Starting a new job can be both thrilling and daunting; here are some helpful tips to ease you in to it!
Take the initiative and introduce yourself to everyone in your department, as this will make remembering names and job titles much simpler in the future. Plus, it is a great way to build relationships.
1. Be Prepared
No matter whether you are working remotely or in an office environment, your first few days on the job are crucial in building rapport with your new manager and team members. Most roles also offer structured induction processes which will teach you about your responsibilities within the organisational structure and any applicable policies or procedures.
Before beginning a new role, it’s wise to conduct as much research on your new company as possible. This may involve reviewing any notes taken during interviews, reading reports and outlining previous projects. Depending on your work environment, you should also confirm start times and locations as well as necessary equipment (a computer for instance).
Employers typically have an onboarding process in place to help new hires settle in quickly and efficiently, including conducting an induction session, setting expectations, establishing a schedule, and meeting key staff members.
Your offer letter should contain some of this information; however, for specifics to your role it’s advisable to also speak to your manager or HR representative directly and request specifics about what it entails – for instance if it includes sales-related tasks it would be wise to inquire how success is measured by both yourself and your manager; in particular any goals/quotas set within your first weeks on the job should also be covered here.
Your boss provides an ideal opportunity to gain insight into their leadership style, too. Asking questions about preferred methods of contact, meeting formats and management styles will allow you to align your approach with theirs and be more effective overall.
2. Be Flexible
Beginning a new job can be intimidating and keeping an open mind is essential to its success. There are likely to be different elements than you had expected when applying, including paperwork such as tax forms, handbooks and waivers; as well as meetings and trainings which could take up significant amounts of your time – make sure to be flexible in scheduling meetings wisely.
As part of your initial transition process, it’s best to focus on listening and observing rather than speaking up too frequently in your first days or weeks at your new workplace. You will gain more insight into their culture and workings if you do this – you may come away with a better grasp on what expectations exist for your role. It is understandable if you don’t immediately want to share any insights or opinions; sitting silently will make an equally negative impression.
Make sure to discuss any flexibility concerns with your manager early, so they are aware of your desired goals and can find an acceptable solution. For example, if you need to adjust your hours early on to avoid an awkward situation later.
Flexibility is a highly prized skill that can add great value to both your career and life. To develop it, start preparing for conversations with managers by researching benefits of flexibility, setting personal priorities and considering areas for compromise. When negotiating with managers over flexible schedules, be ready to present data and facts that demonstrate why flexible work arrangements benefit both sides – the employer and employees.
3. Be Open-Minded
Being open-minded means being welcoming of new ideas, perspectives, suggestions and concerns while at the same time relinquishing prejudice, stubbornness or rigidity. Being an open-minded employee will help ensure a great start in any new position you undertake; openness allows more flexible adaptation in work environments which ultimately helps your career thrive and be sustainable long term.
Your new workplace may include a diverse mix of people. Be sure to be welcoming towards all, regardless of role or title. Acquainting yourself with everyone is key for fitting in and becoming a valuable contributor within a company, so show an interest in their careers, personal lives and hobbies in order to build trusting friendships while simultaneously learning about how your colleagues operate as a group.
Your first month in a new job should not be used to test how things are done; rather, observe and learn more about how your organization functions day-to-day. After gathering this knowledge of their operations, then decide if any processes need to be challenged within your business.
Prior to setting foot inside the office, conduct research on your manager, team and leadership to get acquainted with them. Seek any common threads between yourself and these individuals such as where they went to school or which hobbies they enjoy outside work – this will demonstrate your eagerness to become part of the company culture from day one and is a great way to break the ice and leave an excellent first impression with them.
4. Be a Team Player
Being an effective team player is vital, but especially so when entering a new organization. Your working life may be hectic and stressful; having supportive colleagues around can ease daily burdens while building professional relationships can provide invaluable assistance when things become tough.
Starting on your first day at your new job, make an effort to develop relationships with those around you by making personal connections with everyone around you. Your manager or someone from HR may introduce you to team members on day one; otherwise reach out and share some personal details in subsequent days so they know you care beyond just your role; this shows them you care and could help establish yourself quickly as an integral team player.
As a new hire, you may have many questions about both your role and company in general. While it’s okay to pose them, be wary of engaging in processes that might result in defensive reactions from colleagues; focus instead on asking queries that help you better understand how and why things operate this way.
Be open-minded when your boss assigns tasks you don’t initially enjoy doing; showing that you are invested in the project and reliable by taking on new responsibilities will demonstrate this commitment and ability.
5. Be Respectful
At the outset of any new job, one of your priorities should be setting clear expectations with your supervisor. Take this chance to discuss how you will work together and how performance will be measured; be sure to understand their perspective; don’t be shy about asking any necessary questions for clarity if necessary. If your role relies heavily on meeting sales quotas, for instance, make sure you are fully aware of all targets set and any incentives or penalties applicable should these goals be reached or exceeded.
As much as you may want to prove your dedication in your first week or month on the job, be mindful not to overextend yourself with demands and set healthy boundaries on personal issues such as lateness or how far your professional relationships have crossed into personal matters.
Further, it’s wise to steer clear of office politics or gossip. Because conversations could easily become divisive or misconstrued against you, it is generally best to remain neutral until settling into your position and having enough distance from any workplace drama to see things objectively.
Every interaction in your new workplace presents you with an opportunity to demonstrate professionalism and respect, creating an impactful first impression for colleagues, managers, and supervisors that could determine whether they view you as part of their team or not. Following these tips can help ensure a seamless transition into your career at your new company and set you on the path toward future success in it.