What To Do When You're the Newbie

When you were a kid, were you ever the "new kid"?

When you were the new kid, did you immediately join in and assert yourself, or did you hang back for a bit to get the lay of the land?

Even if you never had to join a new 4th grade class in the middle of the year or change high schools after sophomore year, you've probably been the "new kid" at work many times.

How do you do "new" well? Sarah E. Needleman of CareerJournal.com has these tips:

Meet your peers in advance.

You get insights into the culture, discover how communication works, and show that you're interested in learning from your colleagues.

Don't be a know-it-all.

Even if you've been in this line of work for a bazillion years, you still have things to learn at this new job. Listen more than you talk - you'll learn more and you'll come across more favorably.

Be diplomatic about your prior employer.

You have no idea whose best friend is your former CEO's sister, so avoid criticizing your past employer or divulging proprietary information about them.

Sign up for extra projects - within reason.

Balance is key here. You want to differentiate yourself without going overboard.

Ask for feedback.

Start with once a week for the first month, then reduce that to one or twice a month. You want to stay in touch with your boss' expectations.

Build your network.

Get to know people throughout the company and search for a mentor. Don't forget to stay in touch with your existing contacts.

After 90 days, make longer term goals.

You've gotten the lay of the land and should set longer term goals and share them with your boss.

Heather Mundell
Dream Big Coaching Services
www.dreambigcoaching.com
heather@dreambigcoaching.com