How to impress your new boss during that all important probationary period…

Congratulations! You have secured yourself the job of your dreams. It is now time for you to blow your new employers away. Most companies have a compulsory probation period. You will need to remember that you cannot just breeze through. You need to show your new employer that you are the perfect choice for them. Here’s how to make sure you’ll become a valued member of the team.

Appearance

Look the part. Make sure you have bought, washed and ironed all of your outfits. Never turn up looking scruffy. Set your alarm ten minutes earlier and allow yourself enough time to get ready each morning. Make sure your hair and make-up (if female) is professional.

When you are interviewing, try to assess what the other members of staff wear to work. Some companies are slightly more relaxed when it comes to dress code, whereas other companies are far more corporate. Remember, you can never look too smart! Sit up straight, and stand tall. Never act as though you are not interested as your colleagues will pick up on this very quickly!

First impressions

First impressions count! Make sure you make an effort with your colleagues and bosses. Be polite and display an interest. When it comes to break times, make sure you make the effort to introduce yourself. Talk to them about their lives and pay attention to what they have to say.

Never be negative! A huge mistake would be to start moaning about your workload or even worse, your new colleagues! By being miserable, it will really give off the wrong vibes and make people not want to socialise with you.

Keep your desk tidy and clean up after yourself! You do not want to be the member of staff that everyone just thinks is scruffy. By keeping a tidy desk, you will demonstrate that you are an organised individual.

Think before you speak

You will need to ask questions during your first few weeks. However, when training, do try to make notes. This way you will be able to master your new workload quickly. If you ask too many simple questions, your colleagues may get fed up with telling you each time. Try to work out a solution before asking a colleague – you may even discover a simpler way of completing a task.

You will also need to remember that your new colleagues are not your best friends, so try to avoid telling them anything too personal. There is a fine line between showing interest and revealing unnecessary details.

Do try to avoid office politics. You may innocently give your opinion, which may then lead to gossip, which is never a good thing when new! In this same vein, never say anything that could potentially hurt and offend others. Your general opinion of a current affair or news article could cause more harm than good. Keep any strong opinions to yourself and keep that all-important office equilibrium.

Be sensible

Now, this is a new job. Put your sensible cap on. You may want to celebrate your new position by painting the town red, which is totally understandable – you deserve it. But do try to keep this to the weekends. You do not want to come into work hungover and therefore be sluggish and not working to your full potential.

Timekeeping is extremely important. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to work and try to arrive early. This way you can settle at your desk with a coffee and complete basic admin and your emails before the working day commences. You’ll be ahead of the game, making the rest of your day that little bit easier.

Can do attitude

Enthusiasm is key when starting a new job. Walk in each morning with your head held high. Keep a clear head and make sure you are ready to take on the day with enthusiasm. When your bosses ask you to complete a task or project which may be out of your job description, take the challenge. It may be that you will need to work out of office hours to complete the task to a high standard. But such commitment is recognised and your bosses will appreciate this a great deal. By turning down work, you may appear as difficult and inflexible, which is very unattractive to your employer. If you are on top of your workload, do not be scared to ask your bosses if they require any additional help. Even if they do not, they will certainly appreciate that you are keen to help and to broaden your knowledge within the company.

Author David Morel Tiger Recruitment Team