Tips for the first week in your new job

Congratulations – you've got a new job!

The first few weeks in your new job are really exciting because you're starting a job that you've hopefully been looking forward to. But there are also lots of new things to learn, such as processes, working methods, unwritten and written rules, and people, so it can be very energy-consuming.

Get IDA's tips for a good start in your new job here.

Before you start your new job

Your new workplace is a microcosm. There are unwritten rules, invisible power structures and chains of command that you cannot prepare for, but which you will have to learn along the way.

Fortunately, there are also things you can familiarise yourself with before you start your new job.

Before your first day at work, you can, for example, read up on:

• The company's purpose and strategy
• The company's organisational chart

These documents are typically available on the company's website.

By reading the company's narrative about itself, its purpose and structure, you can get a good overview of the place you are about to become a part of. Hopefully, you will find that many things make sense right from the start if you have a grasp of the basics.

6 tips for the first week in the new job

• Follow the plan: 
  The vast majority of companies have an onboarding plan for their new employees, and you should of course follow it. It is the workplace's responsibility to introduce you to everything from strategy, IT systems and summer parties.
  
  If you feel that there are elements missing from the onboarding plan, write it down and mention it to your manager at the end of the first week. If there is no onboarding plan, it is perfectly okay to ask for one.
  
  
• Ask and be curious:
  As a newbie, you'll probably ask a lot of questions. And that's a good thing, because questions and curiosity are the way forward. Don't be afraid to show your ignorance, even when it comes to more technical questions than just the mundane ones like "where is the printer?"
  
  However, you may have so many questions that you actually can't answer all of them yet, or have questions that you should probably wait to ask. You should therefore dose your questions, and the best way to do this is to write them down so that you don't forget them.
  
  
• Be humble and patient:
  These classic virtues are in place in the role of “the new one,” but don’t confuse it with being quiet and passive.
  
  Being humble when you're new to the job simply means that you know that there are many things you don't know. At the same time, you shouldn't avoid making a contribution if you're at home in, for example, a professional discussion. This is precisely the knowledge that they hired you to contribute.
  
  Of course, you want to show that you have a lot to contribute, but it may take time before you can really put your expertise to work and deliver. That's why patience is also important.
  
  Before your new colleagues and manager get to know you better, your constructive suggestions for improvement may be perceived as criticism. Instead, consider writing them down for later.
  
  
• Create space in your calendar:
  Part of your onboarding plan will likely be a series of meeting invitations, which can be overwhelming at first. However, it is also necessary that you get enough alone time at work, where there is peace and time to look at the organisational chart, write down your questions and practice the systems. Therefore, you can advantageously write focus time into your calendar, so that you ensure these breathing spaces.
  
  It may also be that your thoughtful colleagues think it's a shame that you, as a new employee, are sitting alone at your desk when really you are taking a much needed moment to focus. In that case it's perfectly fair to be open about your needs by, for example, saying out loud, "Ah, now it's going to be good just to sit by myself and click around on the intranet."
  
  
• Be extra social:
  “Are there any nice colleagues at your new job?” Many people will probably ask you that, because good colleagues are one of the most important things for thriving at work.
  
  We recommend that you prioritise small talk and socialising in the early days of your new job, even if it may not be your natural preference. It's a good investment and doesn't mean you've promised to attend all the Friday night bars and running clubs in the future.
  
  And feel free to ask your new colleagues. Ask about things that you would also feel comfortable being asked about, such as where they live, whether they have children or what they do in their free time.
  
  
• Make agreements with your manager:
  There can be a big difference in how much you have to do with your immediate manager during onboarding, but it is often part of the plan that you meet with the manager. If it's not part of the plan, or your manager doesn't book you, you can take the initiative for an informal chat after 1-2 weeks. Here you can agree on how your collaboration should be. How often and how should you meet? Should it be, for example, regular 1:1, ad hoc meetings or informal chats at the desk?