Rookies to the working world are bound to stumble a bit when they're just starting out . After all, figuring out how to navigate the workplace for the first time, on top of adjusting to the independence of adulthood, is sure to be challenging.

"The biggest mistake is not setting up some kind of routine," said Blake McCammon, marketing manager at Looksharp, a career networking site for new grads and interns.

In your college years, it might have been easy to stay out late to party on weeknights and drag yourself through a few classes the next day, he said. Perhaps you set up a forgiving schedule as McCammon had, typically attending classes between noon and 4 p.m. But getting through a full day of work with a hangover, on the other hand, may prove more difficult.

Instead, embrace the old tenet of "early to bed and early to rise" and put yourself on a set schedule to stay on track professionally, McCammon said. "It's a lot about willpower and understanding that you're out of college now and you have more responsibilities," he said.

Along those same lines, get organized both at work and at home, he said. That means maintaining a calendar, tidying up your desk and apartment and putting things in their proper places (whatever that might mean to you). "Being organized in your professional and personal life will definitely keep stress levels down," he said. "And it'll set you up for success in the future."

Part of your routine at work should include regularly communicating with your boss — something new employees often don't do enough, according to Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder.

"Even after you've learned the ropes a bit, remember that you still need to keep your boss actively in the loop about what you're working on and the progress you're making," she said. "Get an idea of how often your boss likes to be updated, both in general and when you're working on a particular project."

It's OK to ask questions

Another common mistake among new workers is not asking questions . Perhaps you're shy or afraid of appearing dumb (or both). But remember that "you're not expected to know everything right off the bat," said Haefner, "so you should ask as many questions as possible in order to learn quickly."

Indeed, acting timid is another mistake people make at work. "Starting a new job, especially your first one, can be a nerve-wracking experience," said Haefner. "It's normal to feel unprepared, but it's also important to remember that you were hired for a reason."