Starting a new job is usually a pleasant experience. For most professionals, it is mentally stimulating to have fresh opportunity to prove one's abilities in a different work setting. Furthermore, most new jobs represent some sort of promotion; so the possibilities for career enhancement are numerous.
There's another side of the coin, though. It's not uncommon for persons beginning a new job to experience some degree of trepidation, or at least uncertainty, associated with their new role. An active imagination can conjure up many fretful questions:
- "How well will I fit in as a newcomer?"
- "Will co-workers like me?"
- "Can I handle all the responsibilities?"
- "Suppose the new job doesn't work out--then what?"
It is counter-productive to dwell on fear-inducing speculation. The wiser course of action is to focus time and mental energy on how to succeed in the new work arena. In that regard, here is some practical advice:
1. Prove your abilities early on.
Any new employee is expected to perform capably in a relatively short time. No one looks for peak productivity overnight. But, certainly, proving one's abilities to all concerned sooner than later is an important goal.
Doing the minimum expected will help you keep your job. But it won't put you in a favored position for advancement on the job. Exceeding expectations and doing more than "satisfactory" work pave the pathway for success in healthcare or any other profession.
2. Make friends, not foes.
it's important to fit in with the group and work comfortably with everyone. Being a pleasant person to work with is the starting point. Showing an interest in co-workers and displaying fundamental courtesy to everyone are related attributes that speak well of new employees.
Making friends does not imply being "chummy" with everyone. In most companies, employees tend to group themselves in certain cliques. If you're not careful, you might align yourself with a group that is not well regarded by management. Such association could inadvertently taint your image within the organization. Furthermore, being linked to a certain clique can put you in disfavor with other employees in the company. Unknowingly, you can end up making foes, not friends.
The best course of action is to be friendly and helpful, but preserve some professional distancing with other employees--especially for the first several months. Give co-workers nothing to talk about except your pleasant manner and eagerness to be a "team player."
3. Set a good example.
No one becomes a model employee overnight. It takes time to distinguish oneself as an exceptional worker. In the meantime, it's quite appropriate to set a good example in work ethic and attitude.
In the workplace, perception is everything. Consider how co-workers perceive your job performance. Would they refer to you in favorable terms as being dedicated, self-motivated and focused in your day-to-day activities? Or would they associate you with less productive use of time and energy?
One fact is certain: In companies large or small, to some extent everyone is watching everyone else. Employees who are perceived as setting a good example have the respect and admiration of their colleagues throughout the organization.
4. Show sincere interest in the success of others.
No one succeeds in a vacuum. To a significant extent, an individual's personal success in the workplace is a factor of how supportive others are of his or her pursuit of worthwhile career aspirations.
In simple terms, persons with whom you regularly interact in the workplace can directly or indirectly help (or hinder) your job-related success. Here's how. If your name comes up in a department meeting during your absence, will colleagues say something favorable or unfavorable about you? When individuals are recommended for special projects, will you be among those considered? If your work is subject to direct peer review, what sort of overall evaluation will be associated with your job performance?
The point is, in obvious and subtle ways, persons who work with you have some input in matters that impinge on your workplace success. The converse is also true. Regardless of your job title or responsibilities, you exert some significant influence on the success of others.
This point can be viewed from a positive perspective. Perhaps you can help co-workers do their jobs better. Or the occasion might arise for you to recommend someone for a boost up the career totem pole.
Clearly, "what goes around, comes around." By promoting the advancement of others in the workplace, it's more likely that you will be on the receiving end of such well-intentioned support at some point in the future.
5. Make your boss look good.
Hiring managers have a twofold goal
