Many young people entering the workplace are unaware of the limited time they have to fit into their organisation and make a good lasting impression.

Yesterday while I was doing research on the subject of fitting in and adjusting in the workplace, an article entitled ‘100 Days to Impress’ just suddenly popped up onto my screen like one of those set electronic countdown systems which remind us of things we would rather not think about.

As unwilling as I was to evaluate myself as to how I am doing in my new job, which I started almost two months ago, this got me to really ask myself how good my rating is so far, considering that according to this article I only have about 45 days left to improve my current rating.

What really got me thinking was that though we all know that when starting a new job or joining an organisation we have the first few months to adjust and fit in, I was relatively scared at how little time one is given to fit in, adjust, impress and officially become a valued part of the team.

According to the career zone at Job Boom publishing, when starting a new job or whether you are a recent graduate just starting on your first job, you have a few days to make a good impression with your colleagues and supervisors, and a hundred days to become part of the company and prove that you deserve the job.

Slightly different to the dictionary definition which says “to belong or feel that you belong to a particular group and are accepted by them”, the concept of fitting in in the workplace entails going through a few processes which can determine your career success from the first day. There are a few criteria on which you are being evaluated and rated by your colleagues.

Make sure you are at the right place at the right time. There are many people who have applied for a particular job, made it through all the interviews and even passed the psychometric tests with impressive marks only to arrive at the actual job and find out that they really are not the right person for that job and the particular organisation. Failure to align yourself with your job and your company can create the impression that you are a poor decision maker. It is essential that you research the job and company well before you send in your application to see if it is the right place for you.

Dress the part
It is important on your first day that you look around the entire office block and learn the dress code. Based on their organisational culture and the image they want to project, every organisation has an image of appropriate attire. It is important that you dress in line with the company’s dress code, always paying extra attention to your image.

According to workplace research done by the Department of Labour in Georgia, USA, employers prefer people whose dress attire is at least one step above what one would normally wear on the job. This conveys an employee’s pride in themselves and their ability to do the job.

Know your organisation and find your way around
Regarding what young women fitting into the workplace should bear in mind, Zubeida Alli, a Leadership Developer and trainer at the Discovery Institute, pointed out that though you cannot be expected to know where everything is kept, which folders to use, or how to access all the electronic files in a single day – take your time to familiarise yourself with all these details. This will ensure that the knowledge that you do acquire is accurate and relevant to the work that you will be doing. If you do require assistance, ask for it: be observant and vigilant – make notes if necessary. Being positive and being prepared can be the difference between average and superb.

Build essential relationships
It is important that you distinguish between building friendships in the workplace and building essential relationships. Building a friendship with your boss will not help you to advance your career. Rather, build an informative relationship wherein your boss will know and be aware of your strong points and what you excel in, as well as your weaknesses. Asking for their help will show them that you are willing to learn.

Develop a good relationship with your mentor - making use of their advice and criticism will greatly benefit you. If you are not assigned a mentor start by building good relationships with respected leaders and once that relationship is there, there is no harm in asking for their mentorship.

Avoid becoming part of the negative group
In pursuit of relationships in the workplace some people tend to join existing groups in the office. However, as a new employee you need to be cautious of the type of people you are associated with as well as their attitude towards the company or their seniors. According to Anneline Reetley, an educational psychologist, you need to take care that you do not get caught up in the negative politics that so often find their way around the office, as this can interfere with the quality of work that you deliver.

It is important to be aware of what is happening in the office, yet remain objective so not to be swayed by a negative attitude held by another individual, especially colleagues who have been in the organisation long before you arrived. By avoiding becoming part of such groups you also save yourself from negative labelling by association, as it is easy for a boss to assume that you hold the same opinions and negative traits of some his older employees with whom you associate; just like the old saying goes, ‘birds of a feather flock together’’.

Fitting in is not just about starting a new job - rather it is laying a foundation for your new career. Make a conscious decision to impress within these days and lay good foundation for your career’s development. Remember, those who start well are most likely to finish well, and it really is true that first impressions last.

• Add New

Comments (0)

Write comment

Name:

Email: do not notifynotify

Website:

Title:

Message:

Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.