How to fit into your new workplace
Whatever career path you’re on, changing jobs is a step you’ll inevitably take sooner or later. The days of staying in the same ‘job for life’ until retirement are long gone. The need to change jobs isn’t just down to changes in the world of work, where short-term and flexible contracts are widespread. People move on in order to grow, too: to jumpstart their careers and give themselves a challenge by joining a new environment with new colleagues, new managers and different everyday challenges.
Whether you’re changing as your contract has ended or you simply want to progress your career, throwing yourself into a new workplace can also be a source of great stress: nobody ever feels fully ready to plunge into a totally new experience.
Here are some tips for preparing for your first day in a new job
- Feeling nervous is completely normal: sharing your mood and your fears with your family or friends will help you release some of that anxiety. Comparing notes with others helps us feel less alone; hearing about other people’s similar experiences, whether they were successful or initially awkward, makes our own fears seem less daunting.
- Remember, you went through a selection process to get that specific job: your new boss already knows you, and perhaps some of your colleagues do too. Either way, you have already been chosen from among many others: you just have to keep on showing them you’re the right person for the right job.
- The day before your new beginning, prepare as though it were your first day at school: decide what to wear, put everything you need into your bag or backpack; set your alarm half an hour earlier than usual, so you can eat a proper breakfast. That will help speed up your metabolism and your physical and mental performance, including your level of attention for example. Leaving yourself ample time will also help you deal with any unforeseen complications and still get to work punctually.
Our advice on how to fit in at a new workplace
So, you’ve broken the ice on day one by presenting yourself impeccably, on time and as calm as possible. Now you need to get through the next few days so that you settle in well, and quickly.
Don’t hide your feelings, but don’t let them take over
Everyone has had a first day and a first week in a new environment. Many still remember the feeling of embarrassment at joining a group in which everyone else knows each other and you know practically nobody. Always have a kind, humble, cheerful attitude. Don’t expect to be included in every meeting or coffee break, or every chat among colleagues; your time will come soon. In the meantime, don’t let your nerves get the better of you; focus on the work objectives that you’re given day by day.
Always be yourself
All of us tend to show our best side when we first meet other people. In a work setting, this should be a rule of thumb. It’s fine to play up your politeness or patience or, if you’re the type, your self-confidence and knowledge. That said, remember to always be yourself, because the way you act in the first few days will help other people learn how to interact with you.
Focus on communication and teamwork
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, or to open up. Demonstrating curiosity about processes, dynamics and office life is generally seen as a form of interest; and talking about yourself creates a sense of openness that helps you to fit in. Respect the working time of everyone, both co-workers and managers, and step up, without forgetting that you’re there to help them achieve their business goals with your support. Communication and listening skills, and therefore teamwork skills, are the true formula for a positive experience in any workplace. If you develop just one of these and forget about the others, the results will be less than successful.
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