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First Impressions Last
Ross Geraghty looks at tips and advice about dealing with those first important few days in a new job.
Your first week in a new job is likely to be a stressful and challenging experience for you and, despite the fact that you will have had some kind of work experience before, this is ‘it’. This is the job you’ve hunted for, in the career you want, at the organization that suits you and about which you’ve spent a lot of time, effort and money studying for.
And if it isn’t, the song remains the same. You’re going to want to show your new employers you’re the right person for the job and that you can and will be a success story during your time there.
Below is a list of tips on how best to deal with different situations. Of course each situation is different and not all people work for ‘companies’ in ‘offices’, so these have been referred to as ‘organizations’.
1) Get into character: Most actors arrive at the theatre hours before the play starts to ‘get into character’ early. They become Hamlet half an hour before going on stage. Similarly as a new hire you can remind yourself to make a good impression and to focus on the task at hand. Soon, this will become second nature. For now, remind yourself why you’re there, what you are, what you want to achieve and, above all, arrive early. If work starts at nine, start at 8:45.
2) First Impressions Last: Of course they do. The title of this article says so. For you this means looking presentable at all times. Dress professionally at first and, if you feel that you’re overdressed, take it down a tone or two. As a new-starter, always be above average in terms of professional look.
3) First Impressions Last: This works both ways because now you get to be the one to be impressed. The organization you are going to work for needs to make some impression on you too. What is the atmosphere like? How tidy or organized does the place look? Are there facilities for water or coffee? How do staff interact with each other and with you? Does the place meet your own professional expectations?
4) Don’t be afraid to ask questions: It is a good way to show your colleagues that you are thinking, trying to be involved and also allows them an opportunity to communicate with you. Questions are a great ice-breaker for new-starters. And by the way there is almost always more work to do so be proactive, take initiative. Don’t harass your busy boss but do find time to make yourself available to help where needed.
5) Carry a notebook: Keep a written record of important things, and try to learn as quickly as possible what to jot down and what to leave. It’s not the done thing to bury your face scribbling every last detail in a book while the CEO is telling you the history of the company but, at the same time, keeping a written record of important information will make yours and everyone else’s life a lot easier.
6) Learn names: Do this by repeating them back to the other person. This is an old sales technique. Humans are sub-consciously impressed when you remember their name first time of asking. When someone introduces themselves to you, try and repeat their name back to them twice in the first minute. If you mishear the name or it’s one you’re not familiar with, please ask them – they’re used to it – to repeat it or spell it for you. Better than continuing to get it wrong.
7) Keep smiling: And show team spirit. You may be a strong self-starter but, in your early days, show your colleagues that you have team spirit too as they will respond well to you, include you and improve your working experience during your time at the organization. Smile and the world smiles with you. And, it’s good for your health.
8) Trust your instincts without being too judgemental: Although first impressions last, don’t forget that people do coincidentally have bad days on the week you started, may be short-sighted or hard of hearing (they’re not ignoring you when you smile at them, they just can’t see you!) However, try and keep your own counsel. If someone says something to you that you don’t like, you don’t have to like it. Try to remember that you can’t please all the people all of the time, but neither can they.
9) Don’t try and make big changes: You may see a glaring error or problem in the organization. Now is not the time to tell the managing director (MD) that his precious marketing campaign is flawed. There is too much going on behind the scenes that you don’t know yet. This will change as you become a respected member of the team but, for now, listen more than talk and give your opinion when asked.
10) Find a mentor: Some organizations have mentoring schemes where you get paired up with someone whose role it is to go through the job, answer any questions you have, further your development and ease you into what can be a complicated situation. Many organizations don’t though, so see if there is anyone who can do this for you. Who do you get a good feeling from? Who seems helpful and willing to talk to you? Who do you feel you can trust?
More topuniversities.com job tips will follow in part two of First Impressions in next month’s TopUniversities.com Newsletter.
