Your new job is a major milestone in your professional career, but you’ll likely be feeling a variety of emotions when you start. The excitement of finally landing your dream role can quickly be replaced by the fear that you’ll fail at your new responsibilities or that you won’t fit into the company culture.
In the days and weeks ahead, you’ll need to prove to your bosses that they made a wise decision in hiring you. It’s not just about proving your skills but also demonstrating that you are an asset to the team and a cultural fit. Your managers and coworkers will be looking at the way you communicate, how well you learn and how you work with others.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed in a new position, but it’s important to stay focused and set goals. Create a 30-60-90 day plan for yourself that includes specific tasks you want to accomplish in your first few weeks and months at the company. This can help you stay on track and focus, even when there are unforeseen challenges or roadblocks that come up.
Meet with your manager early on to discuss what you can expect in the days and weeks to come. Ask them for clear expectations about your role and responsibilities, including what you should focus on to make the most of this opportunity. It’s a great opportunity to let them know you want to succeed and that you’re motivated to take your new responsibilities seriously.
You’ll also want to spend time learning about the industry and the company so you can contribute meaningfully from the outset. This will make it easier to develop a strong personal brand, as you’ll be able to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the industry. Research can be done through a variety of ways, from reading industry publications to listening to podcasts and interviews.
As you begin your new job, it’s also a good idea to understand your boss’s leadership and communication style. You’ll likely have a different work style than your boss, but if you can align your work and reporting styles with theirs, it will help you build a strong foundation for success in the role.
Take notes throughout your first week. You’ll likely learn about new workflow technologies and procedures, and it will be helpful to have a place to jot down important information like where to find documents and what the communication cadence is. This will help you retain important information, and it will also save your colleagues the trouble of repeating themselves later on. It’s also important to ask questions, as no one expects you to know everything right away. This demonstrates that you’re engaged, interested and eager to learn, which is more valuable than nodding your head and asking people to repeat themselves later on. Moreover, it shows that you’re a resourceful person who wants to do your best at the company.