Make A Great Impression In Your New Job - Optimum Consulting

Congratulations on getting your new job! The good news is you aced your job interview; the bad news is the importance of making a good impression doesn’t stop at your job interview. How you conduct yourself when starting a new job is just as imperative.

Never underestimate the power of a good impression. Below are some helpful tips you can utilise to assist you with making a good impression during the initial period of a new job.

1. Have a positive attitude. Come into the workplace with a smile on your face and be enthusiastic about being part of a team and your new workload. It’s best to leave non-work problems at home!
2. Dress professionally. You should always dress how you would like other people to perceive you, if you are perfectly groomed it portrays you are efficient and reliable, while being unkempt could portray that you are disorganised. While this may not be the case, initially when meeting people your look and dress are your representation to them.
3. Learn co-workers name quickly. Although on your first day it can be overwhelming due to the volume of people you are meeting, try and make note of remembering people’s names as you meet them.
4. Ask for questions and ask for help. As you are new, you are not expected to know everything or how things are particularly run in the new workplace. If you communicate openly with new colleagues and supervisors, they will be happy you asked them for help, and it’s better to ask before you start the work, than to do it wrong and waste time.
5. Take notes. As listed above it is important to ask questions, but rather than being the person who repeatedly asks how something works, take notes to remind yourself.
6. Take initiative. On your first days on the job, you will be given small assignments to get a taste of the job. When you finish these tasks and are ready to handle more work, take the initiative and ask for more work and responsibilities. Sitting there doing nothing may make you look uninterested in the job.
7. Get to know your employers and employees. Speak to your co-workers and act genuinely interested in what they have to say. Get to know them as you are likely to be working alongside them five days a week for possibly a number of years.
8. Work full days. Come in early, and stay later. In the beginning it’s best to be totally dedicated to being at the job all the time and taking on as much work as you can handle. Nothing tarnishes a reputation quicker than constantly leaving early or taking long lunch breaks.
9. Establish a good work attendance. Down the track there will be emergencies and sick days, but during your first few months a good attendance record is important to prove your dedication to the job.
10. Avoid office politics and gossip. It’s never a good idea to participate in office gossip, but trash talking other co-workers during your first few months on the job is a definite no-no.
11. Take advantage of after-hour activities. It’s important to get involved and bond with your co-workers. Be diligent though and if drinking is involved, keep it to a minimum.
12. Listen more than talk. In the work environment act interested in what your employers/employees say and ask for their opinions/thoughts as a way to learn.
13. Show appreciation. Nothing beats genuine appreciation when you are learning the ropes of the job.  Make sure to thank everybody who helps you from co-workers to receptionists to the human resource guys.
14. Get organised. Keep track of appointments, meetings, assignments and projects. Keep a diary or a planner, and constantly write notes to remind yourself of upcoming deadlines or meetings.
15. Keep your boss informed. Due to their commitments, they cannot focus on you alone, keep them informed with how you are doing and schedule meetings with your boss to further establish a rapport and relationship. Base these meetings on reviewing your performance, express interest in moving ahead and ask what else you can be doing to get further. Be sure they know that you are a hard worker. Leave them out of minor problems by asking for help from co-workers.
16. Join organisations outside of work and take additional classes to stay ahead. Take advantage of every opportunity to network with key people in your organisation and profession. Constantly manage and grow your network of contacts, as you’ll never know when a problem or opportunity will arise.

If you can follow these key steps you will be putting yourself in the best possible position to take on your new role and really make a great impression on your new employer and colleagues.