Settling down in a new job

Settling down in a new job may not be easy. Your new company may be quite different from your previous one. Therefore, you should, without much delay get to know what is expected of you and how to go about doing and getting things done. In other words, you will have to establish yourself quickly and effectively in your new role.

Kicking off a new job is a formidable effort because there is everything new for you there. If you do not go about seriously at your new job, chances are that your jubilation will give way to apprehensions and misgivings. Despite various reservations, your initial days at your new job can be made remarkable. If you want to facilitate the adjustment process, you need to organise yourself. How can you do that? Some general guidelines are:

· Don’t pay heed to inconsequentialities: You should overlook trivialities and understand that you are a human being first. Small slip-ups like not recollecting names or venues can be quite bothersome, but there would have been many like you. Such gaffes will not be a yardstick of your capabilities in your new job.

· Dress appropriately: You must get to know dress regulations in advance and then follow them in letter and spirit. Your own comfort in wearing a particular attire notwithstanding, being wrongly dressed can add to your woes in an already worrying atmosphere.

· Be amiable: You should display affability at all times, though you will take time getting acquainted with your co-workers. If ab initio you are friendly, others will open up with you sooner than usual. This is more pertinent if you happen to be joining in a senior designation.

· Know the work culture: You must familiarise yourself with the ethos and values of your company. This would necessitate making a note of various arrangements and implicit challenges, besides identifying people with whom you could possibly build relationships. Every organisation has its own working philosophy and hence you should avoid imposing yourself.

· Discern skills necessary for good performance: All new jobs have inherent contests and defies; and call for expertise that perhaps you may not be having as yet. You must discern them and formulate an appropriate line of action. When you go about like that, besides the buoyancy that you will generate in yourself, you will create a positive impact on your seniors for your initiative.

Your initial months will be hectic and demanding for obvious reasons. But you can always make the adjustment to the new environment a pleasant experience and eliminate any trepidations that you may be harbouring. You can achieve this by:

· Take recourse to known stress-busters: The need to remain stress-free is significant. Being new, you will find yourself worrying. To overcome any uneasiness, you could take a walk in the corridor or simply look out of the window.

· Be punctual: Being early at work strengthens your reputation and encourages people to trust you.  Punctuality will transmit to your team your seriousness towards your work and help you in being at the wheels of your routine. If you want to begin your day in a less stressful manner, you must subscribe to the philosophy ‘Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.’

· Make your work-station orderly: Your table and room should be well-organised. You will find that your comfort level will increase when you know where things are kept. Depending upon the prevalent culture, you could display a small photograph of your family or some items to individualise your work-station; such exhibits will make you feel undisturbed.

· Get to know your job imperatives: The earlier you do so, the better it will be for you. You should get to know what and how your boss believes you to do. If you start feeling confident in your new position, the more self-assuredly you will be able to acquit yourself. And that will create the desired good impression.

· Find people with whom you can spend some time with: Recesses are good times to interact with people. You must identify those with whom you could have lunch together or spend time in the tea-break. You will get to know a lot about the company through casual conversations and people will also get to know you.

· Take part in extra-curricular activities: Whatever be the established norms, you must follow them. This will help in fostering camaraderie. Chipping in for a meal out or witnessing a match will establish your credibility as a team player. However, you need to guard against falling prey to temptations associated with socialising.

  Starting a new job is always chilling, like any new beginning. It should be your endeavour to live up to the impression that you created during the interview session. If you go about adjusting to it with a positive outlook, you will find it amazingly interesting. You should begin by doing what is essential and then do what is possible. Sooner or later you will find yourself doing the impossible.