Tips for success in your new job

Practical preparation 

To ensure you put your best foot forward on your first day, take the time to prepare a few days beforehand. This includes checking your start date and time, planning your commute, and familiarising yourself with the dress code. It’s also a good time to complete your personnel forms, check your tax file and superannuation details, and refresh your knowledge on the company (don’t forget to check their LinkedIn page too!)  

Good impressions and avoiding mistakes 

The first few days may seem daunting – there’s a lot to take in between the role and the people in your team – so be authentic, have a growth mindset and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Create a seating plan to remember each team member’s name and their role, and remember to interact and be friendly – even a simple ‘good morning’ as you step into the office goes a long way in making a solid first impression. 

What to expect 

Along with creating a positive first impression, the first week of your new role will probably require a fair amount of administrative work. This might include mandatory training, learning new systems and processes, reading documentation, setting up your staff ID and organising access to rooms, and setting goals and performance objectives with your manager.  

Develop work relationships 

As you become familiar with the role and the team you work with, remember the importance of being authentic and showing enthusiasm. As you startdeveloping work relationships, consider how you can support other colleagues; avoid office gossip and negative talk; andlearn the office hierarchy. 

Find or become a mentor 

Consider looking for an experienced person in a similar role or in a position you wish to work towards. If you find a person you think could be a mentor, approach them – they will probably be flattered you asked! Similarly, suppose you’ve got the experience and time. In that case, you may wish to let your manager know you aspire to be a mentor and find out what opportunities the organisation has available (e.g. mentor/mentee programs).  

Professional planning 

It’s never too early to plan out your Professional Development Plan (PDP), and you’ll find most organisations have a formal process to log employee success. If you’re stuck for ideas, talk to other staff about how they gained experience and integrate this into your PDP, consider upskilling through short courses, and regularly reflect and identify development opportunities.  

Ensure long term success 

One of the key ingredients to ensure long term success is maintaining strong relationships.Try to get to know your colleagues (including saying yes to after-work gatherings), help out where you can, and offer to do a job no one wants. Additionally, use LinkedIn to share, like and comment on relevant posts.  

Gauging success 

Ideally, you will receive feedback as you progress in your role but if not, seek this from team members and stakeholders. Remember to reflect regularly against performance targets, be proactive and arrange to meet with your manager to discuss your performance.