Ask the Employment Specialist: handling your new job

Dear Joanna

I finally got a job in my field! I have been looking this job as a Lean Engineer in a consulting firm that is a Fortune 500 company and it’s taken me over a year to get the job.

I have been out of the workforce for a long time and am very nervous about starting on Monday. I am so excited, relieved and happy that I will finally be getting a paycheck and am working in my field. On the other hand, I am so scared and nervous that I will not make it.

So many questions and concerns are flooding my mind. I cannot sleep thinking about Monday. Do you have any suggestions as to how to calm my nerves and how to make sure my first day is the beginning of a new and wonderful career?

Signed: Steve, The Engineer

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Dear Steve,

Congratulations on your new job and the beginning of a new chapter in your career life. I don’t blame you for being nervous; you sound overwhelmed, too. I felt the same way for at least six months into my new job as a Job Developer, here at JVS Toronto over seven years ago.  But I know you have been hired because you have the skills, experience and education. The hiring people believe in you and know that you will be an asset to the team and company. Otherwise, no way they would hire you.  I do understand that you will be faced with many new people, challenges and work. Some of it you will have control over; some of you will not. So, let’s focus on WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL. This might make you feel better.

According to Denise Bissonnette (2004) in her amazing book on job retention called “30 Ways to Shine as a New Employee”, there are six techniques which may calm your nerves.

Remember that:

1. You are not in a contest! You have already won the employer’s confidence and you have the job offer so there is nothing to win or provide – you’re there to work.

2. You are teachable, and if you demonstrate that you are a lifelong and eager learner and you are not afraid to admit what you don’t know, you are off to the races!

3. 80% of success is just showing up and listening. The other 20% is being there once you arrive – listening, seeing, observing and following instructions.

4. Don’t compare yourself with anyone, because you are incomparable. What the employer cares about is how the company looks in comparison to its competitors – not how you look. You’ve been hired for your skills and that you have what it takes to succeed in your job. That is the only job which deserves your attention.

5. Focus on progress, not perfection. Manage your expectations about what progress means to you. It’s different for everyone. Learn the company’s definitions of success and those of your manager(s) and follow them.

6. Slowly slowly, step-by-step, measure your progress one day at a time. We want instant success, but it doesn’t work like that. Respect the process. Little-by-little. This can prevent you from being overwhelmed.

Why not start you first day and all the other working days with these questions, which Bissonnette recommends:

“What do I hope to do or learn today that I did not know yesterday?”
and,
“What would be a good sign of progress for me today?”

Steve, if you don’t let your anxiety get in the way of your success, you’ll be fine. All the best with your new job, and congratulations!

Joanna

To submit your questions for this column IN CONFIDENCE, please email dearjoanna@jvstoronto.org.

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Bissonnette, D. (2004). 30 ways to shine as a new employee. A. Milt & Sons