New in the company? 6 behaviors to avoid!
9 March 2012
Read by 1472 persons
Congratulations, the job is yours! But if you think the hardest part is over, you're wrong. The first few weeks in your new company will be crucial and will largely determine whether your future within these new walls will be heaven or hell.
Nothing to do with your technical skills to carry out your mission. We are talking here about your behavior and how you integrate, or not, into your new work environment. Here are 6 behaviors that you should absolutely avoid.
Ignoring the company culture.
Open your eyes wide and listen carefully. How do your new colleagues communicate? Phone calls, emails, instant messaging, or face-to-face conversations are preferred? Do they adopt a neat or rather casual look? Adjust your behavior to theirs. While some aspects of company culture are obvious and you certainly will have noticed them during the recruitment interviews, others are more subtle to detect. To spot them, there's nothing better than arriving at the office a little early and staying a little later than your colleagues. You will have plenty of time to observe their behavior at key moments in the company's life, when the 'pressure' is not yet up or, conversely, when it comes down. These moments are also conducive to confidences and informal conversations during which you will receive some useful advice to understand what is done and what is not done in your new company. A study conducted by Monster in early 2010 showed that almost four out of five French employees interviewed (77%) consider the morning coffee break as an essential moment in the company's life, to build good relationships at the office (65%) or to keep abreast of rumors (12%).
Showing arrogance
Beyond the skills you possess and which allowed you to get the job, you have another precious quality (which, however, will not last): a fresh perspective on the company you have just joined.
Your boss knows it well and counts on you to share your observations and improvement suggestions. This does not mean that you are allowed to say everything you think!
Know how to use this privilege wisely, that is to say, without arrogance. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by being offended by 'major anomalies in the processes, unacceptable at this level', because even if you were right, you have nothing to gain by being peremptory and you have not been hired to demoralize your colleagues or your boss (who, moreover, may well have instituted these processes himself...).
Don't overdo it either on your previous company 'which had everything figured out', prefer to present solutions that have borne fruit during your experiences. In short, be modest, while showing a constructive spirit.
Staying on the sidelines
No arrogance, of course, but presence! Don't let your shyness hinder the development of your relationships at the office, don't wait to be approached to get in touch with your new colleagues. Make yourself visible quickly and show your desire to integrate, not to impose yourself.
Moving forward blindly
It's difficult to produce quality work when you don't know exactly what is expected of you. Don't hesitate to ask your manager to clarify the points that deserve it, even if he has already done so. Ask again what your scope of responsibilities is, how your performance will be measured... It's better to ask your N+1 to repeat himself than to go it alone and hit a wall. Be in action right away, not in passivity.
Refusing to admit mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes, and new recruits often make more than others. Nothing unusual about that. The only mistake not to make is to believe that if you hide your mistakes, nobody will notice them. Instead, focus on your sense of responsibility, your ability to learn, correct, and keep moving forward. That's what pays off!
Not asking for feedback
There's no need to wait for your performance review, in six months or a year, to know what your superior thinks of your work. He himself would be somewhat surprised that you are not trying to know his feelings after a few weeks. Suggest that you discuss what works well and what could be improved. This is a constructive approach that shows your desire to move forward.
Monster.fr
Posted online March 9, 2012.
Nothing to do with your technical skills to carry out your mission. We are talking here about your behavior and how you integrate, or not, into your new work environment. Here are 6 behaviors that you should absolutely avoid.
Ignoring the company culture.
Open your eyes wide and listen carefully. How do your new colleagues communicate? Phone calls, emails, instant messaging, or face-to-face conversations are preferred? Do they adopt a neat or rather casual look? Adjust your behavior to theirs. While some aspects of company culture are obvious and you certainly will have noticed them during the recruitment interviews, others are more subtle to detect. To spot them, there's nothing better than arriving at the office a little early and staying a little later than your colleagues. You will have plenty of time to observe their behavior at key moments in the company's life, when the 'pressure' is not yet up or, conversely, when it comes down. These moments are also conducive to confidences and informal conversations during which you will receive some useful advice to understand what is done and what is not done in your new company. A study conducted by Monster in early 2010 showed that almost four out of five French employees interviewed (77%) consider the morning coffee break as an essential moment in the company's life, to build good relationships at the office (65%) or to keep abreast of rumors (12%).
Showing arrogance
Beyond the skills you possess and which allowed you to get the job, you have another precious quality (which, however, will not last): a fresh perspective on the company you have just joined.
Your boss knows it well and counts on you to share your observations and improvement suggestions. This does not mean that you are allowed to say everything you think!
Know how to use this privilege wisely, that is to say, without arrogance. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by being offended by 'major anomalies in the processes, unacceptable at this level', because even if you were right, you have nothing to gain by being peremptory and you have not been hired to demoralize your colleagues or your boss (who, moreover, may well have instituted these processes himself...).
Don't overdo it either on your previous company 'which had everything figured out', prefer to present solutions that have borne fruit during your experiences. In short, be modest, while showing a constructive spirit.
Staying on the sidelines
No arrogance, of course, but presence! Don't let your shyness hinder the development of your relationships at the office, don't wait to be approached to get in touch with your new colleagues. Make yourself visible quickly and show your desire to integrate, not to impose yourself.
Moving forward blindly
It's difficult to produce quality work when you don't know exactly what is expected of you. Don't hesitate to ask your manager to clarify the points that deserve it, even if he has already done so. Ask again what your scope of responsibilities is, how your performance will be measured... It's better to ask your N+1 to repeat himself than to go it alone and hit a wall. Be in action right away, not in passivity.
Refusing to admit mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes, and new recruits often make more than others. Nothing unusual about that. The only mistake not to make is to believe that if you hide your mistakes, nobody will notice them. Instead, focus on your sense of responsibility, your ability to learn, correct, and keep moving forward. That's what pays off!
Not asking for feedback
There's no need to wait for your performance review, in six months or a year, to know what your superior thinks of your work. He himself would be somewhat surprised that you are not trying to know his feelings after a few weeks. Suggest that you discuss what works well and what could be improved. This is a constructive approach that shows your desire to move forward.
Monster.fr
Posted online March 9, 2012.
