Thousands of workers will be heading to a new job this month, excited and nervous to prove they've got what it takes.
After the flurry of hiring that typically happens in the first quarter, the fall tends to be the second-biggest hiring period of the year, according to career coach Kathleen Brady, author of "Get a Job!"
and the director of career development at Georgian Court University.
Employers refocus on their top initiatives and capitalize on any
remaining budget for new hires.
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Use the first week to meet people and set the right tone
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For all those newbs hanging their coats on a new office
chair, that means it's time to get to work. "The first three months of
any new job are an extension of the interview process," says Amanda Augustine, career expert at TheLadders, an online job-matching service for professionals. "From the first day, you need to be on your game."
With a decade of experience advising high-level
professionals, Augustine details what the most successful people do that
first week in a new job:
1. Be a geek about introducing yourself.
Take the initiative to meet people. Say hello in the elevator,
kitchen, or bathroom. It will pay off in the end. "It could be a
fast-paced culture, and they don't have time to come to you," Augustine
says. "Start with the group that's
closest to you, the people you're directly working with." It will be in
their best interest to get you started on the right foot, because your
work will directly affect theirs.
2. Befriend a veteran who can help you navigate politics (and find the pencils).
Learn who the players are, and who's been at your company
awhile, she advises. Find the seasoned veteran who has a good handle on
what works and doesn't and can show you around. "Companies have their own language and inside jokes," she says. "Look
for the one person to help you decode the acronyms and office
politics." Plus, you'll need someone to go to for the silly things.
Asking your boss where to find the pencils is a bit below their pay
grade.
3. Set expectations with your boss and employees.
"Get on your boss's calendar," Augustine says. Use that
initial meeting to establish what they believe success will look like in
the first week, month, and three months. At the same time, if you're in
a managerial position, it's important to begin setting expectations
with your direct reports. From communication style to office hours, that
first week sets the tone.
4. Analyze the makeup of your new team.
Pay attention to the subtle cues you receive from those in
your group. Chances are, there may be one or more people who were vying
for your role — so watch your back, Augustine warns. Look for
opportunities to befriend and leverage the talents of your new
colleagues to avoid any resentment from building up.
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Gerson Lerhman Group At consulting firm Gerson Lehrman Group,
employees hang out at the office's coffee bar, manned by a full-time barista.
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5. Figure out the coffee situation.
Learning where the coffee is will always be a good strategy for
success. It's also important to figure out the unwritten rules of the
office that, if violated, make people go ballistic. Who washes the
dishes? Which shelves are communal? "In our office, there are several
refrigerators, and people get upset if you use the wrong one," she says.
"Be a sponge, and watch how people are doing things. There's nothing wrong with asking how to use the coffeemaker."
6. Start demonstrating and documenting what you sold the company on.
"Whatever you sold them on in the interview, make it your
mission to demonstrate that you're going to do it," Augustine
recommends. If you said you were a social media whiz or good with
numbers, immediately start revamping the social accounts or making sense
of the company's analytics. And start a brag sheet. Keep track of all
your accomplishments, major contributions, and when you get positive
feedback. You want to get in the habit early and have the information at
the ready for future performance reviews and salary negotiations.
7. Ask tons of questions to learn the ropes.
Soak in as much as possible in that first week. If you
plan on making any big changes, you need to first understand how things
are usually done, and you need to earn the team's trust. "Win them
over by taking the time in the beginning to learn how things are done
and why, so when you want to make changes, you can build a strong
argument that your team will support," she advises.
8. Get organized to set good habits.
Especially because a lot of new information is coming your way,
setting good habits and being organized from the start will make your
life easier down the line. It's also a good time to improve your bad
habits. "It's a great opportunity to
overcome any challenges or weaknesses from your past," Augustine says.
If you've struggled with time management, for example, use that first
week to map out how you'll spend each day and begin putting it into
practice.
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Make sure you're visible in your new role.
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9. Show your face as much as possible.
Sit in on as many meetings as you
can, she suggests, and don't be afraid to speak up. Not only will you
get a feel for what and who's important in the company, but others will
start to get used to seeing you around. Establish yourself in your
expert area, and they'll know whom to come to in the future.
10. Reinforce your new connections on social media.
Once you're officially on the job, it's important to update your
title across your own social media platforms and also start following
your new company and colleagues. As you meet new people, cement the
relationships by finding them on Twitter or LinkedIn. Augustine
suggests identifying the platform that makes the most sense. Facebook,
for instance, is viewed by many as personal, so use discretion.
11. Reconnect with former colleagues.
Perhaps counterintuitively, she says the first week of a new
job is the perfect time to reach out to colleagues from your previous
jobs. "Go back and reconnect
with people at your old company, and ask for LinkedIn recommendations,"
she suggests. The best time to get referrals is when you're not looking for a new job, she says.
12. Find your go-to pharmacy and take-out lunch spot.
Learn your new neighborhood. Do you know where the nearest CVS
is? What about where to get a sandwich, take people for coffee, or have a
nice business lunch? "Logistically, you need to know where to go get a Band-Aid when you need one," Augustine says.
#Source:
12 Things Successful People Do In The First Week Of A New Job
This is an updated version of an article that previously ran
Oct. 7, 2014
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