Starting a New Job |
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Congratulations on your new role! Now that you're on your way to a new and challenging career just remember that first impressions count - with a little careful planning you can make sure you're ready for your first day.
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Get a good night's sleep the night before. |
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Dress smart: Choose what you're going to wear the night before. Ensure that your clothes are clean and freshly ironed, your shoes are polished and your hair is tidy. Just like your interview, first impressions count; you will be meeting a lot of your new colleagues for the first time, so feeling confident is very important. |
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Arrive early: Start as you mean to go on. Arriving early will also help you to settle into your new environment and may provide the opportunity for informal chats with other members of staff. |
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Do your homework: Before you start, revise any information you already have about the organisation. Consider phoning your new boss to ask for any additional material that might help during your first days. |
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Build relationships: In the early days concentrate on building good relationships within your team. These are the people who can help you establish yourself, alert you to pitfalls and provide you with a useful pool of experience. Don't forget that this is a two-way process, so be on the lookout for ways that you can provide some support to others. Your early network may prove to be invaluable as you move up the career ladder. |
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Know your job requirements: Make sure that you know what is expected of you. Clarify your targets early on to ensure your work priorities are managed effectively. Keep the lines of communication open with your boss - it is often easier to sort out potential problems at an early stage, rather than waiting until there is a real crisis. |
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New Large/Small Company |
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If you are joining a large company from a small firm or vice versa, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to adjust to the cultural differences. Welcome this change positively and be flexible in your approach. Remember, procedures that suit certain companies may not work as well in others.
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Settling In? |
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If after a few weeks, you find that you are not really enjoying your new job, consider the following checklist: |
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Were your initial expectations of the job too high? |
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Are you bored? Then ask for more to do! |
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Do you feel incompetent in managing your tasks? Have you sought advice or further training? |
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If your travel time is worse than expected, have you explored all available routes or transport options? |
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If your colleagues do not seem friendly - are you trying too hard/too little? |
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What are you looking for in a company? |
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Can you give an example of when you had to delegate authority and/or responsibility? |
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What systems do you use to keep track of things that require your attention? |
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Have you ever had to discipline or correct a friend on the job? How did you handle it? |
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Whatever your anxieties, don't feel that you have to make any rash decisions and don't suffer in silence. If you're worried or concerned about any issues talk to your new Manager or phone your consultant at Homes Consultants. |
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Progressing your Career |
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Now that you have settled in and really enjoying the challenges and future prospects with your new company, its time to look to the future. If you're ambitious and want to succeed consider the following: |
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Always try and be self-critical in a constructive way. Think about how you could do your job better, more effectively, more productively and more enjoyably! |
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Always accept any opportunities to improve your skills - accept any in-house/external training courses that are offered.
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Adopt a positive attitude and you will always find a solution or an opportunity in every difficulty situation (if you look hard enough). Attitudes are contagious. Is your attitude worth catching?
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Take responsibility - regardless of your position. If you adopt a mature, problem solving approach and take responsibility for all your actions whether they are right or wrong, you will earn the respect and trust of your colleagues and superiors. |
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Contribute ideas - be positive, conscientious and loyal and companies will invest in you, listen to you and eventually promote you into key appointments. |
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Manage your time effectively. Don't spend ages trying to find something out for yourself, when asking a colleague could point you in the right direction. Most people will be pleased to help. |
