New on the job: putting your best foot forward

Being new to a job can be daunting, but that needn’t detract from your sense of self. Your tone of voice, grammar and attitude speak volumes about your confidence and professionalism, all of which impact your reputation and personal brand.

Focus on the positive

Not what you expected? This may or may not be your dream job. Once the initial thrill over landing a job has subsided, and routines settle in – or if you find yourself in close quarters with people with whom you’d not otherwise associate – you may wonder why you wanted this particular position in the first place.

Do yourself, and your employer, a favour. Make the best of things. Endeavour to enhance the situation, and show your strengths as a candidate for promotion, if such opportunities are available.

Discouraged? Identify and focus on one aspect of the job you do like, or can tolerate

Whatever it is, focus on that aspect – though not to the exclusion of other responsibilities – by becoming as strong a contributor as possible on that front. Take a part time or online/open source course; take internally provided courses, if there are any, to enhance your web editing, public relations (or whatever) applicable skills are involved.

Grow, and stay positive and focused during the process. By enhancing your skills, and building your reputation for expertise in this particular aspect of the job, you are also enhancing your brand … and you may find, in the process, that you’ve created new opportunities for yourself.

Remember what it was like to be job hunting. If none of these resolve the situation, plan your exit gracefully and with an eye to how a short term stay may reflect on your resume. Above all, take the high road.

It is the job you expected, but you’re not sure you’re up to snuff? You will make mistakes, particularly while new to the job. Own and learn from yours; then correct the situation, asking for help where needed, and move forward. All of us were new at one time or another and, as Oscar Wilde said, experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.

(Available at executivesecretary.com. Access 2015/07/02.)

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