First days in a new job: five things you will need to adapt to

A new job comes with many changes, from a new routine and route to a new environment. To get off to a strong start, you will have to acclimatize quickly. There are, however, some less obvious changes that you do not necessarily anticipate when you prepare for your new job. To prevent them from attacking you, we will explain a few of them.

 

In your previous job you were settled, you were comfortable and you knew the answers to all questions. Now you are the new employee who only has questions. This is one of the most difficult changes to a new job.

 

You will have to pick up a lot quickly, so try to set priorities. First focus on the strategic priorities of the company, who are the most important people to get in touch with and which tasks determine your daily job.

 

Be sure to take notes and ask sufficient questions during your training and introduction sessions. Don't be afraid to ask a question again. It is better to clarify matters about which you are uncertain than later in your job when people expect you already knew. After all, you are new and it makes sense that you have questions. What can help is finding a colleague who is well-informed and with whom you feel comfortable if you have any questions.
 

You will probably not immediately click with your boss. In your previous role you had a good relationship with your boss and you worked well together. You knew how they preferred to communicate, what the expectations and standards were.

 

But now, in your new job, you will have to discover all of that that again.

 

First, avoid assumptions based on your working relationship with your previous boss. Really use an empty slate. No boss is the same and it will take time to get to know them.

 

Moreover, it is important to get to know your boss and to know how the communication should go. You can start contacting before you start by sending an e-mail and asking if you need to do some preparatory work or to suggest you go for a coffee. It is also a good idea to find out what your boss expects from you during your first week, your second, during the first month, and so on. Also be proactive and schedule regular meetings to discuss your progress.

 

Finally: be patient. Do not force a bond if it is not there (yet) or be jealous of colleagues who have already built up a good working relationship with your boss. Patience is a virtue, and in the end that good dynamism with your manager will come if you are proactive and make an effort.
 

You will not only have to get used to a new boss, but also to a new company culture. This is based on the "personality" of a company and can be found in various aspects, such as how senior leaders deal with the rest of the employees, the dynamics between colleagues and the overall work ethic, values ​​and goals of the company.

 

As soon as you realize how different the corporate culture is, it makes sense that you will have to get used to it, so don't be surprised if you experience a certain culture shock after your first days at work. You can prepare yourself for this by doing thorough research into the company. Take a look at the social media profiles, career website and Glassdoor profile. These channels often offer a good view of the tone of voice and provide a picture of the atmosphere among employees.

 

On the morning of your first day at work, think positively and promise yourself that you will do your best to integrate into an unknown environment. Talk to everyone, remember names, ask questions and observe everything. Again: be patient. Being part of a company takes time.
 

Spoiler: you can. When you have to familiarize yourself with a new company, you will be tempted to adjust your personality or to pretend to be someone else, just to belong. Of course you have to stay professional, but don't present yourself differently. Remember that you got the job because you will be a good match with the company and not some other alter ego that you think will work better with colleagues. In addition, people will trust and believe you faster if you come across as sincere, which in turn creates stronger and honest relationships.

 

A corporate culture is composed of all kinds of personalities and you undoubtedly contribute to that in your own unique way. You are who you are and ultimately you are part of the team.
 

Even if you didn't really like your previous job, you will take off your rose-coloured glasses during the first few weeks of your new job and feel a bit of nostalgia. The old and familiar will suddenly seem very attractive and you might even think of returning.

 

That feeling is perfectly normal when you start a new job, especially when you have a hard time adjusting. However, you must remind yourself that you have changed jobs for a reason and that you should not compare the two. It is a new start and with time that previous job will only be a vague memory.

 

Adapting to a new job, your first days at work and everything that comes with it can take three, even six months. And when that job is more technical or your role is more senior, it can take even longer. It is important to prepare yourself for the less obvious changes and to confront them with a positive and patient attitude. This change is a new chapter in your professional success story and success only comes if you occasionally take a leap into the dark.