Career Guidance: What You Don't Know and Your Boss Won't Tell You, Excerpt #1, A New Job is a New Start

Here's an excerpt from the great book (read my review here) What You Don't Know and Your Boss Won't Tell You by Pam Lenehan. This one comes from Chapter Two of the book which is titled Manage Your Own Career: No One Else Will:

There is an unspoken understanding between the employer and the employee: neither one of you expects the relationship to last forever. Therefore, you cannot count on the company to manage your career. You need to think about what you want to get from your employer and what you need to do on your own.

A New Job Is a New Start

You just started a new job. Now what do you do? A new job is a wonderful opportunity to start fresh and become the professional you always wanted to be. The only opinions people have of you are the ones they formed in your job interviews, and they must have been positive or you would not have been offered the position. The first few weeks on the job are critical to creating your image in the new company or department, so use this time well.

One thing to remember is that most companies have a lot of history, and it all happened before you got there. It is like opening a long novel in the middle: there are many characters with existing relationships, so do not assume you know everything. It is going to take you awhile to feel comfortable and understand the culture of the company and how it operates. Which teams in the company are aligned with each other? Who gets together after work with whom? Who used to date and which people can’t stand to work together? Keep your antennae up and your opinions to yourself.

Takeaways: Create a strong first impression in a new job by working hard and making an effort to meet people. Be proactive in educating yourself about the company and your job. Do not compare things to your prior employer.

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This is great, practical advice. I especially like the title of the chapter as it summarizes one of the most critical thought when it comes to making the most of your career: manage your own career: no one else will. It's vital you do this since your career is your most valuable financial asset and managing it correctly can earn you millions of dollars in extra income throughout your lifetime.

For more thoughts on making the most of a new job, see Seven Ways to Start Your New Job Right.

Click here to read excerpt #2.

Comments

[Dale G.]

While a new job at a new company is a new start, don't ever forget that each time you get a promotion, or move to a new project, you get a small new start. It is an opportunity to ask questions that might seem stupid six months later. It is a chance to develop a good relationship with your new coworkers from the first day.

Whether you are starting with a new company or a new team at your current company, imagine the best possible image you could have with your new coworkers or customers. Devote some effort to living up to the image of who you want to be.

[Etz]

Good sound advice.