How to Start a New Job

The other day a coworker mentioned that today would be my one-month anniversary at my job. I couldn’t believe it. In some ways, it seems like I just started yesterday. When I was on the subway home from work tonight I jotted down a few reflections about how to start a new job.

How to Start a New Job: 10 Tips

Just fucking Google it:

A wise friend of mine once told me about an acronym her coworkers use, JFGI, otherwise known as Just Fucking Google It. You should ask questions when you are new but save your questions for those that have to do with company procedures and things that you can’t Google. Example: What time do people usually get to work? (Ask it!) What is the Excel command for counting the number of characters in a cell? (JFGI.)

Say good morning and good evening:

This is a very simple way to get to know people and come off as the friendly person you (hopefully) are. When you get to work in the morning say good morning to people that you see. When you leave say good evening to people you see. Simple. You learned it at a young age.

Learn everyone’s name:

People really like it when you call them by their name. Life is less awkward when you know people’s names. Try to remember people’s names when you are introduced to them on their first day but, when in doubt, use the team page or company bios to learn people’s names (similar to the Devil Wears Prada scene where Andi and Emily go to the party with Miranda and have to whisper the names of the people she is about to greet). I must admit that I still don’t know everyone’s name, but at Dip Day I recommended that I start calling people by the dip they brought in. I haven’t tried it yet but think that once I meet a few more people I will know all of their real names (Sorry, Skinny Hot Spinach Dip aka Samantha).

Eat lunch with people:

Lunchtime is a great time to get to know your coworkers without talking about work. If people usually go out to lunch ask someone if they want to go to lunch with you. If people usually pack lunch and eat together go join them. They probably won’t pull a Mean Girls and say, “You can’t sit with us.” If they do, you have bigger problems than who to sit with because your coworkers aren’t very nice.

Get organized:

The best way to stay organized is to get organized right from the beginning. Create Gmail or Outlook folders, create the organized email inbox you have been dreaming about since you were a little girl, and make desktop folders and a document filing system. In short, go crazy.

Take outfit clues from your boss:

No, this doesn’t mean you need to wear a pantsuit and a headband but take cues based on what you see your boss (or someone higher up than you from the same sex) wear. If your boss never wears jeans don’t wear jeans. When in doubt be a bit overdressed.

If you leave for coffee offer to bring something back:

If you are leaving for coffee ask the people who sit near you if they want coffee. This is a polite thing to do plus, who doesn’t love coffee?

Make it clear you are a hard worker:

You don’t get a second chance at a first impression. You should always work hard at work but you should work especially hard during your first few weeks.

Smile and hold the door for people:

Be nice. Smile. Hold the door for people. Little gestures can go a long way. You may think that I’m writing this to future people I date (which it does apply to) but it also applies at work. People like to work with nice people. Be nice.

Say yes and you’ll figure it out afterward: A wise woman named Tina Fey once said, “Say yes and you’ll figure it out afterward.” I agree with this statement (except if you are a surgeon, in which case please dismiss this.) When I worked at Levo League, I was asked to be the Social Media Associate on my first day. I hadn’t managed any social media other than my own Facebook and Twitter but I said yes and figured it out afterward (in this case by going to Barnes and Noble and picking up Likeable Social Media, The Social Media Strategist, and just in case those weren’t enough, The Complete Idiots Guide to Social Media.) I ended up learning a lot, really quickly and no one knew that I was learning along the way. Extra Credit: Watch Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk, Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are to learn the benefits of “Power Posing.” I have to admit that before my interview at Likeable I went into the bathroom and did the “Power Pose” for a few minutes – it worked!