Starting out

The most important part of your work is often the most overlooked.

Bosses get honeymoon periods, employees (especially contractors and freelancers) get a small window in which to prove themselves.

Make a good impression early on and you will receive all sorts of tolerances, make a bad one and you will struggle for many weeks just to get back to where you started.

Priorities

When starting a new job it's prudent to address the concerns and requirements of your colleagues before trying to demonstrate just how good you think you are. 

You may desire to prove what a valuable asset you will be, but those around you may only need reassurance that you've grasped what's required of you, so don't over elaborate or get involved in one upmanship.

It may be an uncomfortable fact, but to start with, most of the people around you will have a better idea of what your job entails than you do, so seek and take advice when appropriate.

 

What to look out for

The first days on a new job are similar for consultants, contractors and freelancers alike.

With no track record to fall back on, it is vital to start building your reputation from the very first opportunity. 

Here are some basic things to remember:

  • Listen when you are inducted.
    Often the most mundane sounding things turn out to be important later on - if they've bothered to tell you about something, then you should conclude that it's potentially important.
  •  When presented with documentation be sure to read it.
    This is particularly true of technical or process documents. Company policy documents may be skipped through but any 'real' working documents should be read carefully.
  • Ask questions.
    Your learning curve may be very steep, and while people won't expect you to be familiar straight away and will generally try to help, after a short while they will often be far less forthcoming and may take any questions that you have as indicating that you're just 'not getting it'.
  • Don't take sides or be swayed by political or personnal bias.
    It's easy to get off on the wrong foot with people and those with most to gain by influencing you will be the ones most likely to do it.
  • Socialize with care.
    It's good to get to know your new colleagues but don't overdo it. There'll be plenty of time to forge friendships if your job lasts, so take things slowly and choose your social circle carefully.

Conclusion

Hindsight is great but most mistakes are made early on and it's wise to take a few precautions.

Your early days and weeks can mould your entire career with a new employer; first impressions are easily made and difficult to undo.

The challenges of starting a new job are magnified when it's also a new career.

It's all too easy to feel that the hard work has been done when we get the job we've been after, yet by definition, that's only the start.

Understanding what's expected of you is vital to a successful working relationship.

The preparation you make defines your professionalism in the eyes of your new colleagues.