Starting a new role can be daunting, no matter how junior or senior you are. Especially in the modern working world, we have so much more to navigate: Zoom etiquette, virtual meetings, and understanding people’s boundaries in social situations has all changed!
But, as always, we’ve got your back.
We’re going to run you through 3 quick and effective steps to creating a great first impression in your new job! Although there are so many facets to making a great first impression, we’ve chosen the ones which make the most impact and can enable you to integrate into an organisation much quicker.
Step 1: Spend time getting to know everybody in the business
From the people in the team you’re in, through to leadership, operations, marketing, and practically every function – make it your mission to get an understanding of people in the business as quickly as possible. Building relationships is crucial, and there’s no time like the present! Ask questions and be inquisitive, it’ll allow you to understand the company dynamic as well as the culture. You can do this by sitting down in the office, or even getting a coffee outside for a less formal chat.
TIP: Don’t just focus on senior people. Although they will be integral to your development, you want to ensure that you have made equal effort with everybody.
Step 2: Get involved socially
We appreciate that this may feel daunting, especially if you struggle in social situations. However, in the early stages, it’s imperative that you throw yourself in the deep end and get to know people socially outside of work.
You don’t have to go crazy with team drinks every Thursday (unless you want to), but instead showing your face and being a part of the team goes a long way. This can be team lunches, getting involved in the team WhatsApp/Slack, or other team-building exercises.
TIP: Speak to your manager or someone at your peer level to find out the social events happening with work, that way you can show your interest and find something that works for you.
Step 3: Listen and observe
Whether you’re coming in as a junior, or you’re an experienced hire, the most valuable thing you can do is listen and observe, especially for your first few weeks. Absorb as much information as possible, and ask questions about things you don’t understand.
Ultimately, you want to ensure that if you have any points you’d like to raise (or maybe things you have an opinion on) that you’re framing it in the right way, and also have as much knowledge as possible. If you’re coming in at a leadership position, you have to take the time to understand your team first before making changes and potentially ruffling a few feathers!
TIP: Keep a diary and write three things that went well that day and three things that you observed. Then, at the end of the first month have a look through and see what is still on your mind – then, raise it!
It can be tough to integrate into a new company, we’ve all been there. However, the most important thing to be is yourself! You were hired for your personality and culture add, not just for your technical skills. The best thing to do is to throw yourself in the deep end, immerse yourself, and figure out the rest later!
