Congratulations, you’ve been hired! While there’s nothing more exciting than taking on a new role in a new company, there are sure to be surprises and many ups and downs as you settle into the job and build your career. Here is some advice as you navigate those early months.
A new job is a fresh start. Remember when you first went away to college and got to redefine yourself and how people see you? This is another opportunity to bring out a new dimension of who you are. Always strive to bring forth your best. And remember, this job is not just about you. You are joining a company that expects you to be part of a team — doing your best also means working well with others.
To that end, absorb everything and listen. In the early days, you have to be a keen observer, kind of like an anthropologist observing a new culture. Every company has its rituals and methods of doing things. Observe the rhythm and make note of important operating processes. For example, the close of the quarter is always a busy time for sales and finance — probably not a good time to pitch a new long-term idea.
Even as you strive to fit in and adapt to the company’s needs, remember that you don’t have to give up your identity in the process. Early on, find a way to express your individuality. Maybe it is how you prepare for reports or meetings, what you bring to decorate your desk, or how you ask questions. Remember that your company hired you because your background, skill set, and personality filled a specific need they had — it would be a real shame to suppress the exact things that make you unique once you get your ID card.
Ask good questions. In fact, ask any question. You will never learn unless you ask how to do something or what’s expected of you. I find it’s often helpful in the early days of a project to summarize what the assignment is and ask the project leader if you have understood correctly.
At the same time, you can only use the fact that you’re new as an excuse for so long. Give yourself three months of being the new kid and six months to feel like you’ve got your groove going. That’s not to say that you should ever stop asking questions — it’s just that at some point, you have to demonstrate that you’ve grasped the basics.
Make your boss look good. Make your team look good. You may not have chosen to work with either, but your job is to deliver success, and no one can do that alone. I often hear people say, “But the boss (or teammate) took my idea and never gave me credit.” You would be wise not to dwell on such things. In most well-functioning teams, it becomes clear over time who the good contributors are and what separates the rock stars from the groupies. If you feel as though you’re not getting enough credit for your contributions, find time to meet regularly with your boss to summarize what you have done and get feedback on your performance.
And speaking of teams: Don’t get derailed by the office “magpies.” They’re the ones who love to share tales of misery and woe. You need to work with them, but you don’t need to be like them. I once had colleagues who ate lunch at their self-titled “Table of Lost Dreams.” These folks liked nothing more than to lure newbies into their circle. But dwelling on the negative will only make you miserable, and it won’t do anything for your reputation, either. Seek out the positive thinkers.
Be confident. Remind yourself as frequently as you need to that you were hired for a good reason. I find it’s helpful to go into a new role with a condensed version of your story: what you do, your background and what you’re excited to be working on. Don’t be the person who constantly brings up the way things were done at your old place, or your colleagues will start to wonder why you ever left. Focus on your current role and what excites you about it.
Take on the challenging assignments, especially the ones that no one else sees. That’s how you learn, grow and distinguish yourself. In the early days, it’s important that you show examples of what you are capable of. When no one else volunteers, raise your hand.
Above all, enjoy yourself! You’ll doubtless be spending a lot of hours at work every day. Find joy there.
A new job is a fresh start. Remember when you first went away to college and got to redefine yourself and how people see you? This is another opportunity to bring out a new dimension of who you are. Always strive to bring forth your best. And remember, this job is not just about you. You are joining a company that expects you to be part of a team — doing your best also means working well with others.
To that end, absorb everything and listen. In the early days, you have to be a keen observer, kind of like an anthropologist observing a new culture. Every company has its rituals and methods of doing things. Observe the rhythm and make note of important operating processes. For example, the close of the quarter is always a busy time for sales and finance — probably not a good time to pitch a new long-term idea.
Even as you strive to fit in and adapt to the company’s needs, remember that you don’t have to give up your identity in the process. Early on, find a way to express your individuality. Maybe it is how you prepare for reports or meetings, what you bring to decorate your desk, or how you ask questions. Remember that your company hired you because your background, skill set, and personality filled a specific need they had — it would be a real shame to suppress the exact things that make you unique once you get your ID card.
Ask good questions. In fact, ask any question. You will never learn unless you ask how to do something or what’s expected of you. I find it’s often helpful in the early days of a project to summarize what the assignment is and ask the project leader if you have understood correctly.
At the same time, you can only use the fact that you’re new as an excuse for so long. Give yourself three months of being the new kid and six months to feel like you’ve got your groove going. That’s not to say that you should ever stop asking questions — it’s just that at some point, you have to demonstrate that you’ve grasped the basics.
Make your boss look good. Make your team look good. You may not have chosen to work with either, but your job is to deliver success, and no one can do that alone. I often hear people say, “But the boss (or teammate) took my idea and never gave me credit.” You would be wise not to dwell on such things. In most well-functioning teams, it becomes clear over time who the good contributors are and what separates the rock stars from the groupies. If you feel as though you’re not getting enough credit for your contributions, find time to meet regularly with your boss to summarize what you have done and get feedback on your performance.
And speaking of teams: Don’t get derailed by the office “magpies.” They’re the ones who love to share tales of misery and woe. You need to work with them, but you don’t need to be like them. I once had colleagues who ate lunch at their self-titled “Table of Lost Dreams.” These folks liked nothing more than to lure newbies into their circle. But dwelling on the negative will only make you miserable, and it won’t do anything for your reputation, either. Seek out the positive thinkers.
Be confident. Remind yourself as frequently as you need to that you were hired for a good reason. I find it’s helpful to go into a new role with a condensed version of your story: what you do, your background and what you’re excited to be working on. Don’t be the person who constantly brings up the way things were done at your old place, or your colleagues will start to wonder why you ever left. Focus on your current role and what excites you about it.
Take on the challenging assignments, especially the ones that no one else sees. That’s how you learn, grow and distinguish yourself. In the early days, it’s important that you show examples of what you are capable of. When no one else volunteers, raise your hand.
Above all, enjoy yourself! You’ll doubtless be spending a lot of hours at work every day. Find joy there.
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