The amount of joking and the tone you are "allowed" to use largely depends on the environment that you enter. So it's necessary to get a feeling for that before you start joking around, Ruby.


In some workplaces you'll have to be very serious, while other workplaces are much more easy going and relaxed. It also depends on the people you work with.

It seems that in your situation, joking around just isn't the way to go. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over that.