Transcription

00:00:06 Introduction

Welcome. You're listening to Links at Bain and Gray, a catalogue of podcasts centred on all things business support in the workplace. Our aim is to bring you interesting and relevant content that will keep you up-to-date and thriving in your role.

00:00:21 Tray

Welcome. You're listening to Links Bitesize. I'm your host today Tray Durrant and I'm joined today by -

00:00:27 Emily

Emily Bain.

00:00:28 Tray

Today, we're going to talk about top tips that we can offer you when starting a new role.

Emily, let's just sort of take it from the top, kind of just give us an overview of what you think you know, of the of the sort of the key considerations?

00:00:44 Emily

Well, I'd say there's a few really obvious tips that we could share. I think when you start a new job, it can be a real rollercoaster of emotions and that you're completely stepping out of your comfort zone. Obviously, you've interviewed for the role, everyone wants you, but you're, from day one, you're adapting to a new environment, learning the ropes.

Absolute crucial is maintain a positive attitude and show your enthusiasm. I think being early, but not too early is always great advice for any professional meeting, whether that's an interview or starting, starting a new role. I think what you really want to get out of the first few weeks in any business as the “New Girl” or “New Boy” is building a rapport, so it's it's sort of stepping out of your comfort zone and and introducing yourself to someone if some if someone doesn't know you or hasn't introduced themselves, you know be bold. Those for me are, really make a difference. People remember you people will be impressed that you're making the effort.

I think one of the most important aspects that will get you through in a new role is sort of for the first sort of month or so while you're doing an induction, perhaps is listening.

00:02:02 Tray

100%.

00:02:04 Emily

Observation and encouraging you to listen and observe everything you can in those initial weeks is so important. Just soak it all up.

00:02:13 Tray

And I guess they go hand in hand, don't they? That building rapport piece and that and that that listening. It's all good prep. I mean, it's all kind of good sort of absorbing and making sure you you do take everything on board.

00:02:24 Emily

Yeah, exactly. And I think there's people watching. It really allows you to get handle on the norms, the values, the overall culture, you know what communication styles used in the office. It might be very different from anywhere you've worked before. Sort of, what standards, what are the expectations, deadlines, working hours, and breaks? You know, every company and every office has a difference of style, and I think the quicker you pick those up, the quicker you'll feel that you're fitting in. So I think those things are really, really important.

And I think also don't be afraid to ask questions. Ohh my goodness me, I love it when people join the business and and are constantly asking questions because it shows curiosity, interest and again, we presume that people know everything, don't we?

00:03:08 Tray

Yeah.

00:03:09 Emily

You know, even the basic things like um, I don't know where’s the coffee machine and stuff. So I think really don't be frightened to ask questions. It’s the only way that you're going to learn, if things haven't been explained to you.

00:03:21 Tray

Yeah.

So I guess you know that kind of once you're in the job and you're listening and building that rapport in those early few days. I mean, you can have given your, you could have given yourself a head start, couldn't you? In terms of doing some prep even before you get to day one. What sort of things do you think you can do to sort of get make sure you do get ahead as you start?

00:03:42 Emily

I think one of the most valuable things that anybody can do, and I always advise this to candidates, or even when we're taking people on in our business. Really encourage people to take some time off between jobs.

00:03:50 Tray

Yeah, if you can, yeah.

00:03:51 Emily

Yeah, I even if it's just a week. Um, I think, I think that headspace that you will gain from this break is so worth it and a proper break will allow you to sort of decompress from one environment, get your composure together and really feel ready for a fresh start.

00:04:06 Tray

It's a bit of a reboot, isn't it?

00:04:07 Emily

Totally and a reset. And then you're sort of really sort of hungry for it rather than exhausted from finishing up in your old old environment.

I think you've obviously hopefully done some research pre and during the interview process. Yeah, but I think don't be frightened to sort of go back to that and revisit this. We'll go a little bit deeper into the areas that we sort of quite relevant to you and your new role.

00:04:31 Tray

I think that's right, because I think one thing, doing that research during the interview process and everything else, but that was possibly quite a long time ago. Now, if you're getting to nearly to day one, isn't it?

00:04:40 Emily

Mm, definitely.

00:04:40 Tray

And I think it's also some of those questions that you don't ask within that research is kind of, what's induction like? What's day one beyond like?

00:04:48 Emily

Yes. And any good business will have a great induction plan, schedule, which they will share with you. I like to go into LinkedIn and actually really see the people that I'm gonna be meeting or working alongside to really build a history of what, of where they've worked and how they work and whatever, whether there's any synergy or anything we've got in common.

00:05:08 Tray

And I think absolutely that takes a little bit of that fear factor away, doesn't it, of starting, cause it just makes it all a bit more known, as much, as much as it can.

00:05:14 Emily

Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. So I think it's just research and prep for the people you're gonna be working with. What the company has been doing and the actual sort of business itself. And I think, like I said, absorbing everything that you can that's going on around you ask questions and just don't be frightened. Throw yourself into everything.

00:05:34 Tray

Yeah. Definitely. I think one of those things as well, pre day one is making sure you know what everyone wears, you'll have been best sort of foot forward, one would hope in the interview process, but just really quite good to sort of, and even if you need to sort of cross check that it, I don't think it matters, especially you know if it's your first or second job, I don't think it matters. What does everyone wear? So you feel comfortable on day one. Probably the smarter end of comfortable.

00:05:57 Emily

Definitely.

00:05:57 Tray

But that you're not in a suit and and and sort of court shoes if it's a kind of creative environment or or vice versa.

00:06:03 Emily

Definitely. And I think the last and probably the most important piece of advice I would give is that, the people that you're going to work with, who've employed you, they want you and they, everybody's been the new girl or new boy at some point and everyone will have empathy and will want you to do well and will want you to fit in and everyone wants it to be a success.

So have fun, enjoy your new role, make the most of those early few weeks, getting to know the company, your new job and just go for it!

00:06:32 Tray

Enjoy. Yeah, brilliant. Thanks, Emily.