How to Make a Good First Impression in a New Job

When you start a new job, it can be easy to get a bit complacent – you’ve already been given the role, right? But the first few months of a new job – around 90 days, according to a lot of experts – are incredibly important in terms of making a good impression, and progressing within the company.

You should be using this time to get to know your responsibilities, the business, and your colleagues. And they will be doing the same in return. The first 90 days will typically be your probationary period too, so you need to demonstrate that you’re well suited to the role, and are performing to a high standard. The question is, how do you stand out during this period? We’ve outlined a few ways you can make a great first impression below!

Prepare Yourself Beforehand

Before you even start your new job, it’s important to get prepared. You will probably have already done some research on the company prior to the interview, but now that you’ve been offered the position, you can conduct even more research.

You can also reach out to your new boss, asking for information about your role within the business. See if there is anything they’d like you to do before you start, like getting to grips with a particular technology, platform, or topic. You can also enquire about the company in general, such as their overarching goals and procedures.

If you put the legwork in before you even arrive on your first day, you’ll make an excellent impression. Not only will you appear keen to get started, you’ll also be knowledgeable about the company culture, and be confident that you’ll be able to fit in. Not to mention the fact that you’ll be ready to get stuck into your duties straight away!

Learn From Others

There’s a good chance that you’ll be shadowing a colleague when you first start your new job, especially if you’ll be using unfamiliar software. If this is the case, use this time as an opportunity to absorb as much information as possible, taking notes where necessary. You should also try to learn about the company ethos, as well as where various responsibilities lie. So if you are unable to complete a task yourself, you’ll know who to approach for help.

The benefit of engaging with a business environment from the start is that you’ll show your employer that you’re passionate about the role, and wish to excel in your job. You can also begin to build meaningful relationships with your colleagues from the offset, which is an essential part of settling into any position.

Be a Team Player

When you start a new job, it’s important to get involved. While you’ll undoubtedly be trying to pick up a lot of new skills and take on a lot of information, you still have to make an effort to take the initiative. Your boss may be going easy on you at first, to allow you to settle in, but don’t be afraid to ask for more work if you complete yours ahead of schedule!

It’s also good to immerse yourself in team activities. This includes being a team player at work, as well as outside of it. A lot of offices will have informal lunchtime activities, or short breaks where colleagues can chat with one another. Do your best to get to know the other staff members, and join in on any team outings. To achieve job satisfaction, forging friendships is important – you can’t isolate yourself!

Build Your Reputation

Building a reputation for yourself is often easier said than done. But one way to stand out is to secure some kind of win. This could be something small, such as completing a task way ahead of schedule, or a more significant achievement, like discovering an efficiency gain across the business, or increasing company revenue. Essentially, you need to show that you’re capable, and convince your boss that they made the right decision in hiring you.

Looking back at your probationary period, you’ll probably think that the time has flown. But while you’re living it, the struggles often seem endless. You just have to remember that the first few months in a new job are difficult for everyone! As long as you make a good first impression, you’ll be creating a solid foundation for the rest of your career.