LANDING a new job often brings an enormous sense of relief. Navigating your way through the job application and interview process can be quite daunting, so being offered the role should bring a great sense of satisfaction.
Getting that big break, however, doesn’t mean you can relax. Now the hard work really begins and you need to make a good impression. Fast.
Making sure you do the right things to keep your new boss happy doesn’t have to be something that scares you.
There are some fairly simple rules to think about that should guide you through your first few months and set you on the right path to success.
1. Have a positive attitude.
We all know that a good education and professional experience are important factors in your success. However, there’s another critical component that people often forget about: attitude. Coming into a job with the right frame of mind already puts you at an advantage. So make sure you show plenty of enthusiasm, work towards being efficient in carrying out your responsibilities, and push yourself to constantly learn and improve. People with a positive attitude will view tasks given to them by their manager as a challenge or good learning opportunity rather than a burden.
2. Ask questions.
When you start a new job, there are always a lot of new things to learn. But don’t sit back and wait for your new colleagues to bring you up to speed on everything. Make sure you ask plenty of questions. This will not only demonstrate that you are ready to learn and become an integral part of the team, but also are interested in the actual job.
3. Take initiative.
Make yourself not only a more valued employee, but also someone who wants to advance their career. Rather than wait for tasks to be assigned to you, take the initiative. If you have already completed your work, ask your boss if there is something else you can work on, or a project you can help your colleagues with. Make it clear that you’re a team player and not just an employee by doing more than expected. And don’t forget to share any ideas you have that may help with the success of a project, or the company.
4. Come in early, leave a little later.
Now that you’ve finally landed the job you have been chasing, you need to show that you’re committed. If you arrive at work just on time and leave as soon as your official hours are finished for the day, you won’t exactly be giving off very positive signals to your manager. It may be construed by some that you’re just there to do the minimum work possible and collect your salary each month. Instead, come in early and get a good headstart on your work, and make sure you’re not the first to leave at the end of the day.
5. Listen.
While you need to show initiative in your new job, one of the most important things you also need to do is listen. Listen, observe, and learn. During the early days of your new job, it’s important that you are focused and absorb as much information as possible so that you can make a valuable contribution later on.
6. Be flexible.
Your job description may outline your roles and responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean you should not be open to change. If you’re a manager ask if you can work on a different project or help the team in another area, be willing to jump straight into the task. This not only makes it clear you’re a team player but also ready to learn new skills.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.