Advice For Beginning a New Job
By: Annalyse Charette
Starting Freshhh!
Leave your baggage behind. Starting a new job is an opportunity for reinvention. People don’t know you. Creating a positive perception is easier than changing a negative one. Personal brand = reputation. What words do you want people to use to describe you? Align your actions to that goal. Be on time, have a positive attitude, get involved and even dress for the job you want next without overdoing it. Your employer will be making a judgement about your potential from day one.
Words From Rosemary Haefner
“A lot of people look at getting the job offer as the finish line, but really it’s the start of another run,”
Tips For Starting Your New Job
- Make sure you understand from your first day why you were hired and what your goals are for the first 6–12 months. This can help with your direction in the weeks to come.
- It's not weak to ask for help. If you don't know how or where to find the information you need, you'll waste your time if you search for it yourself. Ask your boss or colleagues for help when you need it.
- Many people feel overwhelmed when they start with a new company. Everything is dramatically different, which can leave you feeling stressed and chaotic. Try to identify stability zones to help you find peace and stability in your new environment.
- Avoid making comparisons between your new company and your old company. Your new team doesn't want to hear "At my old job, we used to…" Focus on what you need to do now, not what or how you did something in the past.
- If someone on your new team does not respond well to you, don't take it personally – at least in the beginning. Remember, you might be in a role that someone else used to have, and that person might have been a friend of this team member. It will take time to establish trust. If someone on your team is being especially rude or difficult, our article Dealing with Difficult People can teach you how to resolve things diplomatically.
- Our Congratulations on Your New Role, Now What? workbook will help you plan in detail what you're going to do in the three months of a new job.
Start Being Professional
Once you’re settled in, avoid making personal calls, sending personal emails or taking long lunch breaks. Show that you are dedicated to your new job and that you want to be there. If you have nothing to do, offer to take on another task or help a colleague who looks overloaded. Not only will you impress the boss, but the days will fly by.
Communication Is The Key
Always be in touch and in tune. Speak up and ask questions, make suggestions and periodically check in with your boss. “Listening is just as important as speaking,” Haefner says. “Start a conversation with your boss to ask how you’re doing.”
Its Time To CHALLENGE YOURSELF!
Just because you did some research before your interview doesn't mean you know enough to be successful there. It can take time to get to know the company itself, but it is important to do research, look back at old projects, and find out what has worked for the company or your team in the past. Once you've had the opportunity to become acquainted with your new workplace, evaluated the work environment, observed your fellow employees, and surveyed the office protocol, work flow and discourse, you should set goals for yourself.
Getting through the first few days, weeks or months in a new job is tough, but remember to focus on what you want to get out of the experience.