In categorizing people, we all take shortcuts, and first impressions about
people often turn into long-term perceptions and reputations -- which are good for people
who make positive first impressions (the halo effect), but bad for people who make negative
first impressions.
"I think the early days are when your boss and
colleagues form the most lasting impressions about you," observes Fergal Nolan, an Upstream
Director. "This is when they make assessments about your 'typical'
behavior -- the 'type' of person you are. If you have any attendance/punctuality
issues in the first few days or weeks, you've already lost a significant
battle - their confidence in you. People will take you as seriously as
you seem to take yourself - and your work.”
And in the workplace, during those first few early days where you are
meeting everyone - and everyone is meeting you - first impressions about
you and your future potential can make a major impact on your future success
with the organisation. "You have to realize that first impressions are remembered," adds
Fergal, "and even if you talk to someone who isn't related to your
job . . . they may know someone who is. Watch what you say and do. Things
can come back to haunt you."
Not to worry, though; in most situations, employers
don’t expect
you to knock their socks off or hit homeruns during those first few weeks.
Most employers realize that there is a learning curve for most positions.
So, there is often an unofficial grace period while you settle into your
job.
How can you improve your chances for making a great
first impression when you’re starting a new job? Here are 20 tips
-- along with some comments and suggestions from job-seekers who have
been there -- to help you make a great impression.
Have a Positive Attitude
Nothing works better -- in all situations -- than having and expressing
a positive attitude. Let your enthusiasm for being part of the team and
the organisation show to everyone you interact with. And always leave non-work
problems at home.
Dress Professionally/Blend in With Co-Workers
You should never underestimate the importance of dressing
professionally in your new job. And in the beginning, even if your department
has casual days, you should dress professionally because you never know when
you’ll
be called out to meet a top manager or key client. "Dress how you
want people to perceive you because it plays a huge role in how you are
initially treated," advises David Devaney, a Business Intelligence
Senior Project Manager "Perfectly groomed means efficient and reliable
in work; unkempt means disorganized and therefore difficult to trust with
different assignments. After awhile, people realize these things do not
necessarily correspond, but initially, your looks and dress are your representation
to them."
Show Your Team Spirit
You are now part of a work team, and teams work together to solve problems
and get the job done. Show loyalty to your co-workers and focus more --
initially at least -- on sharing any recognition you get with the team.
Always give credit to the team.
Learn Colleagues’ Names Quickly
No one expects you to have everyone’s name remembered by the end
of the first day or week, but if you are bad with names, now is the time
to research some of the neat memory-aid tricks you can try to use. Certainly,
as soon as possible, learn the names of every member of your team. And
if you are in a situation in which you forget a person’s name, the
best solution is simply to apologise and ask the person’s name again.
Ask Questions/Ask for Help
No one expects you to solve all the organisation’s problems on your
first days on the job - nor that you know everything - so, relax a bit,
and always ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Remember that
it’s better to ask before you’ve completed the task the wrong
way and wasted all that time. "Be open-minded.” "I think
when you are just starting out it is easy to feel somewhat competitive;
you may feel that you have something to prove. In effect, that kind of
thinking could land you in difficulty. Be co-operative, LISTEN, ask questions
- no one expects you to know everything - and communicate openly with colleagues
and supervisors."
Take Notes/Go to Orientation
Unless you have a photographic memory - and few of us do - consider taking
notes on all the various systems and rules of the organisation. And no
matter how boring they may sound, attend all orientation sessions. Nothing
gets old faster than someone repeatedly asking how something works; such
behavior shows a lack of attention to detail.
Be a Self-Starter; Take Initiative
In most situations, in your first days on the job, you
will be given small doses of work - to let you get your feet wet. As you
finish assignments and are ready to handle a bigger workload, take the initiative
and ask for more assignments. Whatever you do, don’t just sit there waiting
for your next project. Agrees Jonathan Waite, EMEA HR Manager, "Be
proactive. Don't wait for an assignment. Stick up your hand and ask for
something to do," advises Waite.
"Volunteer for things even though you don't know how to do it or
what needs to be done to accomplish it," suggests Waite. "There
will be people [who need] help, and they will appreciate your efforts to
start making an immediate impact. Many times, there may be some tasks that
you can accomplish with a little guidance, which will probably free up
time for someone who needs to work on more important items," Waite
offers.
Discover Everything About Your New Employer
In theory, you should have already done your homework during the interviewing
process, but there is always more to learn now that you are on the inside.
If an employee handbook is available, get one and read it. Don't act or
think you know more about everything than your peers. In addition, gather
all those reports and company literature and read up and become an expert
on your organisation.
