First day of work: survival instructions - 4 tips on how to comfortably start a new job

Psychological secrets of adaptation in a new team

Before arriving at your new workplace, decide how you will introduce yourself to your colleagues. In some cases, it is even advisable to prepare a short speech in advance. Such a measure will save you from stupid silence and embarrassment at the moment when your boss asks you to tell a few words about yourself. Try to be friendly, but be prepared for a cold attitude from other employees. You are a new person to them, so no one will give you applause and delight right from the door.

Psychologists have found that you can speed up adaptation in a new team thanks to the following tips:

Focus your attention on scrupulously performing the duties assigned to you. If your colleagues pester you with questions, then answer them with restraint, but do not forget to smile. You shouldn’t impress everyone with your outlook and professional qualities on the very first day

It’s better to look around and observe other members of the team. On the other hand, you shouldn’t isolate yourself either. Stay close to your colleagues and try to find out where the kitchen and toilet are located, as well as when they eat lunch. Experts are convinced that observation is the key to successful adaptation to a new team. Try to remember the names and positions of other employees, determine which of them you will cross paths with most often. If you have sufficiently developed observation skills, then you will quickly understand what relationships “rule the show” in a team, how friendly and responsive its members are, and whether there are “toxic” people among them who are best avoided. Don't let new colleagues get on your head from the very first day. Talk about yourself in a general way, without going into details. Also avoid gossips and intriguers. If you make acquaintance with them, more worthy workers will quickly begin to shun you.

How to prove yourself in a new job

We assume that you know the importance of first impressions. You've crafted a great resume to impress HR and get you an interview. You made a great impression during your interview. Now that you've been hired, you need to prove yourself in your new job.

Follow these tips to help you make a great impression in your first days on the job, establish yourself in your new job, and avoid the mistakes that are usually associated with this difficult period in the life of every professional.

1. Show a Positive Attitude

Nothing works better than a positive attitude in the first days of work. Let your enthusiasm be part of the team and the entire company. Show it to everyone you interact with. Leave your personal problems at home and concentrate on being interested and enthusiastic about everything that is necessary for your new position.

1. Dress professionally

Never underestimate the importance of looking right during your first days on the job. The way you dress can have a significant impact on first impressions. Today you can find three main styles of office clothing: business professional, business casual and casual (casual).

• Business professional usually means you will wear a business suit. This type of formal wear can still be found in more traditional industries such as financial services or banking.
• Business casual often means you'll wear khakis and a dress shirt or something similar. In some industries, companies allow employees to dress in casual clothing. This includes jeans, tank tops, casual shirts, etc.

The dress code depends on the place of work. The best way to decide what you should wear is to ask the HR department during an interview confirmation or to observe future colleagues.

1. Learn the employees' names

Of course, no one expects you to know the names of everyone in the department at the end of your first day. But you should make every effort to remember your colleagues' names as quickly as possible.

For each person you meet, try putting together a business card. Write down a few short notes about the person. Then, study these cards from time to time to remind yourself of the new people on the team. This trick often helps you remember names faster.

1. Ask questions and ask for help

No one expects you to know everything in your first days at a new job, so ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Remember, it's better to clarify before you waste time on a task that ends up being done incorrectly.

Listen to your colleagues, ask questions, and communicate openly with your managers about any problems that arise. No one expects you to learn everything you need to know in the first weeks or months of a new job.

1. Take notes and attend in-house trainings

Take notes on all of your new company's processes and policies. Attend all training sessions that are offered to you. Nothing will help you get used to your new job faster than this kind of action. Your participation demonstrates interest and ambition, as well as a desire to get into the ranks quickly.

1. Take the initiative

In most situations, you will be gradually brought on board, especially in the early days. When you are completing tasks and are ready to handle a larger workload, take the initiative and ask for more work. This way you will quickly establish yourself in your new job as an active and promising employee.

1. Find out everything you can about your new employer

In theory, you should have already done your homework when preparing for an interview, but there's always more to learn when you're in-house. Read reports and internal company newsletters to become an expert in your organization. This is also one of the first steps when you start a new job.

1. Come early, leave later and try not to go on sick leave

Always come to work on time, or better yet, early. Do not show by your appearance that you are waiting for the end of the working day. Get used to the idea that when you start working in a new company, you have to work a little longer than normal working hours.

