A new job is an exciting period in your life when you can create a completely new image of yourself or you can make your mark. However, getting a new job can be overwhelming and hard to handle. This is perfectly normal due to the enormous pressure to perform and fulfil expectations. Here are some steps that can be taken to ensure that you will keep your new job and adapt to the new work place, as well as tips on situations to be avoided.
What Are the Right Moves at the Start?
Instead of big promises, it is best to go with small goals that will guarantee success and will lead to a winning situation, thus creating a positive attitude towards being newly hired. Meanwhile, it is easier to focus on building new relationships at work, learning your way around and finding out who are the most influential employees there. To do so, do not be afraid to ask questions and show your general interest. In this way, it is possible to find mentors and people who are willing to help. However, the purpose of asking questions is to show genuine interest and to ask for guidance, but not to show off. Nobody wants to have a new colleague that knows how to do things correctly. Moreover, Gautam Mukunda, assistant professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, says that it is crucial to learn when to talk and when to stop, because one has not yet earned the right to be the loudest. First you need to integrate and show your competences, instead of jumping in at every possible moment to show off.
What to Avoid?
According to Mukunda, it is better to avoid big promises that have a greater chance to backfire rather than bring success. It often happens that a newly hired person does not know what one can achieve in the company, what the resources are or what influence they have. Furthermore, criticism to the existing ways is another mistake done by many new professionals that make it hard to build close and cooperative work relationships. Therefore, try not to say, for instance, “In my last job…” or “That is not how I have learned how to do it”.
There are some topics that should be avoided at any cost during your first days at work, because your evaluation depends on what you say and do, and it affects your ability to stay longer at the new job. One such subject to avoid is your salary and asking when could you expect a raise. The best is to focus on your new tasks and learning about the company, instead of being busy with things that will come naturally to you once you perform well. The other thing to sidestep is gossiping or asking your new colleagues whom you should avoid. Instead try to engage in small talk with people and learn what is to your interest yourself. And most importantly, avoid flirting or asking your new co-workers if he/she is single.
Overall, starting a new job is a challenge everyone needs to go through. Some advice on what to avoid and how to behave during the first few days is the key to success and a smooth transition.
Sources:
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170801-dos-and-donts-for-your-first-10-days-on-the-job
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2016/11/03/the-ten-deadliest-mistakes-new-employees-make/2/#49f03db23264
http://www.businessinsider.com/what-you-should-never-say-to-a-new-coworker-2016-4?international=true&r=US&IR=T