When starting a new job, it’s likely you are going to meet a lot of new people. You will meet people in the interview stage, probably a manager or supervisor. You will meet people on your first day, probably a human resources representative or a colleague assigned to train you. While these people are very important to your job success, there are others who can help make your transition into a new workplace smooth and enjoyable.
A VICE-PRESIDENT OR THE CEO
Let’s start at the top. If you have a chance for a quick one-on-one with a key decision-maker, take it! This isn’t a lengthy meet and greet; it’s a chance to introduce yourself, tell him or her what department you just joined and why you are excited to work there. You may even say thanks for the job opportunity. If you don’t have access for a personal meeting, take advantage of town halls or organization-wide meetings. You will get to put faces to names of senior staff, which can come in handy when bumping into someone in the hallways or the cafeteria.
DIRECTOR OR MANAGER
It’s likely you have met this person during the interview stage, but even if you haven’t you should make a point of shaking his or her hand. Perhaps get a short meeting scheduled once you are a few weeks into the job to talk to them about how the job is going. Take the time to ask questions about the organization, the department and its future. They may be able to give you insight into upcoming special projects or areas of importance. These are opportunities for you to shine. If anything, you may be remembered as having a keen interest in the future of the department and can be called upon to help.
A NEW HIRE
There’s a chance that you are one of several new hires within the organization or even your department. Make a new friend and invite a fellow newbie to coffee. If anything, you at least have one thing in common. It’s nice to have someone understand what you are experiencing. This new friend can be a great resource to tap into when navigating the workplace, too.
YOUR UNION REPRESENTATIVE
Find out who you need to speak to if your role is part of a union. If you are not part of a union, your human resources representative can be this resource. This person can answer questions about policies and procedures relating to the organization, not just for your daily tasks. Having easy access to these reps means you can quickly find answers to questions that may be uncomfortable for you to ask to a colleague or manager, such as “Do I have access to mental health support?”
SUPPORT STAFF
Take a moment to go out of your way to introduce yourself to the administrative assistants, cleaners, security, IT support, maintenance and the cafeteria workers within the organization. They see many people coming in and out of the facility, so to have a familiar face with a name is likely appreciated. They also help make your job easier and more enjoyable. Also, it’s nice to have some friendly help when you really need it, like if your computer crashes or you accidently locked your keys in your locker.
THE VETERAN
While working the new job, you are meeting colleagues regularly, but there’s one you should pay particular attention to: the veteran. There is at least one in every organization; the one worker who has been there for 20, 30 or more years. This person has a long history with the job and the organization as a whole, and has survived! Invite this new friend for coffee or sit together at lunch and pick their brain. They will probably offer you a history lesson, which helps you understand where the organization or department has been and where it is going. You might also get good insight on the people and senior management. Be warned, this isn’t a gossip session, so don’t get sucked into past grievances but take it as an overview of culture and progression.
REFERENCE
https://hospitaljobs.com/how-to-be-successful-in-the-first-few-weeks-of-a-new-healthcare-job/