18 Sep Do’s & Don’ts ‘of settling into a new job’
According to Talos360, 75% of UK professionals are considering a new job to help meet rising living costs. If you are thinking about switching to a new job, you might wonder how much time it would take you to settle. The answer is: a lot. However, it is more than feasible. A LinkedIn post estimates that it takes, on average, 12-18 months to adapt properly. New boss, new company culture, new colleagues, new tasks, new environment, schedule and working tools; a lot of things that take a lot of time to settle into. And that’s okay.
To help you, Rotheram Carrington created a list of five dos and don’ts in this transition period:
Don’t blame yourself for not learning ‘quickly enough’
Learning a new job takes time. Do not self-criticise because you did not understand how to do this new thing or knew skill already. Getting a job does not mean you are expected to know everything; you are still evolving and learning daily. No one expects you to have mastered it all, so do not put this pressure on yourself.
Do ask your boss to clarify what they expect from you
Trying to be autonomous without knowing the job you are expected to do because you just arrived can be terrifying and cause a great deal of unnecessary stress. Make sure you ask the people supervising you what they expect from you. Explain what you thought about doing and ask them what they would like you to focus on. Slowly, you will start noticing that you understand your goals better, and everything will be fine.
Don’t allow imposter syndrome to settle into that job with you
You have been chosen to join the team because you are yourself. You probably went through an interview process, allowing your colleagues to get to know you better after they found your CV interesting. They hired you based on what you were able to do, not based on what they imagined you could do. You are talented and skilled, do not doubt yourself and leave your imposter syndrome at home.
Do ask questions – no, you are not stupid
Speaking about leaving imposter syndrome behind, doubting the relevance of your questions should be the same. Questions do not mean that you are stupid or not qualified; you just need more explanation for something to be clear in your mind. Similarly, if you need more training to understand a skill or software, for example, do not hesitate to ask. You are learning.
Do get to know your colleagues and enjoy the time you get with them
Building relationships with colleagues might take a long time, depending on remote work, schedules, or personalities. However, slowly, you will discover what they are like, and probably have a good time with them at work. You might see them every day, so enjoying your time together is always better. They are not only work colleagues but people you might end up being friends with!