You never get a second chance to make a first impression!
What you do or say during your first week at a new job leaves a lasting impression on your new colleagues. Huffpost asked career expert Mary Abbajay, of Careerstone Group, about the most common blunders to avoid if you want to be welcomed with open arms.
1. Being late
We’ll kick off the list with a habit that is really not done if you want to leave a professional impression: being late. “You don’t want to show up to meetings three or four minutes late every time. (…) But you want to be respectful and punctual,” says Abbajay.
It is not surprising that you occasionally get lost during the first few days in a new building. Take into account the time you will most likely need to get from A to B and make sure you don’t schedule your appointments too tightly.
2. Ignore the dress code
Which clothing is suitable for the workplace varies per company. So you can’t go anywhere with jeans and a big sweater. “Many people make the mistake of ignoring a company’s dress code,” Abbajay said.
You will often be told – after you have been hired – what the company expects from you in this area. If you haven’t heard anything, you could also look it up yourself or ask a colleague.
3. Oversharing
There is a big difference between having a pleasant conversation with a colleague and sharing your entire life story. Being social is of course great, but make sure you don’t go too far and start ‘oversharing’.
Abbajay: “I once had a new colleague and when we worked on a task together for the first time, she told me way too much about her personal life. For example, consider the complete story behind her divorce. It made me want to avoid her from then on… It was just too much, too soon.”
4. Know everything better
When you’re new to a company, you may think that you have to go out of your way to show what you can do. However, try not to overdo this, as this can ultimately work against you. You don’t want to be known as a ‘know-it-all’.
Would you do things differently than your employer does now or do you think certain methods are outdated? Then be open-minded and curious. Instead of: “I would really do this differently”, it is better to say: “Interesting! Could you tell me why you are doing this this way?”
5. Gossip about colleagues
Do you notice that conversations come to a standstill when certain colleagues come in, or that some simply fall by the wayside? Groups also form within a company, which is only normal. Just make sure you don’t get too involved in this and don’t get involved in gossip about other team members.
“Don’t join any group for the first week,” Abbajay advises. “Is there gossip? Excuse yourself, change the subject, or say something nice about the person.”
Source: Huffpost | Image: NL Image
