With the job market opening up and seeing people land jobs, it is probably a good idea to remind people how to keep this new job.
Starting a new job can be stressful- akin to starting college. You don't know many people and you aren't quite sure what to expect. Usually there isn't a mentor or guide assigned to help you understand what's what. So who do you turn to? What can you do to ensure success? Some might be thinking, "I'll just do my job really well". That isn't enough.
Starting a new job is a new beginning, a clean slate. You can create the right impression without the baggage you were carrying before. Some of your baggage might be good, other baggage should be left behind.
Determine what you want to be known for in this new company and job. What reputation do you want to start building? Then begin to learn about the company culture and your new manager. Here are some suggestions:
1) Ask your new manager for a meeting. During this meeting ask about the expectations of the job, time-lines, measurements for success, key players you should meet in the organization, and what pitfalls to avoid.
2) Observe co-workers, who knows who, what are they saying in the break room, how do they behave in front of managers and leaders.
3) Pick your friends. Carefully select the co-workers you chose to affiliate with. Begin building trusting relationships.
Now, you can begin doing your job really well. Be a positive person. Be able to find solutions, not excuses. There shouldn't be surprises if you've done a thorough job discussing expectations with your manager. However, remember, everything is subject to change. Be resilient.
I remember starting a new job once and asking my new manager, "What do you expect from me in this new job?". (Not the best question, first of all). The response I got was "I don't know." That's all. I quickly moved on to action items I would be targeting in the new job (again, probably not the right tactic, not being there long enough to know if these were important or not). I got a blank stare in return. What I failed to do was to develop a relationship.
Begin with the soft stuff first, find common ground, learn about each other. Then get on with the job.
On Great Leadership there was a post on how to be a good follower! It is filled with great advice.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
