7 Tips For the First Days of Your New Gig

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You’ve landed a new job, congratulations -- the hardest part is over! While surviving the interview process is something to celebrate, it’s important to keep up your A-game as you start your new role. Whether it’s applicants exaggerating on their resumes or employers overselling a role, it’s estimated that 20% of employee turnover happens in the first 90 days. 

But - no stress. They hired you for your abilities, and you should have everything you need to be successful! To ensure the best trajectory, read these simple ways to make sure that you make the most out of your first few days on the job. 

#1: Map out your commute so you can arrive early.

Arriving on time to work is expected, but arriving early shows your boss and colleagues that you’re serious about getting the job done. Make sure you map out the best route, account for traffic, and leave earlier than you think necessary to ensure you’re not left scrambling. Basically, live by the phrase “on time is late” until you get the hang of the new commute. 

#2: Dress to impress. 

Even if your workplace has a casual atmosphere, dressing nicer on the first day helps to make you feel like you’re fit for the job. The last thing you would want is to under-dress and stand out in that negative way. Wear something that you feel comfortable in and shows off a little bit of your personality, while still looking professional and polished. 

#3: Learn your coworkers’ names. 

The people you’ll be working with are going to be key for getting the lay of the land. They can help answer questions when needed and build your sense of morale for your time at the company. It’s important to learn their names and let them know you’re interested in getting to know them. After all, you’ll be spending quite a bit of time together from here on out. 

#4: Skip the sack lunch and go out to eat with your new team. 

Take learning the names of your coworkers a step further and invite them out to lunch on day one. This will help establish those key relationships from the very beginning and help you down the line. Ask your new coworkers about the culture, any tricks of the trade, or what they wish they had known on their first days. 

#5: Ask questions and take notes.

Your first day is going to be a whirlwind. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and write down anything that you think will be important in the future. Preparing questions as simple as, “What will be expected from me in my first 30 days here?” will help clear up any confusion with your responsibilities. You’ll be happy you asked for clarity, and your new supervisor will be impressed with your initiative. 

#6: Be courteous and grateful to everyone who helps you throughout the day. 

There will be a lot of established staff members taking time out of their days to help you learn the ropes. Make sure you are courteous of their time and thank them for helping you out. Sending a thank you email or, even better, writing a handwritten note to anyone who helps you out your first week is a simple gesture that can go a long way with making first impressions in your new role. 

#7: Smile and be yourself!

Being yourself is the most important aspect of starting a new career - you want to make sure that you’re the same person on day 1 as day 100. It’s important to not let the stress of a new job get to you -- they hired you for a reason! Taking the time to smile and let your personality come through on the first day is the easiest way to make a good first impression and smoothly transition into your new role.  

To make the transition even easier, Blue Signal goes beyond placements to provide new hire support, including offer negotiation, resignation preparation, company transition coaching, and further support throughout our candidate’s entire first year on the job. If you are looking for more support in that next step of your career, contact Blue Signal today to get a friend in the game, and make your next new role the best yet.

Blue Signal Welcomes 11 New Team Members to Keep Up with Growing Demand

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In order to keep up with growing demand for Blue Signal's recruiting services, we recently welcomed 11 new additions to the Blue Signal staff. With these experienced and diverse extensions of our team, Blue Signal is on track to make more placements in 2020 than ever before. We're excited to introduce the newest members of our staff!

Meet Our New Recruits

Select a name to meet our new hires!

Wyatt Humrichous Project Manager

Starting a New Job: 15 Ways to Excel in the First 100 Days

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It is perfectly normal to be nervous about starting a new job. In fact, Forbes ranks starting a new position as one of life’s most stressful experiences; the interview process is often long, emotions run high, and there is all the pressure that comes with wanting to do well. But don’t worry: an outstanding track record is what landed the job in the first place. Combine that with these 15 suggestions for the first 100 days at the new job, and we guarantee better odds of success.

1. Act like the interview is not over.

Getting the job does not equal tenure. Amanda Augustine, a TopResume career advice expert, says “the first three months of any new job are an extension of the interview process. From the first day, you need to be on your game.”

