Make a Great First Impression At a New Job: First impressions are the best and most lasting impressions. Most of us live by this unspoken yet demanding rule. The first few days at the new job are exciting and nerve-wracking.
These first impressions form the basis for our relationship with the people in the workspace. So much information to access, and the brains are put under pressure as we make a conscious effort to ensure that we will have a positive work experience. We apply the rule round the clock no matter where we are.
Why do we think first impressions are important?
No one denies the fact that first impressions are important, but why?
Humans got to develop the skill of Person Perception- the processes people use to assess information about other people and come to conclusions based on the impressions formed after learning the information. From infancy, we do this. It is a subconscious tool we use to get used to the environment. And as we grow, we can assess myriad of information and from impressions of others quickly without much effort. In a social environment, we want the approval, respect, and praise of others. So we make an effort to get what we want.
Non-verbal behavior plays a huge role in forming first impressions. These cues help make judgments and conclusions faster and quicker. From appearance to attitude, all play a part in first encounters. To integrate information, people combine traits that they are familiar with, so having a common ground and getting along is necessary.
Moreover, if people get a good judgment of you in your first encounters, it creates more leads and a path to success, which is mostly a good thing. These positive judgments create a halo effect and help us to have a good kick start.
Great First Impression at a New Job
It’s always nice to go back to school when we’re in the process of learning. Thinking carefully about each and every step and having a possible set of solutions to act in a particular manner that helps you to have a positive impact on your employer and co-workers. Here are the points to consider when presenting yourself in a new work environment.
Dress and Groom Appropriately
This is the first and most important visual impression you’ll create in your workplace. Visual impressions are highly quicker to observe and to be made.
Dress in accordance with your workspace and if you don’t know, actively seek information and observe your co-workers. Remember your hygiene routine, and ensure the workspace has specific grooming rules such as scent sensitivity, hair dyes, tattoos, etc.
Make sure you have the workplace’s dress code in mind so that in your first days, you leave an impression of confidence that you are good to do the job you are hired for.
What to say and How to act
After visual impressions, non-verbal actions catch the eye the most. Make sure to carry yourself with your self-esteem. Greet people and get along to avoid awkward interactions.
Only some people recognize you and talk to you. Learn to break the ice and strike the conversation. Take part in small talk and be more natural. Don’t share or ask for too much personal information. Try to be simple. Try not to be judgemental about people; keep an open mind. Be approachable.
Be punctual
Tardiness gives you nothing to gain. Make it a habit to be on time. Seems like no one watches you, but everyone actually observes you. Take your job with a respective amount of seriousness. During the early days of the job, try to avoid calling in sick or taking long leaves.
Keep away leaves for emergencies. This helps you to have a good attendance record and does not interrupt your learning flow. Showing up early and leaving late impacts your co-workers and shows that you are there to do the job you are assigned to and that you make an effort to learn.
Observe and Learn
Often all the basic necessary information is provided, but watching and observing is important to understand the environment. Make it a habit to listen and not to judge. Listen more than you talk. It is always better to lend an ear unless you have a genuine contribution.
Be proactive and ask for help if you are stuck. No one knows it all. It’s better to ask than to contemplate. That’s the only way to learn and get on. So, learn to ask for help.
Find out the little things
To feel in the right place. ask the coordinator about the schedule of your work and your co-workers, your day-to-day affairs, what is present, such as office room, meeting room, dining area, cafeteria, timings and breaks, unspoken and implied rules, etc.
Showcase your strengths
Playing and working with your strengths creates a positive environment around you, and especially if you are a newbie, people will get attracted to you because you are the most confident when you play to your strengths. Choose activities that you can perform well and try to seek them intently. Work on your weaknesses privately and personally. Know your strengths and implement them well.
Be Proactive
It is natural to feel out of place in a new work environment. Make active efforts to fit in. Ask about your duties, and be in touch with your immediate managers. Inform them when your tasks are done. Raise your hand and take on new tasks when your plate is half full. Take the initiative, and don’t wait for someone to come to you.
Keep a balanced life
Keep your personal life at bay during work hours. Don’t take office time and space to worry about personal problems actively. Having separate personal and professional lives will put less stress on your mental health. From the get-go, keep boundaries.
Taking care of small day-to-day personal affairs in the office should be quick and discreet and maintain the workflow. Avoid giving off an impression of negligence and irresponsibility because of poor management.
Be Organised
Keep your workspace organized, always ready to do the work. Ask for information about to what extent you can personalize your work area. Take notes when necessary and mark the schedule of your meetings, projects, and deadlines. Make a habit of revising and editing them often. This will show them that you are disciplined.
Actively Connect
Meet and greet different people. Have lunch with them. Join meetings. Participate in discussions to voice your ideas and to learn from others. Give and take reviews. Remember their names, birthdays, creative methods, social preferences, and positions. Having rapport is as important as having accomplishments, so connecting with people is as important as completing your tasks in the workplace. Do club activities together that interest you. This will improve your rapport with peers, increase your social circle, and reinforce your relationships.
Know about your Employer
Attend orientation and keep a handbook about the company’s history and literature. Once you are inside, there is always something to learn, so keep up with the news about the company on the company’s website and press page and by following their social media handles and official representatives.
Track your achievements
You may have few accomplishments from the get-go, but make it a habit to take note of them. When an employee is new, it is a new concept to track, but soon, time flies, and it becomes rare to find an employee who keeps track of her achievements.
So even if it is small, make a note. You will eventually work for them, so when the time comes, it puts you in the best position to make decisions, negotiate terms or ask for a pay raise. When the time comes to build a resume again, you will have it all ready instead of rummaging through the memories.
Purposefully create your impression.
Please choose what you want to be, a creator, a team collaborator, a problem solver, a speaker, an action taker, a coordinator, etc., and take on tasks that resonate with your ideal impression; otherwise, someone will choose you for their needs.
From the get-go, have an idea of what kind of label and image you desire. Avoid discussions, situations, and people that detract from your ideal impression of yourself. Introduce yourself with the adjectives you desire to identify with the most. Keep it short and impactful that showcase your unique talents and individuality.
Share your success
Remember to share your success with people you work with if they have a part in it. It shows that you are a team player and honest with your peers. Say thanks often to people who help you, from your co-workers, seniors, peers from another department, helping staff, and so on. This builds good relationships you can rely on, and the result compounds.
Own your mistakes
Owning your mistakes is as much important as celebrating your success. One is bound to make mistakes along the way wherever one is. Accept that you make mistakes then only you can learn from them. Doing so will show that you are a responsible individual.
Avoid Rumors
The Rumour team is a losing team; if you are in it, you will lose too. Avoid office rumors at any cost and keep people that power them at bay. Not only will they affect your relationships, but they also have a compounding effect in deteriorating your work environment.
Stay away from office politics when you are not in power to make decisions. Act rationally and professionally.
The earlier days at a new job are always cognitively energy-consuming. Keep a checklist for everything until you get used to the routine and try to follow it to reduce stress and anxiety. Take time to organize your thoughts and actions and give yourself time to familiarise yourself with the environment.
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