New jobs are exciting — but can be overwhelming at times. Often, you don’t know how you fit in or what expectations your colleagues will have of you. Typically, you do your research, arrive on time, and try to get to know your team. You take on responsibilities that don’t exactly align with your job description, but are needed to keep things running smoothly. It’s an amazing feeling of accomplishment when you are able to do your part to keep things running smoothly.
If you’re not careful, your new job can turn into a nightmare. In fact, 30 percent of employees leave their new job within 90 days of starting. This is a big loss of potential income and could have long-term career impacts.
Fortunately, you can avoid becoming one of those statistics by following these eight proactive steps.
1. Set goals for your first 30, 60, and 90 days.
The most important step to surviving a new job is setting realistic and measurable goals. By doing this, you can stay focused and motivated. It is also a good idea to prepare a 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day plan ahead of time so that you have a clear picture of what is expected of you.
2. Take notes and ask questions.
When your boss, manager, and coworkers are orienting you to your role and company culture, it is crucial that you listen and take notes. This helps you remember information and shows your enthusiasm for the position. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for recordings of meetings or presentations so that you can revisit them later. Taking detailed notes helps you learn faster and allows you to refer back to information later.
3. Work hard.
When you are new to a company, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you don’t have much to prove. This attitude is dangerous to your long-term career prospects. Unless you have an impossible boss, it’s a waste of energy to assume that you don’t need to do your job well. If you’re not getting the job done, don’t be afraid to speak up or find a new role.
4. Invest in your relationships.
Every workplace has a unique culture, and it’s important that you align with it early on. This will help you be a valued team member and will help you build your network. Reach out to your peers and invite them out for coffee or a quick chat over Slack. This will demonstrate that you care about building strong working relationships and will make it easier to ask for help if you run into a wall.
5. Ask your new boss and coworkers about their expectations.
Your managers, HR directors, and others want to hear how you’re adjusting to the new role and where you see yourself in the company long term. It’s normal to feel a little bit nervous about talking with your supervisors about your career aspirations, but it’s essential that you do so in order to maximize your productivity.