If, like most of us, you’re riddled with imposter syndrome, starting a new job can feel like the scariest thing in the entire world. Although you’ve already aced the application and interview, you still feel you’ve tricked your new employer into hiring you. They must have mixed you up with another candidate, right? Unlikely. You’re there because you deserve to be, and because they want you.
But, knowing that doesn’t necessarily make your first day any easier or less daunting. You can prepare for your first day, but until you get in there and actually start doing the job, you really don’t know what the vibe is going to be. Well, a careers expert has made it all a lot easier by explaining there’s one thing you should avoid doing at all costs.
Jason Sackett told Glassdoor that the one thing you definitely shouldn’t do when entering a new workplace, is talk about yourself. I know, some people do it because they get nervous and end up rabbiting on to drown out the awkward silence. But Jason says it’s much better to spend time learning about your new colleagues.
‘To start gaining respect of colleagues and superiors on the first day, make it about them, not about you,’ he said. ‘A common first-day trap is to talk up your own past accomplishments and future ambitions, which makes people nervous or annoyed because they don’t know you.
‘Instead, get curious and enquire about the roles, talents, and achievements of your colleagues to establish a persona as a listener, learner, and collaborator.’
As well as being an executive coach, Jason also wrote a book, Compassion@Work: Creating Workplaces That Engage the Human Spirit, which could be a super handy resource if you’re about to start a new role.
