TEN TIPS FOR STARTING A NEW JOB

You’ve got a new job, or maybe even your first job. Like anyone starting a new job, you will probably feel overwhelmed at first, with so many new people to meet and new things to learn. It’s normal to feel anxious, but you’ll soon become one of the team. In the meantime, here are ten tips to help you settle in, fit in and take off!

1: Hello, my name is….

Even if you feel shy, make a point of introducing yourself to people in your new workplace rather than waiting for people to approach you. This will make you appear more confident than you feel and help you build rapport with other team members sooner. Be your own PR person: get your face and name known. Doing this, you’ll quickly find out who the friendly team members are, and who you can ask questions to when you’re not sure of something. Offer to do something that needs doing, encouraging colleagues to reach out to you when they need something too.

2: Ask questions to avoid mistakes

You could write an entire article about avoiding mistakes! Remember that it’s perfectly normal not to get everything spot on at the start. And even someone who has been in a job a long time will make mistakes from time to time. But you can minimise your mistakes by asking lots of questions; this approach will keep you on the right track. Many people don’t like asking questions in case others see it as a lack of intelligence. Quite the opposite! All employers know that the employees who ask the right questions are the ones who will succeed. 

3: Keep notes

Many jobs offer an induction, and if you are lucky, this will include comprehensive training. However, there will be many processes, facts and bits of knowledge that you will pick up as you go along. Quite often, you will stumble across critical information whilst in a meeting or talking to a team member. Get in the habit of making notes so you can refer back to them and never forget anything important. It’s amazing how much you can forget if you don’t write it down.

4: Your rights

A new job comes with a new job description, pay slips and employment-related processes and regulations. We advise getting any queries with this side of things sorted out as quickly as possible to make it easier. It’s important to be aware of your rights. We’ve written a guide on fundamental employment rights which gives a useful overview.

5: Map your progression

During interviews, it’s always a good idea to ask the interviewer what success in the role looks like in the first month, six months and a year! If you didn’t find out during the hiring process, don’t hesitate to ask now. This will give you something to aim for and is a great way to motivate yourself. In addition, it will signal to your manager that you have energy and ambition, which is no bad thing!

6: Be an excellent listener

Take your time to listen to instructions, comments, feedback, colleague conversations, and discussions at meetings. This will help you see the bigger picture and put you in an excellent position to suggest improvements in how things are done or share new ideas.

7: Pace yourself

Starting a new job might bring a new routine which you need to become accustomed to. On top of that, taking in lots of new information can be mentally demanding. Pace yourself and be sensible, avoiding too many high-energy social activities on “school nights” during your first few weeks. A new routine could also bring opportunities for some new good habits. Perhaps you can walk to work, or find the time to start going to the gym?

8: Be proactive

Don’t always wait for your manager to come to you. Be proactive, provide updates, and check in with your manager and teammates. If you are new to the world of work or an apprentice, you might have a mentor. Use them as an informal sounding board. Keep a record of what you need clarification on so that your queries are organised. You should be able to ask as many questions as you like, but if it’s non-urgent, keep a note and ask them all at once.

9: Get to grips with workplace systems

Most workplaces have their own systems, tools, ways of working and software. There will be workflows, internal documentation, or record-keeping. You may find learning all of this a challenge, but getting it right is an investment in yourself and your skills. Be methodical, and if you feel you need more coaching, reach out to a colleague, rather than waiting for someone to highlight your mistakes.

10: Final reminder

Don’t forget to look after your mental wellbeing, too! It will take time to adjust or get up to speed with colleagues. Be patient with yourself and always celebrate the small wins!