So, you’ve whipped up a champion CV, stood out in the interview phase and landed that special job you’ve been eyeing – congratulations!
Now what?
The first week of a new job can be a stressful time – and it’s also the time where you’ll be making important first impressions, learning the ropes and hopefully convincing your employers that they made the right choice. Here’s how to get started on the right foot:
Ask questions – a LOT of questions
You might feel awkward being the newbie who doesn’t know anything, but the early days at a new job are the golden moments to learn as much as you can – later on, you’ll be expected to already know those things. Being curious also shows energy, interest and initiative.
Be overly friendly
As a new member to the work scene, the onus is on you to get out there and show your face. Don’t allow some people to go by unintroduced – you many not get another chance to build up rapport, so go out of your way to introduce yourself and make sure everyone knows exactly who you are.
Set the tone
People will be making snap judgments on how you handle yourself in the first few weeks of your new job. In everything you do, make sure you are communicating to your new workmates what your standards are, and establish a proper precedent for everything from how you communicate to how you manage your responsibilities.
Find a mentor
If you can, be on the look out for someone who knows your work environment well and who can not only help you around, but can put in a good word for you later on. By aligning yourself with people who are already in stable, successful positions in your work environment, you set yourself up to learn how to do the same yourself.
Suss out the social situation
Every office or work team has their own special culture, and it pays to understand where you’ll fit in. Spend the first few weeks just observing and getting a handle on office politics. Where does everyone congregate? What’s the coffee/lunch situation? What are the unspoken rules and expectations?
Organize yourself
Update your social media profiles to reflect your new title and demonstrate that you take your position seriously by keeping on top of communications and chores. Try to find a new routine that works, get to know your workplace well and make yourself at home in your workspace.
Look for new connections
Try to be alert to any opportunity to link up with other relevant professionals. Be curious about what people do, be sociable and never turn down any networking events. You’ll feel more stable and comfortable once you can start to build a network of other professionals around you.
In many ways, starting a new job can feel a bit like starting at a new school – people will notice what you do and don’t do, and the tone you set in the early days will affect people’s expectations of you for the rest of your time there. Be vigilant and focus on portraying the most confident, switched on version of yourself, and you’ll establish a good base on which to build.
