Everyone knows that first impressions are important. This is especially true at a new job where you’re meeting so many people for the first time, and most important of all, your new boss.
Related: How To Stand Out At A New Job (And Fit In Too)
Because this is such a pivotal moment, and so many recent college graduates are now meeting their new bosses for the first time this summer, the LifeGuides team wanted to share a few expert tips.
1. Don’t get in the way
New employees tend to be so overwhelmed that they ask too many questions of their boss and don’t understand when they’re starting to be a drain on team productivity. You need to be clear about what you need to accomplish. But, if a question can be answered by a google search, you shouldn’t bug your boss or other teammates about it. Here’s a good rule of thumb, if you can’t solve a problem in 5 minutes of searching for an answer, it’s a good idea to ask a colleague. Otherwise, they’ll start to think you value your own time way more than theirs.
2. Don’t let stress get to you
You’re going to screw up many times in the next few weeks and months. It may be something as small as jamming the printer, or as large as getting the numbers wrong in a client analysis. Whatever it is, don’t stress! The printer is jammed – don’t get frustrated, get help. Screw up the analysis – it happens. But, if stress starts to dominate your work persona, you’ll continue to make mistakes and hurt your relationship with co-workers (no one likes sources of stress in the office).
3. Show you can learn
Again, you’re going to screw up. Bad luck or a moment of aloofness will eventually catch up to you. The important thing is to learn what happened, admit responsibility, and learn from this mistake. Showing your boss that you learned will go a long way in establishing trust, and building your skills.
4. Stay mission-driven
Your team has clear goals that your boss and colleagues are focused on. Whether it’s a sales goal, a new product that needs to be launched, or improving another aspect of your company’s position, you need to be very cognizant of the goals and your role in helping achieve them. Make it clear that you’re putting these goals in front of your own desire to be promoted, or learn new skills. This selflessness will be recognized, and give you freedom down the line to pursue your own interests.
5. Be creative
Many of your colleagues, especially ones who have been in the organization for a while, will be doing their jobs, and probably doing them well. As a new employee you have a unique perspective as to what improvements could be made to the team’s work. And, you may even have a very different background than many of your colleagues from your education, or just by being a younger person.
Don’t get carried away with overhauling how the company runs in the first few weeks. But, be on the lookout for ways to improve processes. Bring up your ideas in a casual setting, and if your boss is interested, ask for a time when you can layout a thoughtful plan that would have meaningful impact on the business.
These tips are all straightforward. But, believe us, it’s hard to stay focused and keep these top of mind when the distractions of the workplace are floating around in your head. If you want to learn more, check out our guide on dealing with your first boss by award wining author Anita Bruzzese.
This is a guest post.
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