Nervous About Starting Your New job?

Your well-planned, well-organized, targeted job search campaign has paid off - you landed a new job. Congratulations! Here are some tips to starting off that new job on the right foot:

TAKE TIME TO SETTLE IN: The urge to change the world the first week can be very compelling. There's an expected "ramp-up" time for new employees as they get the lay of the land. Get to know the corporate culture, key people, company politics, the nuances of how to get things done and how to have your immediate impact produce long-term results.

PROJECT A POSITIVE CHEERFUL ATTITUDE. Be positive, upbeat, and smile. Say "Good Morning" - it really can make a difference. Be a collaborative team member who brings ideas and solutions, not just problems to the table. Value co-worker's input and thank them for their help.

BE A CLASS ACT. Be ethical, trustworthy and professional. Basic manners go a long way. Stay away from office gossip and crude language. Keep your personal issues out of the business setting. And remember that the people you associate with can have a significant impact on how you're perceived. Choose wisely.

DO THE JOB YOU WERE HIRED TO DO. Become a valued employee by learning your job well, discover how the job fits into the scheme of things and how your contribution can expand to serve other areas and advance your position as well.

DEVELOP THE INFORMATION PIPELINE. Keep up to date on projects, deadlines and issues so you are on target with your responsibilities. Confer with your manager to ensure you are in alignment about goals and timeframes. Inform your manager about anything, good or bad, that affects the project and the courses of action under consideration. It's best to have you be the one to inform your manager of any news rather than someone who may not have all the details.

SPEAK UP, NOT OUT. Ask questions to clarify not criticize. Observe so you have a better understanding of processes and procedures. Submit multiple options for solutions to your manager and work together to establish a plan to implement the changes. With the rapport established, the value you bring to the company will become clear and you'll have more latitude to present your ideas in an open forum and take more independent action.

Now, take an active role in getting ready up for your first performance review by keeping a log of your contributions, suggestions, projects and anything else that will highlight your accomplishments during the review period. Even if a self-assessment tool is not used by your company, submit your own evaluation to your manager in advance of the review to "assist" him/her in their preparation. Reminding your manager of your accomplishments shows you care about the impact and value of your work and your commitment to making a difference - right from the start!

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