Starting a job? Here’s what you need to know

by Maya Afilalo

Starting a job is usually both exciting and a little scary. And joining a company remotely can amp up the stress.

The good news: there are several things you can do to set yourself up for success.

Make connections with a variety of people

Typically, we focus on building relationships with our direct manager and team members. That’s good! But it’s also important to branch out.

Look across the organization. Who can help you navigate things like reimbursements and admin questions? Who is well-connected, and can introduce you to the right people? Who has the power to influence your career?

If it’s not already part of your onboarding process, you might schedule 10- or 15-minute “get to know you” calls with your colleagues. Explain what your role is, ask about theirs, and chat about life outside of work. At the end of the conversation, you can ask who else the person thinks you should talk to.

If others joined the organization at the same time as you, form a mini-cohort. Start a group chat to ask each other questions. Take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone in the process.

“There’s a set of questions that you can ask this group that you might not feel as comfortable asking a group that’s been at the organization for a longer time,” says Boston University Questrom School of Business professor Dr. Siobhan O’Mahony.

Reach out when you need help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially if you’re starting remotely.

“In the office, colleagues often pick up on a quizzical facial expression or tone of voice and may offer assistance if they think you need it. On video and phone meetings, it’ll be hard for people to see if you are confused or not keeping up,” says Dr. Art Markman, professor at the University of Texas in Austin. “As a rule, when there is something you need, say so.”

Research shows that people are often more willing to help than you think. If you’re nervous, reach out privately rather than in a group setting.

It might seem odd, but it can also help to announce yourself as new. Ideally, you’ll get a few minutes to introduce yourself in a meeting, but you can also do so with a brief Slack or email.

“That may be hard if you don’t like to call attention to yourself,” says Markman. “But you want to let folks know that you’re new and that you would appreciate their help in getting settled. Many of your colleagues would like to welcome you, they just need more explicit reminders to do so than they might otherwise.”

Establish what’s expected of you

What’s expected of you may seem obvious—after all, you applied for the job!—but it’s worth diving deeper into your manager’s priorities, and how those priorities translate into your work. In other words: how will you create value?

“This is the single most important question,” says Michael D. Watkins, author of The First 90 Days. “Why were you put in this role? What do key stakeholders expect you to accomplish? In what timeframe? How will your progress be assessed? As you seek to answer this question, keep in mind that the real answer may not be what you were told when you were appointed or recruited for the job; it may also evolve as things progress and you learn more.”

And once you’ve gotten a little more comfortable in your role, look ahead to the skills you’ll need to develop.

“The skills and abilities that got you to this point in your career may not be the ones (or all of the ones) you need to be successful in your new job, and it’s all too easy to fall into the comfort-zone trap,” says Watkins.

Be kind to yourself

Adjusting to a new job is real work — try not to be hard on yourself if it takes longer than you expect.

“You just entered an entirely new ecosystem — a new society of people with roles that connect differently than what you’ve known,” says Claire Wasserman, author of Ladies Get Paid. “You have to learn those behaviors and norms before you can really insert yourself.”

Treat yourself to something that makes your workspace feel special, like a new plant or framing a photo you love. This is also a great way to mark the transition to a new job if you’re starting remotely.

Bottom line

A new job brings both opportunity and nerves. Hit the ground running by getting to know a variety of people you work with (not just your immediate team), asking for help when you need it, and understanding the value you will create. Perhaps most importantly, give yourself grace — transitions take time.