You’ve landed the new job — great! Not only did your application and resume make it to the top of the stack, but you also nailed the interview. You’ve started off on the right foot already. Out of all the applicants, they chose you!
But with evaluations right around the corner, how do you ensure that you make a good impression with your new boss? Showing up with the wrong attitude, not being proactive in the right areas, and being unsure of yourself or your position can all steer your new venture the wrong way.
Read on to learn how to make the right impression from the start.
We have been advised from childhood to properly introduce ourselves. This is not old-fashioned advice from our grandparents. Introducing yourself with a smile, kind greeting, eye contact, and a firm handshake delivers the message that you are confident, enthusiastic, and easy to get along with.
Avoiding eye contact, speaking in a muffled or inaudible voice, failing to smile, and being hesitant to approach your new coworkers sends the message that you are unsure of yourself, difficult to get along with, and perhaps don’t know whether you made the right choice in joining their team. This will make everyone uneasy.
There will be a learning curve with any new job. Despite this, do not sit idly, floundering about when you come upon something you do not understand. Identify the aspects you do understand and the specific knowledge you lack. While on the job, ask specific questions highlighting what you understand and seeking clarification for what you don’t.
If you have coworkers nearby performing the same task, they are a resource. Speak directly. Explain that you understand this aspect of the task, but you’re not sure what to do when you reach a certain point. This will show that you are competent but need clarification as you learn the procedure.
Standing around unproductively or stating that you don’t know what to do will frustrate your boss. Be specific with what you need to learn so the person helping you can be specific with what they teach.
If you have been working in the field for years and know how to do the job already, it may be tempting to automatically dismiss ideas that don’t flow with your norms. Even if you have already tried what is being suggested and know from experience that it doesn’t work, be open to the possibility that, in a new setting with a new team and a fresh perspective, it may work this time.
Dismissing the ideas of others in the workplace gives the impression that you are not a team player. When others see the possibility in what is suggested and you don’t, you appear to be unimaginative, closed-minded, and negative.
Be self-reflective. Be the friendly, competent, adaptable employee you would want to hire.