Settling into a new job role can seem a daunting prospect. How will your colleagues view you? Will you live up to their expectations? Will you settle in quickly? Alan Patterson, of Carlton Resource Solutions, advises on new job etiquette and how to ease through this transition period.
'New beginnings are always fraught with trepidation and understandably so. Being the new kid on the block, working in an unfamiliar environment with new procedures and faces and trying to make a good impression can leave your head buzzing. 'Try to live up to the image you portrayed at the interview and remember you wouldn't have been hired if they did not think you have the potential to do the job. Treat your first day like an interview and be very aware of your appearance and attitude as these are always the first to be judged. If all else fails a smile, being courteous and polite and a good listener really can break the ice and people will warm to this,' he said. Alan advises of the top dos and don'ts when stepping into a new job role:
Do:
* Background research. Before you step into your new role do all you can to increase your awareness of the organisation. Look at the company website, familiarise yourself with key members of staff and know the company ethos. This will boost your confidence, give you a positive frame of mind and reduce the steepness of the learning curve when you do begin. * Establish preferred communication networks within the company. These can differ greatly from job to job. Word of mouth, memos, email and committees are all differing forms of communication which are frequently used. Don't take the fact that your previous employer favoured emailed messages for granted as your new employer may not. * Be aware of what sort of procedures or rules operate - written or oral. For instance concerning health and welfare, discrimination, etc. Reading any training manuals and health and safety literature shows a willingness to learn and a sense of commitment to the company. * Have a clear job description. If you do not already have a job description, ask for one, and then try to define as clearly as you can the boundaries of your job. You are not seeking to establish the minimum acceptable benchmarks, but frontiers within which you can make your best contribution. Do this constructively and as soon as you can. The first month is ideal. Six months later is too late; your questions will be interpreted rather less generously. * Think about your image. Understand what the employer feels is appropriate to your job in terms of appearance, clothes, life-style and attitude - and follow this. * Know your key priorities. The day to day priorities of the job need to be established so that you can understand the proportion of time you should be giving to each. Knowing how to manage your time effectively will give you the best out of your working day and allow you to complete the daily tasks that are required of you within your new role.
Don't:
* Have any attendance/punctuality issues in the first few days or weeks. You will loose your employer's confidence in you immediately, before you even begin. Bad timekeeping is a pet hate of the majority of employers. * Constantly say how you used to do it in your last job. Organisations vary drastically even though they work within the same sector. Variety is the spice of life as they say, so try out the ways in which your new organisation works, and you could see the benefits. * Criticise your new, or former, employers or colleagues. This will not win you any new best friends. Staff who have been with an organisation for some time will often be asked their opinion of new team members from management and this can have a strong bearing over who stays and who goes. * Get ahead of yourself. New employees should be aware of their standing within the company and if employed in a junior role should not be striving to become the MD within the first week. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious and having goals, however, keep your suggestions and offer these at suitable times or when prompted.
'Your colleagues will understand that the transition period in a new job role will take some time and some adapt faster than others. The main emphasis should be on willingness to learn, listening and above all being courteous and punctual. If all these things are in place then a long and prosperous career in your new organisation is inevitable.'

Steps
1
Visualize a great day. Try to think of all you believe is good and positive in you. Tell yourself that you'll be a happy person around in the workplace and a pleasure for everyone at work to have you with them.
2
Arrive on time or a little early the first day. Ask in advance when, where, and whom you will meet. Confirm that somebody will be there to meet you when you arrive.

Obtain and bring the phone number of somebody who can let you in. Get any special instructions, too.
Be courteous and patient with the receptionist and any security staff you meet on the way in. They can contact the right people and help point you in the right direction.
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Take care of the administrative stuff. Visit Human Resources, security, your manager, and anybody else you need to see to get started. Ask questions if you need to.

Fill out whatever paperwork is necessary and get it turned in promptly. Note that applications for insurance, retirement, or other benefits may need to be turned in within a certain amount of time after starting the job for them to be accepted. If you're not sure about policies, procedures, or deadlines; ask.
Present identification if it is required. You may need to place a copy of your passport, social security card, or other state or national ID on file.
Image titled The complete lanyard 8377 Obtain (or apply for) your badge, uniform, and any keys you will need. Make sure to get a temporary badge if your permanent one will take some time to arrive.
Attend any training or orientation.
Review the employee manual and any other matter you're asked to read.
Request business cards if they will be a part of your job.
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Get to know your colleagues. This could be the single most valuable way to ease the transition into a new job.
Learn names as much as possible. Introduce yourself and ask a few simple questions to start the conversation. Find out what people's roles are and how long they have been around, for a start.
Ask who to ask. If you're stuck on something, go to somebody you already met and ask where you should take a question.
Let's do lunch.Make friends. As you start to develop a professional rapport with some people, invite them to have coffee or lunch with you someday. Getting outside the workplace can do wonders for camaraderie.
5
Learn your work area and, as appropriate, set it up.
If you share space or equipment with others, learn where it goes and how to care for it. You'll make a good impression by keeping things tidy and in working order.
Arrange your work space for your style. Do you use your telephone frequently? Put it within easy arm's reach. Are you right-handed? Leave yourself space to write on that side of your chair. Organize your desk for the way you work.
Adjust your chair to fit comfortably. Ask for any special accommodations you need.
Clean your workspace, especially if somebody else occupied it previously. Stay a little late the first day, if you need to. People eat, sneeze, and cough at their desks, and you're better off not starting a new job by calling in sick the second week.
Remove the clutter, if any was left behind.
Wipe down your desk with damp paper towels. Pre-moistened wipes or a mild spray cleaner will do a better job. Do not forget the mouse, mousepad, keyboard, the armrests of your chair, the telephone and doorknobs, since all these things get handled frequently.
Collect or request any supplies or equipment you will need to do your job.
Arrange and organize your workspace as you go, too. You may not know what to title file folders or binders until you get started doing your job, for instance.
6
Get your computer, accounts, and passwords set up. The IT or IS department will usually help. Listen to their instructions and advice. Do not forget to ask for assistance installing a printer, if you need to.
7
Learn enough about your voice mail system to initiate your mailbox, record an outgoing message, and set a password. Sometimes there are various internal and external messages to set up.
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Learn your new job. Depending on your job and your previous experience, it could take anywhere from weeks to years to master.
Ask plenty of questions at first. Everybody will understand that you are starting in a new place, and it will show that you're actively learning.
Establish goals and define your objectives. Do this jointly with your supervisor. You may see what needs doing, or he/she may tell you what needs to be done, or (most likely) a combination may occur. Your objectives may evolve as you settle in, but starting right away will give you direction when you most need it.
Listen carefully to instructions and advice that people offer.
Write things down. Use a notebook, calendar or planner to help keep track of all the new information that is coming your way. When somebody tells you where to go or who to see, make a note of it. It will help you remember what you need to do, and it will demonstrate that you are paying attention.
Repeat back instructions that you receive, in your own words. It's a good way to make sure that you understand things completely, and it will help you remember. You can begin, "Let me make sure I understand correctly here. You'd like me to..."
9
Learn the building or other space where you will be working. Where is the printer? The restroom? The emergency exit? The cafeteria? If there's a map, take a good look at it.
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Talk to your boss. Even if it's not your favorite activity, communicating regularly with your boss is a good way to know if you're on the right track. Do not forget that you can ask questions, give a status report (verbally or in writing), and ask for feedback and recommendations.
11
Jump in and start doing your work. Either you will figure out what you are doing or you will learn where you are stuck and what you need to ask. Instructions and advice may get you started, but doing is the best way to learn.

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