Articles : Your First Job is to Keep the Job

By Hilary Lochhead, Certified Executive Coach, Consultant, Public Speaker and Writer

Your career planning does not end with professional resumes, fantastic job interviews, and job training. Those are simply the first steps. Making sure that you pass your probationary period with flying colors is your primary responsibility and focus in the first three months.

How can you be sure that your new employer will be just as impressed by you at the end of the probationary period as they were when they uttered those magical words “You got the job”? How can you make sure with absolute certainty that “You are hired” is not followed by “You are fired”?

The following ten tips for your first days, weeks and months will dramatically increase your chances of success and continued employment:

1. Celebrate your success – It is especially difficult in today’s market to secure a new position. You have done it, congratulations!!! Take time to celebrate with friends and family.
2. Take care of yourself – It all starts with you. The healthier you are to cope with the stresses of your new position, the more likely you are to succeed. This includes getting enough sleep, eating well and giving your body the gift of exercise.
3. Know the brand called you – Be intentional as to your first and lasting impression. Think of three words that you would like your colleagues, manager and others use to describe you. Consider what behaviours or approaches would accomplish that. Self-monitor your behaviour closely in order that your new company is seeing you in the best possible light while being true to the intrinsic you. Also, be aware that your personal appearance, clothes, shoes, grooming are an outward representation of your personal brand. Ask yourself; is my appearance consistent with my branding?
4. Be positive – Whenever a new employee joins a department, there is a shift in the dynamic. By ensuring that the shift caused by you is positive, you will create allegiances that will dramatically improve your ability to perform. If you make the place ‘feel better’, your peers will flock to you with help and advice, and your new manager will notice this. When you are introduced to your peers, smile and shake hands with confidence.
5. Study before you start – You would have researched the company for your interview. Take some time prior to your first day to learn as much about the company as possible. Take time to review the corporate website. Gain as much information as possible on the culture, values, mission, vision, customers and financial condition. Google the company name for news. Review your interview notes. Get to know the area so that you can find that all-important coffee on your first day and still arrive at work at least five minutes early.
6. Communicate with grace - The most important communication tool that you have in the first three months is the art of active listening. When you are being trained on the job, actively look at the person training you, take notes, ask lots of questions and listen to the answer. If you are unsure, ask again. Then, repeat the task that you have just been shown, that is how we learn as adults, by doing.
7. Understand what is expected of you - You know the job description, however, that is similar to reading only the first chapter of a book. To succeed, you need to understand not simply the ‘what’ of the position, but also the ‘how’. Communicate with your manager to ensure that expectations of you are understood in the first week, first month, second month and so on. This will ensure that you are tracking to a certainty of keeping the job that you worked so hard to attain. Work with your manager to create a plan with SMART goals for your first three and six months. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. Not only will this demonstrate initiative, but also by understanding what is expected of you, you will be able to measure your success.
8. Don’t forget the person that hired you – Typically your direct manager and perhaps someone else were involved in the hiring decision. Remember that they have a vested interest in your success! Their reputation will be affected by your success, or failure. On your first day, thank them again for hiring you and let them know that you are very much looking forward to contributing to the department and company’s success. Ask your manager if it would be acceptable for you to check in at least once per week for feedback on how you are doing. Ask, “Have I made the kind of progress that you would have expected by now?” and “What else can I be doing?”
9. Avoid office politics - Be sociable with everyone, without being overly friendly. Keep it businesslike. Do not make personal phone calls, even if others do.
10. Stand and deliver - Make a positive mark on something important to your manager or to the people important to your manager. Examples are solving a client’s problem, assisting with a co-worker, making a small suggestion for a process improvement.

Once you have confirmation from your manager that you have passed the probationary period, remember to show your gratitude for hiring you. Let them know that you will not let them down and continue to ask for feedback. One more thing… celebrate 

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Hilary Lochhead, Certified Executive Coach, Consultant, Public Speaker and Writer. Visit Hilary online at: www.transitionmatters.ca.