Nine Tips For Your First Month at a New Job

Starting a new job is exciting, but also scary. After all, there's no guarantee you'll succeed in your position. Fortunately, there are ways to improve your chances of success and start your career off on the right foot. Follow these tips, and you can exceed your employer's expectations.

1. Introduce Yourself

Don't leave it to your employer to introduce you to your colleagues. Likewise, you can't count on your colleagues to introduce themselves. You need to take matters into your own hands. On your first day of work, walk around and introduce yourself to everyone. It doesn't matter what their position is - shake hands with everyone.

As you shake hands, make sure to smile and be friendly. Ask for their name and repeat it out loud. After your first day at work, write down the names of everyone you met along with a few important details about them. Doing so will help you remember the names of your co-workers. In the future, your notes could help you.

2. Schedule Your Time

If you don't have a schedule, you might find it difficult to juggle all of your duties. Rather than live in confusion, you should keep track of your time. Write a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule.

On your schedule, try to include your goals. Is there a certification you want to finish, or another tangible goal? If so, include it on your schedule. This will prevent you from forgetting anything or falling behind.

Before you create your schedule, ask your employer some questions about their expectations of you. Make sure you have a clear understanding of current projects, deadlines, and events.

3. Be Positive

During the first month of your job, your employer and co-workers will pay close attention to you. This is an opportunity to impress them with your positivity. If you don't make a good first impression, you may never convince them of your worth.

While you're at work, be very aware of your attitude. Don't speak negatively about anything and project positivity. Even if you're not happy about something, keep a smile on your face. Avoid any temptation to complain to your co-workers about your life or your job.

If your co-workers speak badly about someone, remove yourself from the conversation. Joining in on the conversation could come back to hurt you.

4. Contribute to Conversations

Although you need to watch your words, you shouldn't sit in silence. Always try to contribute something to work-related conversations. Even though you're new, you have a lot to contribute. Your unique perspective makes your opinion invaluable.

If you're not sure what's going on in the conversation, ask questions. No one will shame you for your lack of knowledge. By asking questions, you're showing that you're eager to learn. You also may be able to gain further insight and make a valuable contribution to the company.

5. Do Research

There are some questions that you don't need to ask. Before you go into a meeting, do your own research. Educate yourself on upcoming projects and company policies.

It's a fine balance between asking too many questions and not asking enough questions. If there's a question you can answer on your own, do the research. By taking the initiative, you can impress your boss and showcase your passion.

6. Get a Mentor

Some companies have mentorship programs. Do some research to find out if your new employer has one such program. If not, don't be discouraged. You can find your own mentor, and it's not as difficult as you might think.

Is there a co-worker who seems willing to help you? If so, they may be willing to be your mentor. Finding someone who's willing to show you around can make all the difference. They may have some insight and advice that helps you succeed in your role. As you look for a mentor, make sure you don't get disheartened. People may turn down your requests for help, but someone will be eager to guide you.

7. Sleep Enough

If you're not getting enough sleep, your work will suffer. It might be difficult to sleep well when you're worried about a new job, but you should try your best to get eight hours of sleep.

It's crucial that you show up to work fresh and excited every day. To maintain this level of enthusiasm, you need to rest at night. Fortunately, there are a few ways in which you can accomplish this. For one, avoid partaking in any late social events. For a month or two, you may need to put your social life on hold.

Secondly, you should avoid staying up late to finish work. If there's something you didn't have time to finish in the office, make sure it gets done before the night rolls around. By not getting enough rest, you could find it difficult to focus at work.

8. Be Prompt

This should go without saying, but you need to make sure you're on time for work. If you show up late, your employer will hold it against you. Before your first day of work, map out your commute. Aim to get to work about ten minutes early, or more if traffic is unpredictable.

Every following day, stick with the same routine. Your timeliness is just as important on the first day as it is on your third day. Being late shows that your position is not a top priority, and showing up early shows that you're passionate about what you do.

9. Make Career Goals

To help you maintain focus during your first month at work, keep your career goals in mind. Make a list of your career goals, and think about how you can accomplish them.

If you get overwhelmed or stressed out, think about your goals. There's a brighter future waiting for you, and your new job is the path to that future. Your goals can help you remain focused when things get difficult at work. They can also remind you to take advantage of opportunities that will help you accomplish your goals.