3 tips to start strong in your new job

You may be feeling a variety of emotions when starting a new job - hopefully most of them positive. 

Excitement at the prospect of new challenges and opportunities.

Optimism from the idea of a fresh start and the chance to make a positive impact.

Pride and gratitude at securing your new job and feeling recognized for your skills and qualifications.

Some of the positive emotions you may be after, but not quite feeling yet, may be connection, satisfaction, and confidence. 

How can you start your new job strong? How can you make a good first impression, especially when you are new to the workforce in general? 

Many companies have similar onboarding processes, but when you've only held one or two jobs, the differences between them can feel like gulfs, not puddles. 

In this post, I'll provide you with 3 things to expect in the first few weeks of starting out in your job, and tips on how to ace it all.

Photo by Ben Khatry

online learning 

Many employers will have a tailored program of e-learning modules for each department. These programs help keep new staff up to speed on policy decisions and how they affect a career. The programs might involve cybersecurity policies, education on diversity in the workplace, how to report harassment, and standard operating procedures.

E-learning modules can be a little tedious to get through, but they embody the principles of the organization you work for and are often the first step in getting you onboarded. 

IT and phishing tests

If you see a message in your inbox from an address that looks familiar but isn’t quite, odds are it’s a phishing test.

IT departments will often use this as a way to keep employees on their toes regarding email safety. Opening mail from an unrecognized sender, clicking links to provide your password, or getting caught in other schemes, can risk the integrity of your computer and organization's security system. 

Be sure to pay attention to any reminders for IT security training, and know where the "Report Phishing" button is in your email system. You won’t get in trouble if the test snags you (usually), but you may get further training about how to avoid that in future, such as being told what to do after clicking a phishing link and other security practices to keep in mind.

weekly meetings

In most units of most departments in most companies, regularly weekly meetings are the norm. Whether you have one-on-one (1:1) meetings with everyone on your team or just your boss, or weekly team meetings, your calendar may fill up quickly. Be sure to prioritize these meetings, as they will help your team get to know you, easing in to feeling connected to your new work community, while also putting you forefront in their minds for new opportunities. 

To make the most of your regular meetings early on, keep track of the questions that come up while you are working, so you can ask them during the meeting. Try to listen more than you talk during group meetings so you can start learning the team dynamics.