A New Job - Part 2

One of the techniques that I have found useful in my life is the technique of 'knocking on doors'.

It is almost inevitable that someone has been employed in the position before you arrive and you need to find out how they did the job and what people around them working with them, for them or above them in the hierarchy thought of that work.

If you get the impression that they were successful and were well thought of then you can not afford to ignore the good vibes that they left behind. The chances are they they had systems and processes and procedures in place which are appreciated by those in the work environment and you can do yourself a lot of good by finding out quickly how they did the job and what tools and techniques they used. In many instances once you tell work colleagues that you are really glad to be following in the footsteps of someone who is regarded as so efficient and effective they will fall over themselves to show you where things are and how things work and you can settle in quite easily permitting people to continue to do things as they have been doing them and learning what actually works and what does not.

If however you get the impression that the person who undertook the work before you was not well thought of then you can present yourself as someone who will become the 'saviour' of the work place and ask to be shown all of the processes and procedures that the previous person had used and elicit feedback from the people you work with why this did not work. Similarly you can ask all of those people to whom this individual reported why they were not favourably considered and then make notes on what people expect and what difference you need to make in the way you present so that you will be better appreciated.

Once again the people in your work environment are the key to learning how to not only survive but thrive in the new job and in the new work environment.