 

2. Show up ready to play.

Showing up on time, sharp, and well rested goes a long way in creating a good first impression. Pick out clothes for the week, practice the morning commute in advance, and go to bed early the night before. Eat a balanced breakfast and bring coffee for the first few days to eliminate the stress of a grumbling stomach or a problematic office coffee maker. Coming thoroughly prepared to work will calm new-job nerves. Walk into the office on time with a plan for the day instead of stressing while rushing to work.

 

3. Limit distractions.new job distractions

Keep smartphones out of reach and silenced, and block Facebook and social media sites to reduce the temptation to sneak a few minutes. Limit personal phone calls, texting, and other personal-time activities (especially in customer-facing roles).

Block out time for low-return work activities like checking email; it can easily suck up time that could instead be allocated to more productive work.

 

4. Don’t ask the CEO for a pen.

As much as possible, solve problems without asking for help. Save small questions (like the location of office supplies) for coworker small talk, and keep communication with management focused on work. Know exactly what accomplishments they want to see, and get them done.

 

5. Defend valuable time.

If the hiring manager has not provided the company’s normal work hours, ask a few days in advance. On day one, arriving 10 to 15 minutes early is a safe bet. Any earlier and it may not be possible to get into the building, or may involve an awkward wait if the manager has not arrived yet. After the first day, it is good form to arrive early and to stay late, within reason.

The manager may indicate that it is okay to leave; if so, do not argue—it is okay to go. Be productive while at work. New employees who put in extra hours with nothing to show for it will not improve their reputations. Demonstrate that good results are a top priority.

 

6. Learn names.

When people meet celebrities on the street, they usually have no problem remembering their names. Why? Because that person was important enough to remember. It may sound harsh, but forgetting someone’s name sends the message: “You weren’t important enough to remember.” Saying “I’m just bad with names,” makes people think, “I’m not important to you.”

That may seem overly negative, but the inverse—remembering people’s names—has tremendous positive benefits. It makes people feel special, it will make you smile, and it is beneficial in the long run. Remembering names is one of the little things that goes the longest way.

For most people, asking a person’s name several times the first time they meet is enough to remember it. But they feel embarrassed doing so, and avoid asking. Get over it. If that does not work, try something else—mnemonic devices and alliterative devices are popular—but whatever it takes remember the names of the people you see each day.

 

7. Take advantage of all the training.

As much as possible brush up on the necessary job skills to reduce the time needed to get up to speed. Take detailed notes and listen carefully to training that the company provides. Do not assume that the training will cover everything. Remember to thank the person who provided the training.

If the company does not offer much training, ask questions to fill in the gaps. It is better to ask a question than to do a task wrong. Accept offers from coworkers to demonstrate how things are done (as long as it does not compete with work assignments). It is a great way to build trust with the team, and they usually have tips that the official training does not cover.

 

8. Keep work areas clean and secure.

Information security is a top concern of employers, and no one wants to be responsible for a security breach during the first month on the job. So be smart! Devices, computers, and paper files containing secure information should be locked or filed away when not in use. Keep a private record of passwords in a secure place (such as in a locked desk drawer or a password-protected file) to avoid asking for them more than once. In a high-security job where passwords may not be written down for any reason, make it a top priority to memorize them, using mnemonics if necessary.

 

9. Fight to stay organized!

With so many new stimuli and unfamiliar processes, critical details are more likely to slip through the cracks. So write everything down! Creating one consolidated task list for the day (preferably on the computer rather than a scrap of paper) and checking it often is a great way to stay on track.

Take notes immediately when given a task. Do not rely on email as a way to store important information. Around 3 p.m. revisit the list. Pick the most important tasks to finish before the end of the day and move the rest into a to-do list for the next day in order of priority.

 

10. Respect the rules.

Little rules are a big deal in most offices, and often a bigger deal than they seem. But they also provide an opportunity for conversation and team-building. Ask where the coffee machine is, or where the best lunch spots are, and listen to what they say. Friendly small talk is the only way to get past the awkward new stage, and it is the best way to learn names and faces quickly.

 

11. Avoid taking time off.

New job vacation

Disclose unchangeable vacation plans as soon as possible (ideally during the interview process) to circumvent inconvenient surprises for a new employer.

Know the company policy for vacation thoroughly before planning anything. Come prepared with a plan to stay up to date on job responsibilities if it is necessary to take a day off.

