New Job 7 Ways to Crush It

New Job 7 Ways to Crush It In many ways, starting a new job feels much like being the new kid at school. You dont know the otzu sich people. Your colleagues already have a group of friends. Your nerves are spinning out of control on the first day. You cant expect your teacher erm, boss to chaperone you the whole time, so you have to navigate your new company mostly alone.Whether youre starting your career or have already held several positions, adjusting to a new job takes time and hard work. Even when youve landed your dream job, it may be difficult to adapt to your new companys culture and way of doing things. You may worry that you dont mesh with the people who work. At times, you may even question whether the position is actually the great opportunity you expected it to be, or if you should have stayed put at your old office.These feelings of apprehension are normal. After the initial exhilaration you experience when you receive a job offer, that excitement can quickly turn to anxiety. Fortunately, youre not alone. Countless people before you have started new jobs and survived. Many of them grew to love their positions, even if it was a little (or a lot) scary at first.Here are seven ways to ease your adjustment into your next great opportunity1. Expect that it will take some time to adjust.You wont and cant know everything there is to know about the ins and outs of your new role on the first day. Every job has a learning curve.No one and that includes your manager thinks you should know how to do every task your job demands in the beginning. It takes months to get fully acquainted with your job, the company and the team.Dont rush yourself or assume youve failed if you havent had a giant victory within your first week. Its natural to feel confused and overwhelmed. Take your time, and learn your job by working it.2. Ask questions.Since you dont know how to do absolutely everything (yet), ask for help when you need it. It may take some time to figure out the right rolle to ask for help with different tasks or processes, so if youre not sure, ask someone on your team to direct you to the correct person or resource. Chances are, shell be able to point you in the right direction and wont be bothered by your question asking shows that you want to learn and dont assume that you know how to do everything.An ideal situation is having a more senior colleague who performs a similar role to yours or has in the past. That way, she knows exactly what youre going through and what tools and skills you need to be successful. If theres no one who fits that description, your best recourse is your direct supervisor. You may be reluctant to ask your manager for help you dont want to appear needy or poorly equipped to handle your responsibilities but training you is most likely part of her job, and asking for help is the only way youll learn.3. Explore your new digs.If you have trouble finding your way around a new location like I do, spend some time walking around to get the lay of the land. This is especially important if youre in a huge office. Walk down the halls, so you can find out where various employees and departments sit. Find out where the kitchen and bathroom are. Pay attention to the numbers on conference rooms.If you have some down time, which is very possible in a new job, go exploring. That way, youll know where to go when you need to in the future, and if someone says, Take this to accounting, youll know where accounting is.4. Introduce yourself to your colleagues.Youre the new kid on the block. While your manager may take you around and introduce you to some colleagues, youll probably need to take some initiative and reach out to others. Doing so establishes you as friendly colleague.Some of your neighbors may make an effort to welcome you, but if they dont, introduce yourself first. All you need to do is say, Im so and so. I just started in the X department. Nice to meet you.5. Discuss goals and expectations with your manager.You probably discussed your overall ambitions in your interview, but dont expect your manager to remember everything you said. She probably has some expectations for you as well, and she may not have outlined everything the role demands. In the first couple weeks, schedule a meeting to sit down and chat. Ask about her expectations of you, and share your expectations for the position. Make a point of discussing long-term goals, too. She may be able to help with your career trajectory. If shes a good manager, she will certainly make that effort.6. Pay attention to the company culture.You may have spent the better part of your career at another office. That doesnt mean you should constantly remind the other employees. One of the worst things you can do as a new hire is constantly bring up your old office and how people did things there. Frankly, nobody cares. This is a different company with a different culture, and if you constantly bring up your old job, your collea gues will wonder why you changed jobs at all.Instead, focus on how this company does things. Look for opportunities to have new experiences. Do your colleagues go out for happy hour nearby? Join them. Are some holidays a big deal? Rev up your enthusiasm, and start decorating your cubicle.That doesnt mean you have to go crazy over every interest people seem to share in the office. Still, you should make an effort to appreciate how people interact and what employees prioritize in the office. Small details matter just as much as big ones. For instance, if people tend to emaille each other with questions rather than walking over to a neighbors desk, follow suit. If the rest of the office adheres to an earlier schedule than you normally do, adjust accordingly.7. Find out how youre doing.Dont do this just to dig for compliments or receive vague reassurances that you havent royally disappointed your new boss. Seek out real feedback on your performance after a couple months on the job. Ask specific questions about your role. Even if your boss tells you youre doing great which she very well may look for opportunities to do even better. Ask about any weak areas, discuss how you might improve and develop solutions together.Getting acclimated to a new job takes time and effort, but it will be worth it when youre thriving in your not-so-new role. Youll get there in no time. Good luck*Pro tip dont forget the documentation required to verify your employment eligibility (your I-9). Coming prepared on the first day will go a long way with how youre perceived by your HR rep.