Four tips for successfully starting a new job

Starting a new job can be exciting and nerve-wracking. It often means new responsibilities, new routines and new relationships.

Here are four tips to set yourself up for success:

1. Plan ahead

Prepare yourself for your first day in your new job by knowing the answers to:

• What will you wear?
• How will you get to work?
• What time will you arrive?
• Who will you ask to see?
• What will you eat for lunch?
• What time will you finish?
• How will you get home?
• What will you do to celebrate?

2. Listen and learn

In the early days and weeks in your new job, focus on listening, learning and asking questions. Take lots of notes — about the organization, your responsibilities, your manager’s expectations, and other peoples’ names and positions. Keep in mind that jotting down details with a pen and paper, rather than a laptop, can help you remember more – but do what works best for your work style.

3. Build relationships

Send thank-you notes to everyone who helped with your job search – you never know when you’ll need to reach out to those contacts again and be sure to be available to return the favour and help them if need be.

You may want to reach out to someone in a more senior role and ask them to be a mentor who can help you learn the ropes. You should also consider taking someone for coffee to help you learn more about their area, especially if you are going to be working with them or are interested in that career for yourself. Once you’re up and running, you can look into mentoring someone as its important to build relationships at all levels of an organization.

4. Remember the perks

On days when you’re feeling tired, missing your old co-workers or questioning your decision to take your new job, focus on the advantages and why you took the role in the first place, which may include:

Professional development opportunities your organization provides, from association memberships to courses

A Registered Pension Plan or group Registered Retirement Savings Plan that helps you save to meet your future goals

Health and dental benefits that reduce your out-of-pocket costs on everything from prescription drugs to physiotherapy

Set yourself up for success

Staying positive reduces stress and can even improve your health, and people prefer to work with someone upbeat. Sooner than you think, you’ll be settled into your new role — and perhaps helping new employees through their transition.

Other articles you may want to read:

• "8 Tips for a Smooth Transition into a New Job,” Business Insider
• “The first 100 days at a new job,” Idealist Careers
• “A Learning Secret: Don’t Take Notes with a Laptop,” Scientific American
• “Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress,” Mayo Clinic