Many questions cross people’s minds when they think of starting a new job. Some will question whether they will fit in the environment, while others will wonder how quickly they will be able to build relationships. Most will begin thinking about what their work will entail. All of these questions will weigh on the minds of new employees until they have conquered their fear of the unknown.
Meeting the New Team
Employees should keep in mind some basic rules of etiquette when meeting their new teammates. Apart from the formal rules an organization may have established, existing company employees will have established informal rules that are part of the organizational culture. They use these rules to ascertain how successful a new employee will be in the organization. New employees would be wise to follow these rules.
- Make eye contact with every new introduction
- During the first meeting, observe more than speak
- Take time to learn the organizations culture
- Spend time getting to know the team
Expectations of the Job
New employees should be realistic about their expectations of the new position when they begin the job. They should approach the job with a cautious balance of the organization’s expectations with their own. While the employees may recognize that they were hired for their specific talents, they must understand that many other talented people have come before them and may still be on the team. Trying to knock the ball out of the park on day one is not a realistic goal for a new employee to set for himself or herself. New employees should:
- Listen to existing team members and understand the history that precedes them
- Acknowledge the great work their predecessors have accomplished
- Understand that mountains cannot be moved in a day
- Do not set expectations so high that they are unattainable
- Become a team player
Existing employees are immediately turned off by those who believe they have been hired to save the organization or those that are only interested in bringing their colleagues with them from another organization. Understanding the new landscape from a cultural as well as an expectation perspective will go a long way toward building a lasting career with the organization.
Starting a new position can be a time of happiness that also brings uncertainty. New employees should not pressure themselves to be perfect to the extent that they self destruct during their probationary periods. That behavior is not productive for the organization or the employees. They should believe in the new organization and the existing culture. New employees that can assimilate will thrive and find success.
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