Although illness is unavoidable, it is good form to show up and work cheerfully through minor colds. Similarly, make an effort to show up during adverse weather conditions, unless the manager says otherwise.

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12. Handle mistakes promptly and gracefully.

Mistakes happen, and no one likes to make them. Acknowledge the problem, take ownership of the situation, communicate a plan to fix it, and follow through without delay. Do not argue. If the manager suggests a different way to correct the situation, do it. Be responsive on emails, and error on the side of over-communicating to avoid future mistakes and miscommunications.

 

13. Never refuse a challenge.

Managers commonly ask new employees to handle work outside the advertised job content. View this as an opportunity to demonstrate a strong work ethic and possibly learn a new skill. Do not dismiss tasks that are outside the job description. Be the first to adapt when obstacles arise.

 

14. Stay in touch with trusted colleagues.

Cutting off old colleagues at the start a new job will stifle the natural growth and maturity of a professional network. After a month or so at the new job, it is appropriate to reconnect with old colleagues. Update LinkedIn with the new job title, and connect to new colleagues. It will help with learning names and titles, and it may provide insights into the skills and accomplishments they consider most important. Start slow—no need to send out 200 connection requests on day one.

 

15. Smile!

Still nervous? Smile! Smiling is a scientifically proven relaxation technique. Even a forced smile boosts real confidence.

Smiley - new job

 

For more advice on starting a new job, contact us at [email protected].

Don’t Let New Hires Fend for Themselves

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Remember the last time you started a new job? I do. I was immediately transported to middle school P.E. class where I had been deemed hopelessly un-athletic by a crowd of my peers. There I was at my new job, left to fend for myself. Left to figure out what the internet password was. Left to learn where the coffee grounds were stored. This is the story of many new hires.

The onboarding process at your company shouldn’t resemble any type of embarrassing preteen feelings for your new hires. So why do so many first days begin like this? Your new employees proved themselves to you during the hiring process – we can help you prove yourself to them once they get started.

First impressions are everything. BambooHR surveyed 1,000 new hires and found that nearly one-third of them had quit their job within 6 months of starting it. In plain English, that means that no one got them up to speed within their position or company culture, so they left.

The goal is to create a mutually beneficial relationship between your company and the new hires.

 

1. Be prepared

Have your new hires’ desk set up with their computer and phone. Have paperwork and payroll set up. This gives the new hire a great welcome and shows them how organized, professional and important they are to your organization.

 

Chart - onboarding new hires

Source: shrm.org

2. Make sure they get to know the team

As human beings we focus on making immediate connections with our boss, direct reports, etc. But having weak relationships with the rest of the staff can breed alienation and cause conflict down the line. Encourage the whole team to get to know the new hire right away. Invite the entire staff to a game night or have a company lunch. This allows the team to connect as human beings rather than just coworkers in a more comfortable setting.

 

3. Create a proactive onboarding process

Throughout the entire hiring process you’re creating a company reputation. How you call, onboard, greet, and portray yourself reflects how your company does business. In this short window of time new hires decide if the position will be a good fit long term. Building a trusting relationship with your new hires and demonstrating you have good relationships with all current employees will make a new hire feel welcomed and want to stay.  If there is disconnect between the way you work and how you portrayed yourself during the interview process, you’re likely to lose your new hire to a company which stands by its core values.

 

4. Communication is key

Make your new hires feel like there’s more communication happening than they can handle. If you’ve ever worked for a company that didn’t communicate, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Poor communication and lack of transparency in your organization creates uncertainty, rumors and poor teamwork which can ultimately lead to company morale deterioration. Make sure your new hires know that questions are welcome at all times.

 

5. Check in with them

Don’t make them feel isolated like an awkward last pick in middle school P.E. class. Schedule regular check-ins with appropriate staff to ensure the company and the new hires are giving and receiving valuable feedback. The more often you meet, the more you’re able to gauge their happiness and make improvements on what could be changed. Having an open dialogue is proven to improve retention rates.

 

6. Wanna join my team?

A great onboarding process conveys organization, pride in company culture, and accountability to new hires. The most expert, talented and innovative workers can get paid well anywhere. What’s going to distinguish your company from the competition? Hopefully not leaving them standing alone, waiting to be asked to join your team.

 

Want more onboarding advice? Contact us at [email protected].