10 Rules For Beginning Your New Job On The Right Foot

Securing a new job is akin to a successful product launch! After all the time spent running a well-organized marketing campaign, you product has landed in the market. Similarly, you’ve landed your new job: The Product is in the Market! … And just as with the product launch, you want to continually work on positioning and posturing for long-term success … YOUR long-term career success.

10 Rules for Beginning Your New Job on the Right Foot

1. Get to Know the Company’s Key Players. Producing long-term results is more important than an immediate impact. Depending on the company and the reason for your hire you will have a settling-in period anywhere from 30-90 days. Use that time for wisely and get to know people and their roles; network; build alliances, etc.

2. Remember Names and Try to Use Them from Time to Time; and always with a smile. It is important to always Project a positive. Most people when introduced to others immediately forget names. If this happens to you, look them straight in the eye and say, “I’m sorry, could you tell me your name again?” and then practice using it once or twice a week –it’s also flattering.

3. Do Not Over-Do Conversation. Your weekend, evening, lunch, visit... was always “Very good” quickly followed by “and how was yours?” People ask, but they aren’t necessarily interested in more than that. If they get more than that before they really know you they will steer away the next time.

4. Observe How The Company Gets Things Done: The Company’s management style, your boss’ management style; leadership; company culture… Become a student of your managers and their leaders. I once heard said, “The best classroom is at the feet of an elder”. The bell has rung; so now take a seat and really pay attention.

5. Be a Class Act. Don’t get drawn into the chitter-chatter of gossipers. Smile, nod in agreement if you must, but do not gossip. If you do people will not put their trust in you. Practice being a good listening and consider everything you hear, even if it plainly is gossip, as if it were most private. Bite your tongue and you won’t go wrong.

6. Gain The Confidence Of Others. Give credit to others up and down the line. Be humble when given credit and say only “thank you”. For the first few weeks defer to others for advice; defer to your boss’s lead. After you have gained the confidence of your boss and others, maybe 30-60 days, you can start making recommendations.

7. Keep Your Boss Informed. This too is part of gaining his/her confidence. Make a point of asking a couple of questions from time to time. Be careful not to phrase your questions in a manner that sounds like you are prematurely criticizing people or procedure.

8. Show Your Boss You Are Serious. State your intentions within the confines of the job as it is currently described (save “posturing” for after the first 30-60 days). On day-one, arrange a series of short meetings for over the course of a few weeks to ensure that both of you remain on the same page; and that your actions support both your objectives and his/hers.

9. After Your “Settling In” Period, Schedule and Subsequently Plan for Your Review. In the meantime, keep a diary of what you see that can be improved, changed, accomplished and NEVER share this with co-workers – someone might steal your ideas or shun you for having some.

10. Keep Your Resume Updated. From day-one, be mindful of any and all your accomplishments, even the most subtle: Situations you were in; Opportunities you saw or sought; Actions you took; and Results! (Your S.O.A.R. Technique for story02telling). In doing so, you will be better prepared for your first Review, just as you had been for your interview. You will be forearmed with the information you will need to take an active part in the outcome of the Review. Since most employers take a very passive approach to Reviews, this tact will likely be most appreciated.