The same applies to lunch breaks. Try to make them a little shorter. Once you have a better understanding of the office culture, you can begin to align your work hours with all employees.

1. Avoid office intrigue and gossip

Stay away from office intrigue. You must be above this. The same applies to gossip. Repeating gossip won't help you make a good first impression at your new job.

1. Avoid dealing with personal issues during work hours

Research shows that almost everyone does personal things at certain times: checking email, ordering dinner, sending text messages, shopping online. Your goal is to minimize personal issues and focus on work, especially in the first days.

If you need to make a personal call, move away from your desk. If you need to order or do other things online, do it quickly and discreetly, and if possible, do it from your mobile phone.

1. Take advantage of corporate events

Many organizations have various types of non-work activities, such as sports competitions. Get involved, even as a cheerleader. This is a great way to connect with your colleagues.

Don't forget that your superiors will evaluate you, so control yourself at corporate events even if new colleagues beg or urge you to drink. "If you're attending a corporate event with coworkers, never have more than one drink," suggests Anne Johnson, senior coordinator for corporate affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

1. Listen more than talk

In the first days of work, try to listen 90% of the time and talk the remaining 10%. The last thing you want is to develop a reputation as a know-it-all office worker, or worse, as someone who always has to be the center of attention. If you are asked to speak, speak, but most of the time concentrate on the information. Here it will be useful to read our article “Rules for Effective Listening. Difficulties, identifying weaknesses, practice.”

1. Track your achievements

From the very beginning of your new job, start tracking your progress. When we talk about achievements, we mean results that go beyond your day-to-day responsibilities. This could be: improving a certain process, reducing the time to process something, improving quality, implementing your suggestions, etc.

Your achievements will increase your chances of receiving bonuses, becoming a team leader, getting promoted, or finding a new position in the future. Achievements are what you want to include on your resume. If you wait until you start looking for a new job, tracking your progress will be much more difficult than if you do it constantly. Having a list of your accomplishments best demonstrates your impact on team performance.

1. Be grateful

It is important to show your appreciation for the assistance that employees from different departments and levels provide you. And nothing shows appreciation like kindness and genuine feelings. To express your gratitude, start with this very simple word: “Thank you.” You can also follow up your verbal assessment with a written thank you note or email. If the person really goes out of their way for you, consider buying them lunch or buying them a small gift (like a cookie).

1. Find a mentor

You don't need to search for a mentor from the very first days of your new job, but once you get to know the senior staff, start assessing and looking for a future mentor. Mentoring has many benefits, from job assistance to developing professional skills and career growth within the company.

1. Learn to be organized

If you are one of those super organized people, this tip will be easy for you. However, if this is not the case, then you need to develop a system for tracking meetings, tasks and projects. Find an organizer or planner to stay on top of all your work. Use an online calendar with reminders for future activities. Create an Excel spreadsheet or simply write a simple to-do list at the beginning and end of each day. Everyone has their own system that works best for them. We wrote in great detail about time management in this article.

1. Set goals

Set goals for yourself and then strive to achieve them. Review your list of goals every few months. What's important to you in your first three months on the job will be different from the goals you'll set after six months at the company.

1. Try to meet regularly with your boss

Try to have weekly meetings with your new boss to keep him updated on your progress. In addition to keeping him updated on your assignments and deadlines, meeting with your supervisor helps establish a professional relationship.

It's likely that your new boss won't initiate a weekly meeting with you. This is fine. Just ask him if he's willing to have a short, regular meeting, agree on a time, and then send him a recurring meeting invitation.

1. Start building your internal and external network

Take advantage of every opportunity to network with key people at your job by attending meetings, professional conferences and trade shows. Take every opportunity to meet colleagues in your field. Connecting with key people will help you identify mentors in your organization.

Outside of work, join various professional groups or attend additional industry conferences to begin becoming an expert in your field. Just because you have a new job doesn't mean you should put your network on hold. Even in a new job, you must constantly manage and expand your network of contacts.

Conclusion

Being a new member of the company is, on the one hand, a challenge, but on the other hand, very exciting. Don't worry if you don't prove yourself right away. Quite often people begin to show their potential after the first weeks of work.

Relax, absorb new information, get to know your team members, and get your work done. These actions should help you establish yourself in your new job. We wish you good luck!

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