​Advice for Starting Your New Job

Are you feeling nervous about starting your new role? Don’t worry, this is so normal. It’s very natural to feel a mix of both excitement and nerves, but it’s important to overcome any anxiety you may have. The first day in your new role offers valuable opportunities to make a great first impression, and also prove your worth to the company.

We have some easy-to-follow tips for starting a new job that will allow you to settle into your role as fast as possible, and relish this exciting next phase of your career.

1. Be punctual

Showing up late during your first week at work is never a good sign. When you’re planning your new work commute, try to be early enough to account for traffic, getting lost, or finding parking.

Nowadays, however, most of us are starting new jobs remotely. Working in a remote setup doesn’t mean you should be any less punctual though. Ensure you start work on time or even just before your start time, and join online meetings on time too. This shows good time management skills, respect, and interest in the new role! Also make sure you respond to any requests, questions, or general messages from your new team promptly to show your positivity in the role and your willingness to help out straight away. 

2. Have a positive and confident attitude

Starting a new job can be nerve-wracking for most of us. But set those nerves aside and start your new job with a positive, confident, and outgoing attitude. Remember the company chose you for the job, so you have everything that it takes to master this new role.

Think back over the skills, knowledge, and qualities you have developed to this point in your career – these are big reasons why the company chose you – and this can help give you the confidence boost that you may need.

3. Listen and learn

When you’re starting a new job, the first few days and weeks can involve a steep learning curve. Listen and learn – aim to take in as much information as you can, and make written notes if necessary to remember any new processes, software, or important contact names.

4. Ask, ask, ask! 

Ask as many questions as you need. Your manager and team will be more than happy to help you – they want you to make a strong start in your new role too. No question is ever a silly question. You’re better off asking to make sure you’re getting things right from day one and to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings. You’re not expected to know everything from day one and having a full understanding of any expectations will help you become a valued team member from an early stage.

5. Get to know your new colleagues

It’s really important when starting a new job to try to get to know your new colleagues as much as you can.

Engage with your new team during virtual meetings, through instant messaging or one-to-one calls. By simply being around your new team and observing how everyone works and collaborates, you’ll gain vital insights about the company and also the group culture.

Connect with your new team on LinkedIn. This will help build your relationship with them while also giving you a better idea of the company culture by seeing their posts and their areas of expertise.

You should also try to create opportunities for non-work-related conversations, such as attending or organising virtual coffee mornings. This will be key to building strong, longer-term relationships with your team. 

6. Parting Words: Relax, You’ve got this!

The key to succeeding in your new job is believing in yourself. By remaining positive, confident, professional, and enthusiastic in the early days, you’ll cement your reputation as a valued member of the team.

Changing jobs while working remotely can be challenging, but with a little courage, a lot of preparation, and tonnes of initiative, you’ll soon feel comfortable in your new role.

Always remember they hired you because they liked you and if this company didn’t entirely believe you were the right person, they wouldn’t have chosen you. After all, from a pool of candidates, your new employer chose you for this job. Armed with these tips, you can prove that their decision was the right one – you’ve got this!

If you need any additional career advice or if you’re looking for your next career move, please feel free to contact Mason Alexander – we’re always here and happy to help with your job search!

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