Rookie of the Year

Well, it finally happened - I landed a full time job. The awesome thing about that is that I can work one job instead of three, the crazy thing is that I'm still just as busy! In the spirit of transitioning, I thought it would be a great topic to blog about going from the expert to the rookie. Leaving one job to transition into another isn't easy, and it's critical to make a first impression that leaves a good taste in your coworkers mouths. Whether you are sweeping floors or designing online media, every job counts - and every job is there for a reason. Take your new "rookie" position seriously, and you can find yourself fitting in quicker than you know. In fact, you might find that the top of that latter you're on is closer than you think! Here are some ways you can stand out when you're the newbie, and possibly land you the title of...

1) Observe first, make changes later. All of us want to make a great impression when we first get to a new position. A lot of the times, we want to look at the way something is done and find a new, better way to do it. This is GREAT, and probably one of the reasons you got hired. However, it's important to observe your surroundings and get comfortable with what happens before you try to make changes, espcially if you're managing other people. There are a couple reason for this: one, people are accustomed to how things are done, and if the "new guy/girl" is trying to change everything in the first week, it might leave a sour taste in their mouths; two, you don't know how things work yet. You may THINK you know a better solution to the way something is done, but then you go to change it and find all the reasons for why it was done the way it was before. Just take a moment to observe your surroundings before jumping in head first.

2) Be friendly. It's easy to get stressed out in the first few weeks at a new job. You're learning new tasks, you don't know anyone, and you have to basically prove yourself all over again to new employers. That's okay, just smile and be friendly no matter how stressed you are. First impressions are KEY, and you've been taught this your entire life. Make sure to be known as the "nice newbie" and not the "sassy newbie."

3) Be enthusiastic. Like I said before, your new job may not be your dream job, but even if you are just filing all day, make sure that filing cabinet is in the best shape it's ever been in. The person who hired you probably did so because you convinced them in your interview that you were the best candidate for the job. Well, now is your time to prove it. You said you would be the best Taco server ever, then you better do your best to fufill that promise. A lot can be said for the first few weeks you're at a job, and usually by the end of week three, your employer has made up their mind about you. Be enthusiastic about your job, no matter what it is, and do it to the best of your ability.

4) Get to know your coworkers. You're not the only one going through changes. If you're new on the job, it's probably because you took the place of someone else. It could have been someone everyone hated, but it also could have been someone that everybody loved. Whatever the case, get to know your coworkers and let them know you're someone who can be trusted to do your work effectively and on time. Don't be afraid to get to know them on a personal level, too. After all, who knows how long you'll be working together - if they ask you to go to happy hour after work, go ahead!

5) That being said, it's also important to be professional. Everyone has friends where they work (for the most part, anyway) which is great! However, if you do take up that chance to go to happy hour, don't be "THAT guy/girl" who has to be carried out of the bar. You may like to have a good time, but for now you need to be professional. Stick to a drink or two and show you can compose yourself, then if you feel out your new coworkers down the road and realize you can let loose a little more, go for it. No matter what, though, you probably still don't want to be THAT guy/girl.

6) Take notes. You're learning a new job, so asking questions is expected. However, if you have to keep asking the same thing over and over, it's likely to get annoying to those around you. So, take notes so that you can refer back to them before asking questions. For instance, if you're being taught how to log something into an excel sheet, take note of where the information is recorded from, where it's saved on the computer, what days it's updated on, etc. Little things like not being overly needy make a great impression on new employers.

7) Above all else, be YOURSELF. Don't try to impress your employer or new coworkers by acting like someone you're not. If your boss loves golf and you've never played, that's FINE. Don't try to tell them you play every weekend to fit in, because most likely you'll get invited to play in the future and be caught in the lie. Plus, you don't want to look like you're trying to be impressive. Just observe the crowd, throw in your own thoughts when you feel it's appropriate, and before you know it, you'll be part of the group, too. Don't be too anxious to fit in, it will happen with time.


These are just a few things to keep in mind when transitioning to a new job. What's something you always do/avoid when you're new on the job?

Comment below! Andddd Happy Friday! :)