5 Simple Tips To Make A Good First Impression At Your New Job

Congratulations, you landed your dream job!

Now you want to make it through that critical first three to six months.

Or maybe you’re still looking for your dream job? At Patel Consultants, we help exceptional candidates like you with the tools you need to take control of your professional career. 

In this post, we’ll discuss five tips to make a positive, lasting impression on your boss and your team. And we guarantee some of these tips will surprise you!

So let’s start with surprising fact number one. How long does it take to settle into a new job? The career advice pros at LinkedIn weighed in a recent article:

You’ve updated your CV, applied, got through the interview and accepted the offer. Now you’re in (or maybe about to start) your new job. You might be feeling nervous and excited at the same time, not unlike starting at a new school! 

With a new job, there’s lots of change. From a new commute, colleagues and new expectations – some of which you might be adding yourself. 

You might be thinking you have to fit in quickly, but I’m not so sure about that. In my experience, it can take up to 12-18 months to feel confident in your role.

12 to 18 months might seem like a long time, but it’s not. We pointed out in a previous post that an immersive onboard process can take up to twelve months. So how can new hires settle into their new job and make a positive, lasting impression on their new employer? 

It all starts with the right attitude.

It can take a while, so go into your new job with the right attitude.

Don’t try to set the world on fire your first week or month on the job. It will take several months to get your feet on the ground with respect to learning new processes, workflows, operational frameworks, etc. 

Go in with your eyes wide open and let the onboarding process play out.

 Start with the basics—be prompt, always dress appropriately, and always be respectful.

Externals are super-important. According to Salary.com, first impressions can turn into long-term perceptions, good or bad. New hires must be especially mindful and meticulous about timeliness, appearance, chain-of-command, and respect for coworkers, team leads, and management.

With these considerations, it’s better to err on the side of caution.

Take it slow, get a feel for the culture, and ask questions.

Take your time engaging in the culture, and don’t worry about getting a “win” right away. Your time to shine will come, so don’t rush it. Look for a cultural mentor you can trust to help you navigate your first six months on the job.

It’s easy to rush into a new job like a bull in a china closet. Don’t get caught in that trap.

Get prioritized with your new boss.

Your new boss will be solely responsible for managing your professional goals and objectives. You need to take your new boss at their word, regardless of what your coworkers may think of them. Now is an excellent time to meet with your boss regularly and get to know them and their expectations of you.

Your early days of employment are also the perfect time to ask a lot of questions.

Now it’s time to shine!

You’ve come into your new job with the right attitude. You’ve been diligent with protocols, assimilated into the corporate culture, and have your priorities in order. Now it’s time to shine. You got this job because you were the most qualified candidate. Now it’s time to prove the hiring manager right— so go and make it happen!

Are you considering a career move to a new company?

Consider engaging with an established recruiting and staffing agency to help you with your job search. A dedicated recruiting team can streamline your job search by helping you locate those great companies looking for candidates with your skills, credentials, and experience.  

The recruiting team at Patel Consultants will take time to understand your unique skills, capabilities, and career objectives before starting the search process.

We give our candidate clients and our hiring clients the same red carpet treatment.

You can expect us to find you the perfect employer from our long list of strategic relationships with local, regional, Fortune 100, and Global 1000 companies. Patel Consultants has over 40 years of experience placing IT professionals with exceptional companies.    

Call us today at 908-964-7575, or get in touch online. Our expert recruiters are waiting for your call.