How to Adapt Quickly to a New Job at a New Company
First days are always something we dread. From your first day in kindergarten, down to those palm sweating interviews while looking for work.
And it never seems to get any easier. No matter if it is the first company you work for or your job with 30 years of experience under your belt, the first few days in a new workplace will always take a lot more effort to adjust to.
On a weightier issue, work and stress correlation is backed by many studies, and, no surprise here, work does cause A LOT of stress to everyone. In a competitive and demanding hub city like Singapore, a survey has shown that 60% of the respondents go overtime for an hour at least three times a week, and 32% bring home their work. 22% have even worked at home even when on sick leave and 18% bring their jobs even while on vacation. It seems that the advancement of technology is part of the culprit as it makes separation from work and personal life more blurry, with everyone seeming to be available and on-call even after work hours.
The survey also tackled another source of stress: bullying. Bullying behavior includes biased workloads, verbal abuse, personal attacks, false accusations, power tripping, and gossip. It seems that 24% of Singaporean workers feel that they are being bullied by their co-workers. The most bullied demographic are 41-50-year-old women.
With all these stressors, it seems such a damper on one’s excitement on getting a new job. Next comes the phase that can make or break your position: settling in your new work environment. If you are excited, terrified, and confused about everything, then here are a few tips on how to assimilate with your new colleagues and your new work environment:
Reboot yourself
Before jumping headfirst into your new job, take the time to assess your mental, emotional, and physical health. These may seem basic, but this is very important in your professional performance. If your old job left you tired, sleep deprived, and worked up, then the time between jobs is an opportunity to correct bad habits that you have acquired and take needed changes in your lifestyle. You can work on returning to normal and healthy sleeping habits or start working on your exercise and gym regimen or take conscious efforts in eating healthy and nutritious meals.
Prepare for new challenges
While starting a new gig excites everyone, we all know that it would be foolish to assume that we are 100% prepared to take on the new challenges. Based on your interview, you already have a basic idea on what to expect in your new job. Having time between your old and new jobs can help you brush up on your skills and review for what may come. Read on new technologies and trends that you might find useful, try reviewing your books and reacquaint yourself with whatever literature your new job would require you to use. Tweaking your skills and tools are needed in order to help you deal with the first-month jitters.
Now that we’ve covered the preparations, let’s head on to the do’s and don’ts:
Do adapt and thrive
Be observant and always listen. Make sure you accept lunch invites with heartfelt smiles. Be accommodating. Go to work early, and maintain the first day good impressions. Being the new employee, reaching out to your colleagues should be your done on your initiative, make sure you have a few conversation starters to break the ice.
As stated earlier, it is perfectly okay to not know everything about your new job. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It is ok to admit that you don’t know something. Being honest and open shows that you are willing to learn and that you are humble with your shortcomings.
Learn to think outside the box, and shine! Being the fresh blood in the group gives you the edge of having a new perspective and creativity. Be enthusiastic and showcase your creativity. Showcase your skills by showing initiative in finding new ways to help the company.
Don’t look back
Never compare your previous job with your current one. However you put it, it will always come out as though you are bragging, and that will truly put people off. Make your new work be an opportunity for fresh learning and experiences. Learn to adjust to how things are done, and respect how people have their own way of doing their work. This does not necessarily translate to being a doormat. Just try sounding out your suggestions and ideas on the right avenues.
There will always be room for improvement in your career and in your life. Work closely with your new crew in order to have a successful working relationship with them. Be sure to update your superiors regarding the projects your are handling, making them see you worth as a valuable addition to the company.
While navigating the new work can sometimes make you feel lost, if you just take the time to learn and adapt, and take the needed time to build relationships and in finding your place in the new organization, you will be off on a great start on your new adventure.
Author Bio: Gemma Reeves is a seasoned writer who enjoys creating helpful articles and interesting stories. She has worked with several clients across different industries such as advertising, online marketing, technology, healthcare, family matters, and more. She is also an aspiring entrepreneur who is engaged in assisting other aspiring entrepreneurs in finding the best office space for their business. FindMyWorkSpace