October 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

You’ve been hired! Make the most of your new job.

Woman shaking the hand of a new colleague

It’s thrilling to accept a new job and finally meet your job search goal. You’ll be earning an income and stepping into the professional world again. But starting a new job has its challenges. You may feel doubts about performing all the job duties as required, or have concerns about getting along with your new colleagues and clients. And then there’s the challenge of establishing new routines like commuting and family and home responsibilities. Adjusting to a new job is stressful!

Here are some strategies to ease the stress when starting a new job.

Say thank you before you start

Think back to all the people who helped you get the new position, like the person who referred you to the vacancy, your references and professional network. These people are valuable connections you’ll want to keep. Start by sending a personalized thank you message to each to acknowledge their support, and then maintain contact through LinkedIn.

Listen carefully

The most successful way to learn your new duties is by listening, observing, asking questions and taking notes. You’ll learn a great deal about a company by watching how tasks are approached, the preferred types of formal and informal communication, and the daily interactions between colleagues. This is especially true to understand your new company culture and organizational structure.

Introduce yourself

Don’t wait for introductions from others. Introduce yourself to your peers as you go and join others for lunch or for coffee. Smile and make eye contact as you meet people. Treat everyone the way you’d like to be treated. You never know who you’ll need on the job. Continue to build your network and invite your new colleagues to connect through LinkedIn.

Be enthusiastic and proactive

Follow the direction you’ve been given during any training. Ask questions, especially if you’re unclear about anything. Ask for procedures so you understand routines and schedules. Even if you are provided with reference material, there may be some informal practices that are followed. Build a rapport with your co-workers who can be additional sources of information about company processes. When your work load is low, ask to help with a task (no matter how small) or to attend a meeting or activity to observe and learn. This will show a willingness contribute and be part of a team. It will also pave the way to contribute your ideas and possible improvements later in the job.

Set goals

As you learn your new job, be aware of your progress, areas you need to deepen your knowledge on, and opportunities for future professional development. This will keep you focused on growing in your role and ensure you maintain positive performance levels.

Remember

Getting the job is only the first step. Starting your new job with a planned approach will help you integrate into the company and set you up for long-term success.

December 12, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask Our Employment Specialist: Resigning from your job with grace

This is Joanna Samuels’ final post in the “Dear Employment Specialist” series. Joanna has taken on a new opportunity. We wish her the very best in her new endeavour. JVS Toronto’s Karin Lewis will be advising you as our new Employment Specialist. We look forward to her sound advice and expertise.

Dear Joanna,

After 11 years at my organization, I have been offered and accepted a fantastic career opportunity. I would like to resign from my current employer in the most diplomatic way. I am having a hard time because I am leaving a job and work friends that I love.

Please help me with this challenge.

Signed: Saying Goodbye is Hard (SGH)

Dear SGH

The best advice for resigning with dignity and diplomatically is presented by Dr. Randall S. Hansen, who the recommends the following strategies for a “graceful departure”:

Leave on good terms. Never burn your bridges. Don’t brag to your coworkers about your great new opportunity. Job hunting is an unpredictable process, and you never know when you will run into your former supervisor, co-worker, or a former employer in another situation.

Giving notice. Legally, you are required to give a minimum of two weeks. Consult your employer’s policies and/or the Collective Agreement if you are in a union. If you can, I would suggest giving extra notice as a special favour to your team and employer. Keep this in mind when discuss the job offer with your new employer.

Salary. Make sure you are paid for any outstanding salary, vacation, sick, personal days, commission payments or other compensation due to you.

Help with the transition. Offer to help your current employer find your replacement. Offer to train or work with your replacement to show them the ropes.

Remain an active employee. Don’t disappear during your last weeks on the job. Stay an active member of the team and avoid taking a short-timer’s attitude or aligning yourself with any discontented coworkers. Complete all open assignments and leave detailed progress reports for your supervisor and coworkers.

Keep networking. Keep in touch with your (soon to be former) colleagues and supervisors, especially those who you want to keep as network contacts. Make sure you are connected with them on Linkedin, Twitter and any other social media venues.

Joanna

November 14, 2016 Leave a Comment

Tips from an Employment Counsellor: What to do if you have started a job and found that it is not a suitable workplace

We asked our staff to share examples of the kinds of questions that clients sometimes ask, and the answers they offer. This question from a client came to Cindy Chen, an Employment Counsellor at JVS Toronto Employment Source Scarborough.

