Starting a new role can be daunting and a significant change for candidates who have been in their current role or company for several years. Hopefully, this new role will be a long-term, fruitful decision, however it is easy to make mistakes in the initial few months of your role – which can be critical (especially in probationary periods). Below we have compiled several tips to help you survive your first few months on the job and love your long-term career - with as little bumps and blunders as possible along the way!
1. Ask questions & seek mentors
The first, and perhaps most obvious tip – ask questions. Show that you are actively taking in all information given to you and ask any questions as they arise, even if they seem silly to you. It is much better to glean a proper understanding of tasks/processes in the beginning rather than continue to make mistakes or ask later on when it’s too late. Also, ask for mentors – employers will welcome seeing you being pro-active and asking to learn from others.
2. Take notes
You will hear and take in multitudes of new information in your new role. Ensure that you don’t forget or “lose” any incoming information by consistently noting everything down. Even obvious or simple points can be lost under the mountain of information you will receive in the first few weeks or months. Employers will love to see you engage in information given to you and trust you are taking it all in (or will refer back to it later!).
3. Be a coachable learner
Be willing to take in and implement any new information provided to you by existing employees or your trainer. In the initial stages of your employment, it is vital to commit loyally to your new role rather than sticking to processes you have left behind. You may find some processes or methods different to your previous role, however it is important to be open to learning new ways of doing things.
4. Be respectful
The last, and perhaps most important point, is to be respectful to every single person you interact with in your new role. Assess each conversation you have with members of your workplace – did you leave a good impression? Did you damage or enrich your professional character? Even being respectful to your local barista – who may have a close relationship with your employer – is vital to settling in well to your new role.
Although starting a new role can often be overwhelming or challenging, the above tips can be easily implemented into your working day to ensure a smooth transition – and longevity – of your new role.