How to succeed in your new role

From the application to the interview(s), and then the waiting for the offer to come it can be quite a journey to the point at which you start your new job.

And there’s a lot still to come as you embark on your new role: a new environment, new people, a different culture and a brand-new set of responsibilities…

With that in mind, here’s our guide to navigating your way through the first week, month and 90 days so you can succeed in your new job.

 

How to succeed in week one

It’s your first week and it’s all about striking the right balance between making a great first impression and not putting pressure on yourself to get everything right straight away.

There will be so many things to get your head around and learn about your new workplace, colleagues and systems in the first few days so getting this balance right is important.

Here are 3 things to consider:

 

Early introductions are key

In the first few days of your new job, make getting to know people a priority and enlist the help of others to make introductions.

Remember all the information can be tricky so don’t be concerned with asking your team for a breakdown of who’s in which team and what their responsibilities are.

 

Be curious and ask questions

Think about the information you need to know and ask questions to help get you up to speed quickly.

Does the team use systems or technologies you’re less familiar with? Do they collaborate in a way you’ve not done before? This is all information you’ll need to find out by asking the right questions to the right people.

 

Ask yourself where you can already add value

Early on it’s all about soaking up as much information as you can and learning the intricacies of your new role, but adding value to your team early on is an important way to succeed in your new job.

Offering a fresh perspective on a task or project is always beneficial and equally, think back to your interviews and the specific needs that came up during those conversations. Can you add some early value there?

 

How to succeed in the first month

You’re in, you’re getting settled and now you can start to really demonstrate how your skillset can be applied.

Here are 3 things to consider in the first month:

 

Connect with your team

Get to know everyone as best you can and learn how they interact and work together. This will give you great insight into the culture that exists on your team and the dynamic of the business.

Define and set good habits

Consider you can learn from how your teammates like to work and how they manage their time.

Your new job is a chance to change any bad habits you may have fallen into in your previous role and it’s also an opportunity for you to develop new skills or practices.

 

Determine what success looks like for you and your manager

The first month is the best time to set mutual expectations with your manager. Use this time to get a sense of how to work together and define how your performance will be assessed.

Getting this right early and putting a framework in place to review and measure your performances will set the standard right at the start of your working relationship.

 

How to succeed in the first 90 days

Now’s the time to take ownership of your role and demonstrate how you add value as part of the team.

Here’s what to do in the first 90 days:

 

Identify the challenges and set your goals

What ambitions do you have in this new role? By being clear on what you want to achieve and setting the goals with your manager, you’ll be more focused and valuable as a member of the team.

 

Book in a review

This is something you can do on a personal level and with your manager and team. Having reference points throughout the first 90 days in a new job is important as they allow you to track how you are performing against the goals you set yourself.

It also provides an opportunity to set goals and milestones for the months ahead. This should help keep you motivated so you can continue succeed in your new job.