Introduce yourself to everyone
Starting a new job can be a little nerve-racking and you’ll meet so many people in your first few weeks. Yet, take the opportunity to strike up conversations with colleagues, bosses and clients.
Furthermore, its important to try to remember people’s names, however there is no harm in admitting that you may have forgotten someone’s name and asking for a reminder. Be honest and ask them to remind you, explaining that you’ve met many people over the past week.
Some employers may organise a team session one day to bring together the team for you – maybe introductory drinks after work one day. It’s a great opportunity to network with colleagues, learning more about their work and what they get up to outside of work. Try befriending the right people in the organisation who may be able to further your career in the future – whether with promotions or advice.
Ask Questions and Take Notes
Whenever you join a new business, you’ll need to understand their processes. But they may also have their own ‘language’. When I say this, its not comparable to English, French or Spanish, but rather they’ll use their own acronyms and abbreviations, so if you hear any terms you’re unaware of, just ask and someone will always be happy to answer. It’s better than not knowing and having to ask a few weeks into the job.
Since you’ll be learning about a firm’s processes, you should scribble down your notes and thoughts. The latter is useful if there are weaknesses you identify in the business – senior executives will likely want to hear your thoughts.
Manager Meeting
You’ve got the job, but how do you perform in the role? Throughout your first few weeks, we recommend having one meeting with your boss once a week to see how you’re settling in. It may also be a great opportunity to really focus in on what the business needs going forward.
During those discussions, you should find out what success measures (or KPIs) your performance will be measured against. Let that be a motivating factor for you going forward. Also, find out what your manager expects from you in the next weeks and months. – so you know whether you are outperforming expectations.
Finally, if you’ve joined the business and currently on probation, agree a date with your manager to review this. Typically it lasts three months and you’ll have a far shorter notice period during that time (often a week). It’s useful for both employer and employee if it doesn’t work out afterall.
Make an Impact
The first 100 days is the perfect time to demonstrate the employer made the right decision to hire you. Aim to take on projects and responsibilities and you’ll be able to establish yourself as a go-to person for advice, or as someone who brings new ideas and fresh perspectives to the table.
You’ll also have time to learn more about your co-workers’ needs and interests, which will help you better understand how they work best together. This will help you determine how to make the most of your time at work.
Training Opportunities
As part of this process, it’s important that you take advantage of any training opportunities that are available. Training is essential for anyone who wants to make an impact in their first 100 days at work, so don’t miss out on anything that could help you grow professionally!
Conclusion
To start, your first few weeks should be spent getting up to speed. Knowing everything there is to know about your role and the projects you’ll be working on takes time, and that’s okay. When you are starting a new job, you will feel like you have a lot of catching up to do. Don’t try to rush it. Take it slow and get into the rhythm of things at your new job. It might be tempting to jump head first into the work when you start your new job, but don’t.
We know how stressful it can be to start a new job. There’s a lot on the line, and you need to impress an entire office or work setting all at once. But if you focus, you can make an impact in your new job within your first 100 days (or sooner).