Absolute Beginners
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday November 10, 2007
Your first day sets the tone for your new job, writes Jim Bright.
In any new job, making sure you make the right impression from day one is essential. But how?Ask your contacts at the organisation for basic information, such as what time you should arrive and whether there is an induction. That's the easy stuff. What can be tougher is dealing with the office politics rampant in most workplaces.Being the new kid on the block can feel a little like walking into a polling station. You can be accosted by a host of spruikers, all pushing their own political barrows. You should politely take all the views on offer but not publicly endorse any at this stage.If there was a predecessor in your role, you must quickly develop a policy for dealing with them. The safest approach is never to criticise them on day one, even if they have left the organisation. Don't enter into commitments to change the way things are done or to maintain your predecessor's approach at this stage. Stall any attempts to get you to commit to a way of working until you have surveyed the landscape.Be aware that politics insinuates itself into the lunchroom and coffee breaks, which means giving consideration to who you sit with and who you have lunch with. In the first few weeks, try to have lunch with as many different people as possible and to go to all the different "haunts" for coffee. It is easy to get hijacked into particular cliques of staff that may or may not serve your interests well.Respect any conventions that you find in the workplace. You may find a pecking order in such things as the use of coffee mugs or rituals around paying for coffee.Don't dob. Being a cleanskin is an ideal opportunity for the astute boss to get frank feedback and intelligence about other staff. Expect to be asked questions by people at all levels in the organisation. I know of a new bloke on the job who casually remarked to his boss that a colleague had told them to inflate their relocation expenses. That colleague was sacked two weeks later. It's not a good look to have blood on your hands quite so quickly.The walk-around, where the supervisor takes you around to meet all your new colleagues, is a tradition for new staff members. Try to memorise each person's name and face by associating the person with something memorable, such as a farm animal. It's a good idea at this stage to sketch a map of the floor and place each person in their position.First day treats are another challenge. You may find yourself taken out for lunch with wine by the boss. Don't kid yourself that this will be the norm and indeed the wine may be supplied either to loosen your tongue or because the boss is desperate for an excuse to forget the grind of the office. Simply enjoy the treat but don't read much into it.Have an agenda from day one and be careful not to be exploited by those with other agendas. If your role is to stir things up a bit, then you will need to be assertive almost from day one. If your role is to maintain things, again, it is important for you to have a clear sense of what you will and will not put up with. Gently but firmly ensure that you do not take on inappropriate tasks or make commitments you ultimately do not want to be held to.Your first days at work can set the tone for your tenure with your employer, so go in prepared and ready to do a great job without burdening yourself with other peoples' agendas. Email ladder@brightandassociates .com.au.
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald