It’s no secret that starting a new job and joining a new team is pretty nerve-wracking. Even if you’re a super confident person, you’re still bound to experience those first day jitters.
I’ve been pretty lucky in my career so far to have joined such lovely and welcoming teams; however, I appreciate this isn’t the case for everyone. Having recently joined connective3, I thought I’d share some of my top tips on how to settle into a new team below.
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Pleased to share our new starter @libbywindle! Libby joins our Digital PR team as PR Manager 🙌
Be yourself
Sounds cliché, but it’s so important to be yourself from day one. There are so many different feelings of anxiety when starting a new role and joining a new team. Questions such as – am I going to be good enough? Will the team like me? What if no one speaks to me? – will all go through your head, but trust me, it takes more energy to pretend to be someone you’re not. So, relax. If you’re nervous, be nervous. We’ve all been there, and your team will like you just the way you are.
Build relationships
Spend time getting to know your colleagues on a one-on-one basis. Within your first couple of weeks, you’ll probably have inductions with different people across the business, so use this time to ask them questions. For example, what’s their role within the business? Where did they work previously? Are they currently working on anything exciting? These are just some of the questions I advise asking. Don’t be afraid to ask personal questions either, such as what they get up to outside of work? Do they have any hobbies? Don’t get too personal though, remember you’re still pretty new.
If you don’t have any inductions booked in, contact individual members of the team yourself and ask for a catch-up. This will showcase assertiveness and commitment to the business.
Get involved
Throwing yourself in at the deep end is honestly the best way to show your colleagues you’re a real team player. If there’s an after-work social planned, attend. If someone is asking for help, offer them a helping hand. Everyone loves a team player.
Showcase your strengths, but don’t be afraid of your weaknesses
Don’t believe anyone who says they don’t have a weakness, because we all have at least one. All teams have strengths and weaknesses. So, take the time to understand what your colleagues are great at, and where your strengths could be best applied. Don’t try to hide your weak areas either, simply ask for help because that’s bound to be someone’s strength in your team.
Keep an open mind
If you worked in your previous role with the same team for quite a while, then there’s no denying that it’s going to be difficult to leave your comfort zone and immerse yourself into something completely new. You may find yourself comparing various things to your previous role, but it’s important to try and accept change. The quicker you do this, the quicker you’ll begin to enjoy your new role.
So, if you’re set to join a new team soon, hopefully, these tips will help. But, the utmost important thing to remember is yes, it’ll be strange adapting to a new way of working at first, however it won’t take you long to settle in and feel part of the team.
To find out more about what we’ve been up check out our twitter or contact us directly, or if you’re looking for a new role yourself then head to our careers page.
