiably) alienate people. Of course, if you are exceptionally bright and naturally confident, there's no reason why you should not let it show ... but be ready to keep a lot of really good and revolutionary ideas to yourself. If your ideas are really good, and really revolutionary, people will resist them tooth and nail, and either you, or they will be dragged out kicking and screaming.

Try to fit in Change this to "bathe regularly and wear nice clothes"
As far as personal grooming and work attire, no brainer. As far as behavioral traits, who is to say what constitutes "fitting in"? What if there is no obvious operational or institutional momentum for you to follow? What if it is dysfunctional? What if you are at a startup where it is important to "stand out" and improvise? What if you were hired *specifically* because you exhibit a dominant trait that no one else has? (race, gender, languages spoken, disability, family background, et al. {note: in many cases this is illegal, but it still happens}).

"Be yourself, but try to belong" sounds like touchy-feely-greeting-card-speak, and lacks falsifiability, therefore toss this one into Marketing and let them play with it.

No brainer, but good to keep on the checklist, very few people are 100% punctual.

This one is a doozy, because, by definition, you are stepping on *someone's* toes by the mere fact that you are accepting money in exchange for your time. You aren't the only person who interviewed for that job, and your paths may soon cross with someone that you beat out for the position (you are in the same industry, after all). Moreover, the job would not have been available unless someone thought the existing personnel and resources were inadequate (for whatever reason).

That's just the very tip of the iceburg. What happens when you are caught in the middle of an internal religious war, turf battles, or divisions that do not talk to one another? What if you are pressured to join in on shunning the 'village idiot/outcast' or opposing a pervasive policy that is manifestly unfair and possibly even unethical/illegal?

All employers spy on their employees at work (and off work). Even if you work at a help desk in a remote office by yourself and you never get calls, you signed away a whole chunk of your life just to get the job. The realities of Federal workplace regulations and taxes mean that you can assume there is no element of your life that is outside of scrutiny. Keystroke loggers and email monitoring are just the trivial annoying flies buzzing around that huge steaming pile of legalese and tax minutia that you signed when you applied and when you accepted the job. That's where the real stink is. That's the most likely attack vector for snoops into your "privacy".

Cast a critical eye on your new job Change this to "A bird in the hand is worth ..."
Unless you are working someplace where you would willingly work for free, you are making a compromise. The pain and gravity of that compromise is, of course, contingent upon your own personal ultimate values. Values transcend your job title, your salary, and what other people may (or may not) think about you. Bailing out may seem like an attractive option, but if it were all roses and spice, we wouldn't call it "work."

Perhaps these may come off as the words of a 'naysayer' ... but like I said, just grist for the mill.