When you start a new job, one of your top priorities is to make a great first impression on your coworkers and boss. Not only are you likely on probation the first few months, but you also want to make sure they really like you and that you mesh with the team.
I’m use to being the new kid. I held so many different jobs in high school and throughout college, so being the new kid really wasn’t new to me.
]Regardless if I was able to get along really well with coworkers or not, they always respected a hard worker.
Since I typically tend to be shy and awkward at first, I would try to impress everyone by completing tasks very fast and learning how to do everything as quick as possible.
Here are 4 easy ways to nail being the new kid on the job:
Learn as much as possible
Try to learn everything you can as quickly as you can, without information overload. You want to become a sponge, especially if you’re new to the industry. One great way to do so by following industry leaders and influencers on social media, and reading articles and publications about your field.
To shorten the learning curve, reach out to team members. They might have great advice on what to do to help catch on and share tips from when they were new.
Ask questions, a lot of them
Another great way to get acclimated faster in your new role is by asking a lot of questions. You may have an onboarding or orientation that will answer questions about the company and its culture, but it may not get to the nitty gritty of your position. Set up a meeting with your manager the first week to ask them important questions such as:
- What 30, 60, and 90 day goals do you want me to achieve?
- What is the best way to communicate with you on my updated progress?
- What are the procedures and processes that are pertinent for me to perform my tasks?
Volunteer for work
There might be some down time as your boss and team adjust to your new presence. Don’t just sit around waiting for tasks – volunteer to help your teammates on a project. This will allow you to learn what the expectations and producers are for projects, and help build rapport with your team as you take initiative.
If there are other tasks that no one wants to take on, volunteer to do them. Early in your career, there are very few jobs that are below you. Remember that we all started somewhere, and we’ve all done grunt work, too. Just make sure these extra tasks don’t interfere with your normal work.
Connect with Coworkers
It can be an intimidating experience when you try to fit in with your new coworkers. Try to find common interest, values, and hobbies between you and your team. You may not always have the same interests as your coworkers, but trying to relate and showing genuine interest can go a long way when trying to connect.
