Coming on board a new company is both and exciting and trying time filled with learning, adjustment and adapting. Sometimes it may seem daunting to walk into a new building, or sit behind your desk at home and perform all that you’ve promised you can do. But there is a reasonable expectation for new employees when they first get started.
New Quest Coaching and Consulting is a leadership and team building coach for businesses in Western Canada and Northwestern USA who understands that when you get a new job, you may wonder what you should be doing to make sure you become part of the team, gain respect and trust, demonstrate your value, and more. It may all come in time, but here are a few tips to help you get started.
Each company is like its own hive in the way it functions. A bit of homework on the company can help you get through the interview, but after you’ve been through the processes, you should take advantage of any resources the company provides to help you get to know them. Check over the website, watch company videos and even read reviews about the company online.
First impressions are a real thing, and will leave a lasting image for others to remember you by. If you don’t consider yourself approachable, there’s a time for fixing that, and it’s now. Look people in the eye and smile. It doesn’t take a lot to strike up a conversation. This simple step can help establish friends at work and may be a huge determining factor for judging your job satisfaction in the future.
A new job is a new job, regardless of experience or position, which means there may be some growing pains. Whatever you may be stressed by at home, don’t drag that into work with you. Those stresses may unload onto someone else without you even knowing it, and they may not be ready to share your burdens. Make an effort to see things glass-half-full and you may find yourself quickly making an impression as someone with a positive outlook.
Opportunities to open up are available, even for new hires, in the form of lunch, happy hour, additional roles, or even staying to work late. Be open to the idea of doing more, but do not go so far you burn out. The idea here is to show you’re ready at all times to do more, without doing so much you flounder. From day one, your co-workers and supervisors will be trying to get a feel for you. Having an air about you that says you’re ‘one-of-the-guys’ is hugely beneficial.
Whether you come with twenty years experience or two, a new job is that, new. Be prepared to ask questions and not feel ashamed for needing help. Co-workers and supervisors want to see you succeed and are unlikely to shy away from walking you through aspects of your position you may not be familiar with. For those with more experience, you may know how the job was done at your previous company, but now, you have to learn their way of doing things.
Dodge the office politics. You will find some co-workers are quick to suck you into the office drama to establish whose side you’re on. Appear as a neutral third party, keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. Sometimes, a co-worker may confide in you and vent about the job or those they work with. Resist the urge to agree or argue, you may not have the whole story. Pleading ignorance and refusing to give a reaction is not a bad idea either.
How well you perform when you first get started is determinant by how well you accept feedback and what you do with it. If you can recognize your performance when you first get started may need improvement, and be clear with others that you’re willing and able to accept thoughtful critiques, you appear trustworthy and like a team player. Don’t worry if you don’t receive any feedback automatically at first, the company is getting a feel for you and how you respond best. This will change in time as you grow into your position.
From the moment you finish onboarding and through your first few days at a new job, you will be establishing who you are and what you can do. New Quest Coaching and Consulting wishes you all the best in your new job. For more team building tips that might help you, check out our blog or watch one of our videos. If you're a manager or team leader who wants help leading or training a new team, then check out our online training and development courses!
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Shane Jensen