First Year on the Job

You lay the foundation for future success during your first year on the job. This may cause you concern and worry about how you should act when you first arrive. Carefully think about what is ahead of you once you accept your first job offer.

Twelve Steps to First-Year Success
Some items to keep in mind!

  • Adopt the right attitudes
  • Be willing to learn
  • Build effective relationships
  • Understand your organization's culture
  • Understand your "new hire" role
  • Master the tasks of your new job
  • Adjust your expectations
  • Manage the impressions you make
  • Become a good follower
  • Develop organizational savvy
  • Develop the skills to be resourceful at work
  • Acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for success

Learning Organizational Culture
Organizational culture is a term used to describe the unspoken beliefs, customs, and attitudes of a company or organization. You will simply need to be observant and ask questions during your first year on the job. Below are some questions to ask:

  • What is the organization's management style?
  • How are the employees rewarded? What is the reward system like?
  • Where are the financial resources channeled in the organization?

Getting Ahead
During the first year, a raise or promotion is not typical. The first year is important for demonstrating your ability to exercise initiative and promise for future promotional opportunities and raises. You should pursue a promotion only when you can answer the following questions affirmatively:

  • Do you perform all assigned tasks well, in addition to going out of your way to help others?
  • Are you pleasant and easy to get along with?
  • Are you positively contributing to the company? How?
  • Do you take initiative at work? When?
  • Are you flexible and willing to work late to get a project done?
  • Are you a dependable employee?
  • Have you earned the credibility and respect of your colleagues? How?

What If It Doesn't Work Out?
During your first year on the job, you may experience more downs than ups. Before you think of calling it quits, give some thought to the following:

  • What do you like about your job? What do you not like about your job?
  • Put your job and your experiences into perspective. Is it the job that is causing you unhappiness? Is it the organizational culture and work environment? Or can you attribute your difficulties to the natural transition and adjustment to the first year on the job?
  • What must you absolutely have in a job (non-negotiable)? Make a pro and con list of the things you like and don't like about your position as it will identify areas that you have the ability to improve.
  • If it is clear things will not work out, make sure you are leaving your job for something better that meets the areas you are lacking in your current job. Avoid quick fixes and trading one set of problems for another.
  • Give at least two weeks notice and avoid burning bridges in your career. You will never know when paths may cross in the future. When leaving, it is important to make a smooth transition for both you and for the place you are leaving. You may want to ask them to serve as references for you in the future.