Congrats! Perhaps you’ve landed your first truly career-oriented role — now what?

Stepping into a new job can be exciting and uneasy at the same time. The skills you display and the precedent you set in your first few weeks will lay the foundation for your career with that company. The sooner you're able to settle in and adjust to your new position, the sooner you'll be able to succeed and be noticed. This means learning how to approach your role, your superiors, and coworkers.  Here are some steps to help you get going in your new workplace:

1) Learn what it takes to be successful

• Get clear on how success is measured (both quantitative KPIs and qualitative behaviours).
• Set checkpoints and ask for feedback. Your supervisor might be too busy to proactively provide you with feedback, so it’s your responsibility to seek it.
  
• Let go of your old learned ways of doing things. This can hinder a smooth transition to your new workplace.
• Increase your comfort level by
  observing, listening, and talking to new coworkers.
• Avoid making snap judgments about your new workplace or colleagues.
  
  

2) Build a strong, professional relationship with your new Manager

• Establish a pattern of good communication.
• Develop a clear understanding of his/her expectations of you as an employee.
• Cultivate a good rapport.

3) Develop relationships with new coworkers

• Step out of your comfort zone and get to know people.
• Keep your personal life personal. Keep your conversations professional.
• Avoid cliques and stay out of office politics.
• Choose your friends carefully. Do not become associated with the wrong people.

4) Do more than what's expected of you

• Improve your odds of having a future with the company by establishing a reputation early on for being someone proactive who will deliver far beyond minimum expectations.
• At the same time, avoid unreasonable expectations in the future by only taking on what you can realistically handle.

5) Find a mentor and get involved

• With a mentor, you'll quickly learn the culture of your new environment and gain seasoned insight from a superior.
• Joining committees or work-sponsored volunteer events are great opportunities to develop relationships with coworkers and learn company values.   

It's important to get off on the right foot and show your new coworkers, boss, and the higher-ups that hiring you was the right move. Getting involved and sharing experiences (that are work appropriate) can be the tipping point in your performance review, especially when you manager is trying to score you on the qualitative part of your role. With that in mind, be thoughtful, be business minded, and be a contributor.

Looking for new career opportunities? We're hiring for lots of exciting positions with different clients around North America - Check out our Job Board below: