Starting a new job is a great opportunity to build your career and learn about a different industry. While this time can be exciting, it can also be overwhelming when there is so much to take in. From meeting your co-workers to mastering your new skills, here are some tips to help you succeed in your first days, weeks and months at a company.
One of the most stressful parts of a new job is meeting and learning to communicate with your coworkers. You need to be on your best behaviour and memorize many names and faces, which can feel incredibly stressful. To help ease the pressure, try to be a good listener and avoid speaking too much. If a conversation feels awkward, try to move on or ask questions about the topic that is causing anxiety.
A good way to break the ice and make friends is to find common interests. This can be as simple as discussing your hobbies with a colleague or chatting about an article you’ve read that is relevant to your work. It is a great opportunity to show your personality and make a connection with people, which can help you feel more comfortable at work.
Another important part of your onboarding process is learning about the culture of the company. This includes the values, beliefs and attitudes that make up the workplace culture. It is helpful to do some digging into this during the interview process, but it will be even more important as you get acclimated to your role. If you can, try to get a sense of the culture during your lunch breaks or by asking co-workers for insights about the workplace.
It is also a good idea to start your career off on the right foot by establishing clear expectations with your manager. A great place to begin is by preparing a 30 day, 60 day, and 90 day plan of what you want to accomplish in the new role. This can be helpful for performance review purposes, but it will also give you a clear path to success.
If your manager has not already given you a copy of the job description, ask for one. This will help you clarify and prioritize the tasks at hand. It is a good idea to compare the job description with your current responsibilities to see if there are any overlaps or if you need to make some adjustments in order to be successful.
Be sure to prepare for a busy first week. It is a good idea to cancel unnecessary appointments, understand that your workday may run longer than expected and try to get a good night’s sleep. If the workload is too intense, it’s a good idea to speak with your manager about adjusting your responsibilities or finding other ways to improve your productivity.