Clients often worry about what would happen if, when they start a new job, they discover that it isn’t what they imagined. What can they do?

Sometimes when you start a new job, things don’t turn out as you had hoped or imagined. This, combined with the stress of starting a new job, can make the new workplace seem intolerable.

It’s important to figure out objectively why you don’t like the job: what makes it so difficult: the tasks, the people, or both?

If it is the tasks, keep in mind that, on average, it takes about 3-6 months for new employees to really feel comfortable with the tasks or responsibilities of a new position. If it is the people, try to get to know your new colleagues better and work on giving them benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the atmosphere or work culture is different and it requires some time for you to adjust and find your own place within it. Try introducing yourself to colleagues and get to know them; small talk is sometimes very important and beneficial. Join lunches and other social opportunities. If you can find one person who is helpful and open to sharing, perhaps turn to them for support.

Once you have determined that you have tried your best and done all you can to fit in, but it still seems like a bad fit for you, start looking for a more suitable job. Try not to leave your current job until you have secured a new one. Do your best to schedule interviews at the beginning or at the end of the day, so you don’t disrupt your current work schedule.

Now that you know more of what is not suitable for you in a workplace, use that knowledge to find a more suitable workplace. Be sure to ask questions at the interview to find out what it would be like to work at that place, such as: how would you describe the work atmosphere here, how would you describe the management style at this organization? What’s a typical day like here? What aspects do you think will help an individual excel here or at this job?

When a new job seems to not be working out, it is important to be patient, yet decisive. Sometimes, once you have been there for a while, you might get used to, or find ways of dealing with aspects of the job that you initially found to be challenging. Hang in there, do what you can to make it work, but once you decide it is not for you, begin to look for something else. Use what you have learnt to secure a better suited job next time around.

Cindy Chen is an Employment Counsellor at JVS Toronto Markham Employment Source. She is trained as a Registered Social Service Worker (RSSW), and describes herself as an advocate of inclusion who is passionate about helping others.

April 27, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Handling a new job

Dear Joanna,

I just started a new job this week as a human resources assistant in a busy small office. I’m so nervous and really want to make a good impression. I don’t understand what is going on. I don’t know how to behave. I feel lost. Can you please advise me on how I can handle new employee challenges and be a successful worker as well.

Signed: Nervous New Employee

Dear Nervous

As far as I’m concerned, starting a new job is no less terrifying than starting your first day at school! The difference is that you are now an adult transitioning into a new workplace and job. That is way more complicated. I refer to Denise Bissonnette’s “30 ways to shine as a new employee” for some fantastic strategies to consider during your first few weeks at your new job:

Understand the workplace culture.

Learn the unwritten rules of your team and company. There are a few behaviours and protocols at your new workplace that you need to know, such as the dress code, the use of equipment (personal telephone calls, the computer), handling food and drink and lunch, supplies, computer stations and more. Discuss scheduling issues. Can you change your schedule for a doctor’s appointment? Ask for the do’s and don’ts in these areas with your supervisor or fellow team. Watch how others behave during your first week. Until you understand the systems and rules, “assume it is NOT okay”, stresses Bissonnette. Assuming it is fine to do something when it is not can get your fired.

Find a mentor.

This is more challenging because finding an advocate or mentor takes time and requires trust. It’s a result of building relationships. If you haven’t been assigned a co-worker to train you, then I would ask the boss. But first make sure this is protocol by watching others.

Worse case scenario, you are on your own. This is more challenging. I would check out the lunch room during your break to see if you can join in. someone training you, all the better. Perhaps you can ask that person all of these questions. Heads up for new employees: before accepting a job offer, find out who will be training you and if the company has this type of system in place.

Make an effort to meet new people.

How you act in the beginning can make or break your job. take advantage of being new and building a positive image of yourself in your new workplace. It’s no different from building your professional brand when you are a job seeker. Introduce yourself to people you don’t know. Shake their hand. List and learn people’s names. Greet everyone with a smile, even on the telephone. Always be appreciative by saying thank you, accepting praise and don’t interrupt. Think about what you could do to make the team happy.

Don’t try to impress people. Listen more than talk. Show your interest in other people’s concerns. Not just your own. For example. “Hi, my name is Joanna. I just started this week as an HR assistant. If you need any help, let me know. What do you do?” Make sure the person is not busy or in the middle of a deadline. Make everyone you meet feel important.

Congratulations on your new job. It’s stressful to start something new, but it’s a wonderful opportunity to make the best impression possible.

Best wishes,