Starting at a new company can be one of the most exciting things that happens in your professional life. It can also be one of the most nerve-wracking. How you handle your first month in a new job when all eyes are on you can have far-reaching effects. Here is some advice on how to make that first month go well and set you up in your new role in the right way.
Create an elevator pitch
It might sound a bit contrived, but when you arrive at your new job you are going to be introduced to an awful lot of people, some of whom will be key members of the company. Now, you may be introduced in full by others, but if not, you are going to have a few seconds in which to introduce yourself and make it count. Your introduction will create a first impression that will last so have the key things you want to say ready in your head. You don’t have to do a hard sell, simply consider what various people at various levels will want to know about you, for example, where you came from, what your previous role was, what you are looking for to doing at your new job, and so on.
Learn the business through and through
You will have already learnt a significant amount about the business through your interview preparation and through the interview process itself. However, in your first month on the job, make sure you really get to know the business. Learn exactly where your role fits in and the purposes it serves, as well as the roles and purposes of all of the people you will be working with. Don’t forget to pay special attention to the company culture. The social aspect of the business is incredibly important to know about in order to make ‘fitting in’ seamless and easy.
Talk to everyone and remember names
If you can manage it, with the size of company you’ve joined, try to talk to everyone you possibly can in those first 30 days. This means getting to know even those company members who you will not be working with. Even if it’s a 5 minute ‘so what do you do here?’ chat by the water cooler, it makes a difference to how you are accepted in the company. And you never know, you may not work with that individual straight away, but down the line, you might, so it’s a good idea to have already gotten onto friendly terms with them.
Remembering names can be a tricky one. Some of us are just terrible with it. If you forget someone’s name straight away, ask them again immediately what it was. This is the only time you’ll be able to get away with it, without putting any noses out of joint. People will be aware that you’re being introduced to a lot of people in a short space of time so forgetting names is understandable. However, do try to come up with a system of remembering names, whether by association tricks or by immediately writing down the person’s name when they’re out of sight.
Set up a meeting with your manager/director
It’s a good idea to get your bearings on exactly what is to be expected of you when you join a new company. Yes, it has been covered in the interview, but things often change between the job interview and actually starting at the company. Perhaps someone has left, perhaps there’s something extra that you can handle. By sitting down with your manager or director, you can get on the same page and you can also find out exactly what your performance review will be based on. This information will allow you to make sure that all-important first review is a resounding success.
Ask all of your questions
This is a pretty straightforward, common sense piece of advice but it’s worth actually preparing for. You don’t want to be asking any basic questions after you’re a month in, so during the first week or so, keep noting down all the questions you need answers to, if you’re not able to get the answers immediately. It’s a good idea to review each day of your new job and create a list of questions from that.
Making that first month at a new job go seamlessly takes some forethought and planning. By anticipating and preparing, you can make sure that you create a fantastic first impression and set yourself up in the right way for a thriving career in your new company.
