A new job presents a new beginning. You are joining a new community and the process of integrating into that community takes time and intentionality.
Photo credit: Prostooleh
Congratulations you’ve just landed your new job. Finally, you are going to enjoy the fruits of your labor. The hustle of sending a customized CV and attending gruelling interviews has finally come to a pleasant end. Now the real work begins.
Once someone lands a new job they have to deal with the pressure to impress and prove that they are up to the task. Secondly, being in a new environment, it takes time to know and adapt to the new company culture.
Thirdly, many organizations place their new employees on a 3-month or 6-month probationary period. During this period, the person is under scrutiny to prove if they can do the job. If they can’t, the company terminates their contract. And if they successfully yield amazing results, they get to keep their job.
A new job presents a new beginning. You are joining a new community and the process of integrating into that community takes time and intentionality.
With all this in mind, you are a personal brand and you need to stay true to your identity. How do you accomplish your tasks while still giving them your personal touch? For example, Mike, a salesman, loves to meet his clients personally after closing a deal to ensure that they are satisfied with the product.
Let’s look at some of the ways on how you can succeed at your new job in the first three months.
1. Ask questions.
When you’re in your new role, even if you have experience in the same field, note that you are in a different organization. Therefore, develop the habit of asking questions to seek clarification, help and even validation. This helps you avoid mistakes and being asked to repeat a task because you didn’t do it according to the specifications of your manager.
According to research by New York University, employees perform better when they ask questions. The research further revealed that those who ask questions in the workplace are generally more satisfied and more committed to their new jobs.
Don’t pay attention to the fear of feeling like you’re intruding into their privacy. Even when you think you will look dumb if you ask questions, go ahead and ask away. You never know, the task that has taken you weeks could be completed in days if you only ask for help.
Linda, a Software Engineer, had a hard time using the new software that she found in her new organization. It took almost two weeks to come up with some upgrades needed for their systems. When she was done with her job, one of her colleagues who has been in the company for a year notified her that the company had previously bought software that would have helped her finish the task in less than a day.
2. Introduce yourself, and do it well
Since you’ll be meeting a lot of new people you need to be ready to introduce yourself a lot. You need to make a good first impression with your introductions. The first thing you should do is carry a notebook with you. This is because you won’t be able to master everybody’s names in an instant - especially if it’s a big organization.
Timing is key and you need to read the mood of the person. Choose the best times to have a chat with different people and know what they do. Some of these colleagues are vital to your role and will help you become effective while you dispense your tasks.
If you introduce yourself to someone and you notice they are distracted, you should keep the introductions short and precise. On the other hand, if the person is excited to engage in a conversation with you, get to know them. You can make friends with them and ask them to introduce you to other members of the company.
Being intentional about this process helps you settle in the company easily and adapt to their culture faster. For introverts, it might be a little tough to know new people but with the help of a friend, you can achieve success in this area.
3. Ask for feedback
Ask for evaluations from your immediate supervisor at least every month. When your supervisor evaluates your performance, you’re able to identify areas where you are doing well and also correct the areas that need improvement. It also brings you and your seniors on the same page because you understand how they like things done.
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4. Learn about the vision and strategies to achieve them
One of the ways to succeed in your new job is knowing the vision and mission of the company. However, knowing them is not enough. You need to align the way you do your job and your results to the company’s goals. As a result, organize sit-downs with the leaders in the company such as your supervisor and the founders so that you understand what they target to achieve.
When you do this you will understand the different strategies that the leadership has employed to achieve their goals. Consequently, you will be able to make your contribution to the achievement of those goals. The leadership of the company will ensure that they keep you past your probation period because you’re helping the company achieve its objectives.
5. Learn your manager’s pain points and do something
In line with this, learn the biggest pain point for your manager. Ask them the biggest challenge or burden they have on their plate. Look for a way to lessen the burden on your boss. Don’t step on anyone’s toes or be controversial but if there is a way you can help don’t delay.
6. Define success with your manager
The other facet of this point is that you should also define success together with your boss. You might think success is crunching more numbers such as increasing revenue and the number of clients. In addition to that, your boss may be concerned with how the team works together as a unit. They are also concerned about the bigger vision of the company and ensuring that your results are propelling the company to that particular objective.
Photo credit: Gpointstudio
7. Be deliberate about knowing your team better
It’s vital for you to spend a lot of time with your teammates and make connections with them. Get to know them better and also allow them to know you too. Simply join them in their stations if they don’t mind and see how they like to do their things. Also, take the time to learn the group culture of your team. This will help you dispense your duties better and in a seamless manner because you have established better working relationships with your colleagues.
8. Establish a rhythm and good habits
In your new job establish routines that will make you more effective and apt at what you do. At the same time shed off old habits such as procrastination and lethargy. Once you have settled into your new job for at least a month or two, organize your work through calendars and to-do lists.
When you evaluate the general nature of your workload and schedule, come up with simple and smart strategies to manage your time more wisely.
9. Embrace an open-mind
Be humble and acknowledge that you can’t work alone. Be open to learning new ways of doing things. At the same time be ready to unlearn the ways you are used to. Remember that even though you have the experience you have not been in that particular setting before. Therefore be open to change. Also, appreciate those who help you and give them credit for the work that they have done. Don’t take credit for someone else’s work.
Conclusion
Having accomplished your dream of getting a new job, be comfortable with being yourself even as you put in the work to ensure that you’re successful in this venture. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t allow the pressure to make you overexert yourself. Enjoy the journey and ensure that you are making good progress.
