Succeed in your first days at your new job.
5 September 2012
Read by 1888 persons
You dared to leave your comfort zone and changed jobs? Congratulations. You know you have the skills for this new job, that you weren't selected by chance... However, doubt sometimes bothers you and you wonder: "Did I make the right choice? Will this new job meet my expectations? Will I be up to the task?" ... In short, will it work...?
Here are some tips to help you increase your chances of success.
1. Find out beforehand.
Before you start, take the time to learn as much as possible about the company you are joining: information about its products, services and/or commercial strategies, general operations, etc... Anything that will help you learn more and that will be useful to you sooner or later, whatever happens. Note any points that remain unclear and start looking for answers.
Being informed is half the battle.
2. Create your orientation program.
Meet (individually or in a meeting) the main people you interact with, remember their names and their function within the company. Try to identify the departments you will be working with and find the resources you need or that you can draw on in the future.
Remember that you are building your "mental database".
3. Send the right message.
Make sure your clothing, attitudes, and language don't attract more attention than your ideas. Opt for classic discretion, at least at the beginning... Watch out for any inappropriate or offensive behavior. The message that needs to be conveyed is your seriousness. You will have plenty of time later to develop your penchant for originality.
4. Be the voice of the customer.
The goal of the company is to serve customers. And to build customer loyalty. Try to understand what pleases your company's customers, what attracts them, what drives them away. Practice empathy to understand their needs. As soon as possible, put yourself in the customer's shoes: integrating their requirements means being able to respond to them through your team's actions.
5. Learn the internal mechanisms.
Think in terms of company culture. Identify clues that will help you understand how the company works.
Some examples: What is everyone's freedom of action? What is the dress code? Is the environment open or rather focused on formal meetings? Do you use informal or formal language? Is communication mainly written or oral? How flexible is your new company regarding lunch breaks, coffee breaks, and professional appointments? Etc...
You can't change a company culture, but the better you understand it, the better you will thrive at all levels.
6. Be part of the group.
Integration is, of course, the key word. Creating a friendly atmosphere and being considered an integral part of the team is key. There's no need to try to do it alone, you have to work together with others. However, this does not mean losing your critical sense or "disintegrating" who you are. Stay yourself and be careful not to develop overly intimate relationships from the start. Adopt an open but reserved attitude.
7. Avoid office politics.
Stay away from internal politics, territorial battles, and internal conflicts. Instead, roll up your sleeves to understand your company and help it in its real mission. Working will probably serve you more than wasting your time building your personal power base, battered by the four winds.
8. Establish habits.
At first, you will naturally be inclined to do more than the workload you are asked to do and to get involved in areas outside your sphere of influence. Be careful about the habits you develop, because it is difficult later to go back to the basics. Indeed, as soon as you reduce this workload or slow down your relentless pace, it will be perceived as a lack of commitment and/or motivation.
Article written by The ReKrute.com team
Posted online on September 12, 2012.
Here are some tips to help you increase your chances of success.
1. Find out beforehand.
Before you start, take the time to learn as much as possible about the company you are joining: information about its products, services and/or commercial strategies, general operations, etc... Anything that will help you learn more and that will be useful to you sooner or later, whatever happens. Note any points that remain unclear and start looking for answers.
Being informed is half the battle.
2. Create your orientation program.
Meet (individually or in a meeting) the main people you interact with, remember their names and their function within the company. Try to identify the departments you will be working with and find the resources you need or that you can draw on in the future.
Remember that you are building your "mental database".
3. Send the right message.
Make sure your clothing, attitudes, and language don't attract more attention than your ideas. Opt for classic discretion, at least at the beginning... Watch out for any inappropriate or offensive behavior. The message that needs to be conveyed is your seriousness. You will have plenty of time later to develop your penchant for originality.
4. Be the voice of the customer.
The goal of the company is to serve customers. And to build customer loyalty. Try to understand what pleases your company's customers, what attracts them, what drives them away. Practice empathy to understand their needs. As soon as possible, put yourself in the customer's shoes: integrating their requirements means being able to respond to them through your team's actions.
5. Learn the internal mechanisms.
Think in terms of company culture. Identify clues that will help you understand how the company works.
Some examples: What is everyone's freedom of action? What is the dress code? Is the environment open or rather focused on formal meetings? Do you use informal or formal language? Is communication mainly written or oral? How flexible is your new company regarding lunch breaks, coffee breaks, and professional appointments? Etc...
You can't change a company culture, but the better you understand it, the better you will thrive at all levels.
6. Be part of the group.
Integration is, of course, the key word. Creating a friendly atmosphere and being considered an integral part of the team is key. There's no need to try to do it alone, you have to work together with others. However, this does not mean losing your critical sense or "disintegrating" who you are. Stay yourself and be careful not to develop overly intimate relationships from the start. Adopt an open but reserved attitude.
7. Avoid office politics.
Stay away from internal politics, territorial battles, and internal conflicts. Instead, roll up your sleeves to understand your company and help it in its real mission. Working will probably serve you more than wasting your time building your personal power base, battered by the four winds.
8. Establish habits.
At first, you will naturally be inclined to do more than the workload you are asked to do and to get involved in areas outside your sphere of influence. Be careful about the habits you develop, because it is difficult later to go back to the basics. Indeed, as soon as you reduce this workload or slow down your relentless pace, it will be perceived as a lack of commitment and/or motivation.
Article written by The ReKrute.com team
Posted online on September 12, 2012.
