Run fast: New employees need to hit the ground running and get up to speed as quickly as possible, but bosses must allow them to thrive. If management is not working with you to help ease your transition into the company — and that means telling you more than where the gym is — find other people within the company or organization to coach you, says Bruce Court, business development manager at DDI Canada. These informal mentors should have been at the company for at least a few years so that their knowledge and experience can be relied upon to find out what kinds of strategies it takes to be successful at your new office.
Meet often: New employees are usually painfully aware that they are being evaluated, but they need to evaluate their bosses as well. If you find the corporate environment or the job is not what was advertised or promised, it’s worth talking to the boss about it as soon as possible, says Court. Employees should be proactive in communicating their expectations and ask for help when things are not working. If your new boss isn’t setting up at least one meeting to go over performance in the first week or so, take the initiative and schedule one yourself. It’s better to be safe than sorry later on.
Network now: Companies are looking for what Court calls courageous networkers, those who proactively build relationships and jump fully onboard. Court says one of the keys in building strong relationships is seeking information about what the boss needs the employee to do, but also how to best get that job done. Court says courageous networking needs to be done early on in a new position and is crucial for both parties to gain a true understanding of what each is going to bring to work. Besides knowing the job description, you must also get a feeling for what else is expected of you and be able to anticipate and adapt to any changes.
