Congratulations on your new job!
If you’re lucky, you may have a honeymoon of about a month to prove that you can perform and fit in. There is nothing worse than starting out on the wrong foot. Some of the most common job and work mistakes that I have seen include:
- Misunderstanding the corporate culture
- Not asking enough questions at the start
- Failing to set goals for your first 90 days
- Not following basic company rules
- Lacking attention to detail
- Not identifying the key stakeholders and building your business network
- Making basic job-related errors through being over eager or keen to impress and not planning
- Misinterpreting the job description
- Failing to develop good relationships with immediate co-workers
- Trying to change things too fast
Why not use this important time to construct your own framework for success in your new job. Some other tips to think about include:
Why not get yourself a mentor – you can choose either an internal or external mentor but the important point is to decide what you want from your mentor and make sure that you get the relationship right from your first meeting. We offer external mentoring support to people who are feeling lonely, insecure or uncertain in their new job and yet have to make an impact quickly – especially senior managers and directors where expectations on deliver are high.
Put in place your personal Development plan – why not set yourself development goals. You may need these if you are required to do CPD but it is good to understand where the gaps are between what is required in your new job and your skill set.
Develop your Linkedin profile– so often people disregard or forget about Linkedin when they are in employment but in reality this is a good time to think about building your network further and letting people know your new job status.
Revise your CV – yes, as soon as you are in a position to do so why not update your CV to reflect your new responsibilities. Once you have delivered a few early successes add these to your achievements. It will keep your CV fresh and also serve as a reminder that you are making progress – that in itself is a good way to keep your confidence levels high in the first few weeks.
Learn how to influence – the first few days are crucial to your success in the job. Why not identify your key internal and external key stakeholders and then think about how you need to work with them. Develop approaches to ensure that you maximise your key business relationships. It may be worth sharing this with your mentor who will know you and can therefore be impartial but objective having your best interests at heart.
We offer a First 90 Days programme to support people in these critical initial weeks and can tailor it around your precise requirements. For more details why not contact us at info@gatewaycareers.co.uk