Work Full Days
"Be on time, come in early, stay a little later," suggests Waite. "Even
though you may have a 9 to 5 job, it may have been expressed to colleagues
that your senior management expects you to be in at 8:30 and stay past
5 p.m. because it looks like you are a go-getter and involved in your work." There’s nothing that can affect your reputation faster than routinely
coming into work late or leaving work early. Especially in these first
days/weeks on the job, be sure you get to work early and leave no earlier
than when the majority of your co-workers leave. Be dedicated and flexible.
Once you have established yourself, you can leave early, go out for lunch,
shift your hours, or take work home with you. But in the beginning, be
totally dedicated to being there all the time and picking up as much as
you can possibly handle.
Establish a Good Attendance Record
Just as with working full days, it’s important to
show up to work every day and establish a good attendance record. Yes, there
will be emergencies, and yes, you may get sick, but as best you can, try
to make it to work every day during those first weeks/months on the job.
Avoid Office Politics and Gossip
As with any social organisation, the workplace is full of rumors and gossip.
Your mission is to keep your nose clean of all of it - and be sure not
to associate too often with the office gossips or risk having your image
associated with them.
Keep Personal Business on Company Time to a Minimum
Studies show that just about everyone conducts some amount of personal
business on company time - checking email, making dinner reservations,
buying stuff online. Your goal is to keep your personal business to a minimum
and stay focussed on work.
Take Advantage of After-Hours Activities
Many organisations have formal or informal after-hour
activities, such as football teams or the like. Get involved - even if it’s
in a non-sporting capacity - because these types of activities are great
ways to bond with your new colleagues.
Listen More than Talk
"Listen, Listen, Listen . . . don't act like a know-it-all in order
to impress," says Devaney. "The idea is to communicate that you
have some very marketable skills and you are here to learn and apply your
skills to help the organisation achieve success." One of the hardest
skills to learn for some of us -- especially extraverts - is that, when
we are new to the organisation, it’s better to listen then talk.
You don’t want to get the reputation as the office know-it-all, or
worse, someone who always has to have the limelight. If you have a legitimate
contribution, make it, but if not, do more listening and absorbing those
first days on the job.
Track Accomplishments
As we repeatedly advocate at Upstream, it’s up to
you to track your accomplishments; no one else will do it for you. Tracking
your accomplishments is great for any number of reasons - for your personal
satisfaction, for raise and promotion meetings, and for future job-hunting.
Show Appreciation
Nothing works like kindness and genuine appreciation. So, show your appreciation
to everyone who helps you learn the ropes during your first days on the
job - from your colleagues to receptionists to the HR.
Find a Mentor
You don’t need to jump on this task your first day,
but as you get introduced to senior staff, begin thinking about developing
a mentoring relationship with a member of management above you - and outside
your department - in the organisation. Mentoring has numerous benefits, from
a simple sounding board to someone who helps direct and advance your career
within the organisation.
Get and Stay Organised/Set Goals
If you’re one of those super-organised people, this tip will be
easy for you. The rest of us, however, need to develop a system for keeping
track of meetings, appointments, assignments, and projects. Get an organiser
or planner and keep on top of all your work. You certainly don’t
want to miss an early key deadline or meeting. And as you look ahead, set
goals for yourself -- and then strive to achieve them.
Keep Your Boss Informed - of Everything
Your boss is not a mind-reader, so keep him/her informed
of how you are doing. Especially in those early days, meet with your boss
to further establish a rapport and relationship. "Request meetings with your boss on a
consistent basis to review performance. Express interest in moving ahead
and ask what else you can be doing to get to that next step" advises
Devaney. Be sure she/he knows you are a self-starter and hard-worker. Just
don’t bring the boss every little problem; instead, for minor issues,
ask for help from co-workers.
Meet and Network with Key People in Organisation & Profession
"Network," advises Nolan. "Join an organisation
outside of work. Take additional classes to stay ahead in your field." Take
advantage of every opportunity to network with key people in your organisation
and profession - attend staff meetings, professional organisation conferences,
trade shows - every opportunity to meet colleagues in your field. Just
because you have a new job does not mean you suspend your network; constantly
manage and grow your network of contacts because you never know when a
problem or opportunity will arise. And networking with key people can also
help you in finding one or more mentors.
Final Thoughts
Being the newest member of the organisation is both challenging
and exciting. You’ll be faced with both difficulties and opportunities, and your
goal should be to make the most of all situations. These 20 tips should
help provide you with some insights and direction as you approach that
new job, but don’t worry if you don’t make a perfect first
impression in those early days on the job - few of us ever do. Remember
to relax, keep your mind open, get to know your team members, and do your
work - and you should go far in making a lasting impression and reputation.
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