9 Tips for the First 6-Months of Your New Career

Written by: Marianna | NewCareer101

The first 6 months of your new career are crucial. This is the time when you learn your new role, get to know the culture of your office, and start earning the respect of your managers. Make sure you stay on top of your game even when you start to feel comfortable at the new job. Below are 9 tips not to forget for your first 6 months.

1. Don’t be Late
Although you should never be late for your job, absolutely make sure not to be late when you are still a new employee. You want to make sure to set a good impression and avoid making your boss wonder where you are in the morning. This is a new commute so leaving your house ten or fifteen minutes earlier than usual will be a good idea. If you forgot to get gas the night before or if there is an accident on the freeway, it will give you time to still make it to the new job on time.

2. Dress Professionally
The longer you are at your new job, the more comfortable you will become, especially as you experience the culture of your office and as you get to know your coworkers. If you see other coworkers dressing more casual, you may want to as well. However, before doing so, use your boss as an example. If your boss wears a suit every day, think twice before coming to work in jeans. Use your boss as an example as to what you should wear. If management tends to dress up, make sure you are doing the same. The management team will notice that you maintain professionalism even after your interview.

Are other employees leave right at 5:00pm? Instead of taking off for the day, why not put in an extra 10 min?

3. Don’t be the First Person to go Home
Trust me, people will notice if you are the first one out the door at the end of the day. Staying for a few extra minutes will give you the opportunity to plan for the next day, follow up on e-mails or return phone calls. Working those extra minutes demonstrates that you are hardworking and dedicated to your new job.

4. Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you really don’t know the answer, it’s better to ask and learn. You’re a new employee, so there are many aspects of the job that you are not expected to know. This is your chance to ask questions and really master your role. Remember, you will become an expert in your role if you ask and learn now compared to 6 months down the road.

Booking a trip to Thailand? You might want to wait until you have put in a few months at the new job first.

5. Postpone Your Vacation
Many companies advise not to take vacation time within the first 6 months of your new job. This is the time when you are learning your new role, understanding the culture of the company and establishing yourself as a dedicated employee. If your annual trip to Florida lands within the first few months of your new job, you may want to think about postponing your trip. If you do have a vacation planned that you can’t reschedule, let the hiring manager know during the interview process and, if you already won them over, there is a good chance they will approve your time off. Overall, best practice is to make sure you build the reputation that you are a dedicated employee before you plan your next vacation.

6. Avoid Gossip
In every career there will be employees who gossip. Avoid gossip at all costs. If people see you participating, they will keep coming back to you with the newest news going around the office. Even if you are not the one spreading rumors, most likely your co-workers and managers may start to see that you are a part of it. This could ultimately result in a poor reputation or even hinder chances for career advancement.

7. Put in the Extra Mile
You are in a new career, so it is important to put in the extra mile. If you are in a sales role, start to read sales books. If you are in an IT role, learn more about IT lingo. Go the extra mile outside of work to really learn more about your job, company, and industry. If you do this, you will start to stand out, because you will become an expert in your field much faster compared to other new employees. The more you know, the faster your learning curve will be!

Make sure to take detailed notes within your first few weeks.

8. Take Notes
The first few months are dedicated to learning your new role. You will be learning new software, your day-to-day functions, and much more. During this time, your mind will reach capacity on how much you can retain. Make sure to take detailed notes as a resource for you once you are on your own. It will also show you are listening and dedicated to learning your new role.

9. Stay Off Your Phone
Employees across all industries are constantly on their phones throughout the day. Many people are texting, checking Facebook, or posting pictures on Instagram while they are working. At some companies, this may be a part of the culture. However, within the first 30 days of your new career, you will be overwhelmed by new hire orientation, learning a new system, and just trying to retain the information you are taught each day. Besides the fact that your phone may be distracting, it also will be noticed by other colleagues and managers. You want to create a reputation of being hard working, detail-oriented, and driven. Staying off your phone while at work will help you build just that!