New Year, New Job: A Few Tips

The new year is fast approaching, and if you’ve been in career transition in the end of 2011, hopefully the turn of the calendar will bring you new opportunities.

So, it’s 2012, and you’ve found a new position; you’ve made it through the application process and the interview, but the work may not be over just yet. When entering a new work environment, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to get off on the right foot with both your employer and your co-workers. Take these tips into consideration during your first several days in the office, and you’re sure to make the right impression.

• Get to know your co-workers. If nothing else, be sure to learn people’s names right away, then you can move on to learning more. And, if you’ve forgotten someone’s name, the best solution is simply to apologize and ask them– pretending you know who you’re talking to looks far worse than requesting a second introduction.
• Dress appropriately. If you can, take notice of what people in the office are wearing when you come in for your interview (assuming your interview takes place at the office, of course). In the beginning, your appearance is a representation of you, so err on the side of formality. In time, it will be ok to participate more fully in office-wide casual days, or to simply loosen your tie a bit.
• Take notes during training/orientation. Unless you’ve got a perfect photographic memory, chances are some of the details may slip through the cracks. But if you’ve got a good set of notes to refer back to, you won’t need to rely on memory alone. And if that fails, don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s better to ask and do it correctly than take a guess at how to do something and end up doing it wrong.
• Keep up good attendance and work full days. Sure, your benefits include vacation time and sick days, but to use them right away will only make you look uncommitted and flaky. Save them for after you’ve established good habits.
• Set personal goals and keep track of your progress. This works as both motivation for you to get things done, and as proof to your new employer that he/she made the right decision in hiring you. Down the road, your records will come in handy when promotions or raises are being considered.
• Take initiative. In your first days of work, you will most likely be given a smaller dose of duties than what will be expected of you in the future. Once you’ve finished these, however, don’t be shy about asking for more to do.

With the new year comes the opportunity to start your career anew, and by making the right impression during your first days on the job, you will put yourself on the right track to longevity and advancement.

______________________________________________________________________________

Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.