Achieving Success in New Jobs
If you're looking for some basic tips to help you grow in your new role and get started on the right foot, this post is for you. We hope it provides some great tips that will make the transition into your new job a little bit easier. We’ve explored topics like how to deal with difficult coworkers, what to do about a tight work schedule, and how to handle bosses who micromanage. For this final video, we wanted to explore what you can do if things aren’t going well and you feel stuck. So read on below, and then view our videos that are organized by topic so that you can improve your performance today.
Employees leave their jobs for many reasons, but failure to grow and further your career is one of the biggest reasons why people leave. New employees are often challenged with opportunities to learn new skills and improve themselves, so if you’re not growing in your new job (or worse – looking for another job), you may want to take a step back and determine what you’re missing. Here are ten ways that you can get started improving in your current role:
1. Learn Everything You Can About the Business. The first thing that you should do when starting a new job is to learn everything that you can about the business. This means that you should ask lots of questions and really dig into the details of the business, its clients, and products. By starting with a foundation of knowledge on which to build your understanding, you’ll be able to hit the ground running when it comes time to take on new roles within the business.
2. Take on an Additional Project and Learn How to Increase Your Efficiency. New employees are often stuck with all of the grunt work and small tasks, but you should focus on requesting larger responsibilities right out of the gate. Taking on a project that will improve your contribution will help you feel more valuable in your new role, as well as help create visibility for yourself early in your career. In addition, it’s important to keep a keen eye out for opportunities that you can use your new skillset to shine while also increasing your efficiency.
3. Research the Company’s Clients and Product Lines. After taking on a project that requires some research, ask yourself: Where am I working now? What kinds of clients are in my new role? How do I fit into the overall scope of their business? These questions may seem self-explanatory, but it’s critical for you to get answers about all the organizations that you will be responsible for in your new position. By focusing on these questions, you will be able to perform better and help your company grow.
4. Develop Your Networking Skills by Connecting With Your New Colleagues. You’ll want to start building your network quickly so that you can connect with other people at your new company. You can meet new people in several different ways, from requesting an informational interview to attending networking events and even the annual company picnic. Meghan has a great tip for finding networking opportunities within your nonprofit – read more about it here . And make sure to check out our post about the social skills you need for a great job search!
5. Stop Solving Problems for Others and Start Solving Problems for Yourself. New employees often feel like they’re being passed the ball, and they may not realize that they have control over their own work. You can work on this by coming up with your own ideas or at least making sure that you have some say in how you do your job. You must take time to become a self-starter and learn to identify problems and opportunities within your position if you want to excel in your new role.
6. Find Out What Your New Company Values Are and Help to Deliver Them Effectively. Every organization or business has some values that are fundamental to its growth, and those values may not be clear if you’re just getting started. So make sure that you ask lots of questions and find out what your company values most. Don’t be afraid to take time to figure this out, as it will pay off later on in your career.
7. Be Confident and Build Rapport With Your Co-Workers by Getting Involved in Your Professional Networking Group. When you first start at a new job, it can be easy to break into a shell and stay quiet around your coworkers. But you’ll want to learn how to get involved with others while also building your professional network at the same time. Our advice is to jump into some professional networking groups and volunteer to help out with events. This way you’ll meet new people and also feel more comfortable interacting with your new colleagues.
8. Ask for Feedback During Your First Few Weeks on the Job. New employees often feel a lot of pressure to prove themselves early on, so don’t be afraid to ask your boss for feedback or advice if you feel like you’re lacking direction or struggling in your role. In addition, try to get the support of the team that you work with by creating a personal relationship with them – people will be much more invested in helping you grow if they know you personally.
9. Take on a One-on-One Meeting With Your Boss. Many of us feel intimidated when we don’t know what to say in a meeting, but you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for guidance about how to behave and interact with your boss. Breaking the ice during one-on-ones is also important because it lets you get clarity on your new role and responsibilities, as well as letting your boss know that you are open to learning more.
10. Seek Professional Development by Taking Part in Regular Feedback Sessions or Meetings With Your Team Members (if they exist). Many companies will offer opportunities for employees to take part in semi-regular feedback sessions with coworkers. This is a great way for you to grow in your role because you’ll have the opportunity to receive guidance from other employees and identify blind spots that you may have.
What are some other tips that you have for new employees? Did any of these guidelines help you out when you started your first new role? Let us know in the comments!
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Conclusion
The first few months of your new role can be some of the most important months of your career, regardless of the kind of work you do. The decisions that you make early on in your new position can have a huge impact on the trajectory that your career takes!
If you feel like you’re stuck or unhappy in your position, try changing up some things right out of the gate. Don’t be afraid to ask for more responsibility or push yourself to learn brand new skills.