Stories

You’ve recently graduated and you’re officially employed. If you continued to work with your coop employer, you have the advantage of returning to a familiar environment, knowing what is expected of you and understanding the goals of the organization. For others, landing a new job can be like travelling to another town, state or even country. You have some idea of what it might be like but you won’t really know until you arrive on your first day. There is a great deal of advice out there about all the things you could and should do to make a good impression and hit the ground running. From my own experience of starting new jobs as well as onboarding new associates to the team, I see four key steps to help you make a strong start.

Acclimate to the office culture
As much as you may want to dive in and demonstrate your skills and expertise, you will greatly benefit by first learning about your new employer. The first few days, or even weeks, are an opportunity to get to know the culture of the organization, the successes and challenges of the past, and the vision for the future. You probably evaluated the organizational fit during your interview. However, until you start working and interacting with your colleagues, you won’t have a true understanding of the cultural norms. Simply observing your co-workers’ behaviors will give you a sense of how people interact with each other. Your goal is to adapt to the culture that exists, before challenging the status quo.

Connect with others
As the new person, it’s up to you to introduce yourself to others. You should always be prepared to initiate conversations with your new co-workers and to put effort into developing new relationships.

A confident introduction is the best way to make a good first impression. You may have crafted your “elevator pitch” while searching for the job. Incorporate that pitch into your introduction to colleagues. Have a solid handshake and good eye contact to show confidence, and pay attention to how you present yourself to others. Observe and match norms for professional attire and communication.

Your introduction is also the first step in making connections and developing relationships. The interactions that leave you with a positive feeling and a sense of comradery might be clues for who to get to know first. Initially, you can engage them in general conversations about weekend activities. You can also schedule 30-minute chats or coffees with select co-workers to gain a deeper understanding of their roles, changes they have experienced and their thoughts about the company’s future. Initiating these meetings will demonstrate your willingness to connect and learn. Make sure to run it by your manager so you can be efficient with time, and strategic about the people to meet.

Be prepared, take notes and be the “go-to”
Setting aside time to prepare for a meeting is essential. Either daily, or weekly, take some time to think about your priorities, the goals you want to achieve, or the questions you need answered. This may come naturally for some of you, while others may be pros at “winging it”. In my personal experience, there are always some details that can be missed, and if you catch those, you will demonstrate to others your conscientiousness and effort.

New associates who attend meetings with a notebook and a pen generally stand out to seasoned professionals – because many do not! This not only helps you capture key points of various discussions, but also allows you to follow up by email or in person with more accuracy and professionalism because you are referencing key discussion points. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to sift through information, prioritize, make connections and move forward on projects and initiatives. In turn, this will help you become the “go-to” resource for your managers and colleagues.

April 9, 2020

Apply the same lessons toward email. How you say things makes a difference in how it’s received and processed by the reader. Always read your email at least once before hitting “send” to avoid errors.

Ask for feedback
As a new professional you have a lot to contribute but also a great deal to learn. You may have found a position in which your supervisor will help you grow and develop, but your co-workers could become your mentors as well. Scheduling weekly meetings, at least for the first few months, is recommended. Understanding what is expected of you, and going above and beyond within the boundaries of your role, will help you stay on track and prove yourself. You may make a few mistakes along the way but this is how you will learn and grow. The key is to not be afraid to ask for feedback from supervisors, and sometimes, even from co-workers. Constructive feedback may feel uncomfortable at first, but it can help you tremendously along the way and strengthen your relationships.

Remember, you landed the job because you have the skills, qualifications and enthusiasm to perform the activities that the role requires. Now, it’s up to you to demonstrate that you also have the emotional intelligence to perform in a way that fits with the existing organizational culture, makes you stand out, allows others to recognize you as a strong asset, and helps you grow as a professional.

Anne Grieves is an Associate Director in Northeastern’s Employer Engagement and Career Design office. She is a certified MBTI and Gallup Clifton Strengths Coach and uses these assessments, among others, to help students and alumni to successfully navigate and enjoy their careers.