So you finally made it to your new workplace. Now take a deep breath and walk in with a smile on your face. Keep your head up and remember to make eye contact. Be polite and friendly to everyone you encounter, whether it's the receptionist or the mail room clerk, your colleagues or your new boss. Introduce yourself to those you meet and remember that it's okay to ask questions. People generally like to help others and it usually makes them feel good about themselves. A new co-worker who refuses all offers of help might cause some people to think you are a a person who feels superior and refuse to help in the future.
While it's okay to hold onto some of things you learned in your previous jobs and use that knowledge in your new job, remember that every workplace has its own way of doing things. Your first few weeks or even months on a job is not the time to change the way things get done.
Do not utter these words: "That's not how we did it at my old company." Your colleagues will just be thinking this: "Well, you're not at your old company and if you liked it so much why didn't you stay there."
The length of time it takes you to adjust to a new job varies from person to person, and job to job. While you may fit in immediately at some jobs, it may take a little longer in others. And some people seem to fit in immediately wherever they go. All you can do is try your best, and do your job the best way you know how. The following tips may help:
Ask questions. You're new and it's better to do something right the first time around than have to do it over. Smile a lot and be friendly. Get to know your co-workers and what their interests are. Use your lunch hours to get together with your current co-workers, although it may be tempting to meet up with your former ones. Figure out who has the authority to give you work to do and who is just trying to have you do theirs. Pay attention to the grapevine, but don't contribute to it. You don't want to gain a reputation as a gossip. Don't complain about what you immediately encounter in the workplace, or your previous job. Arrive early and don't rush out the door at the end of the day. Volunteer for projects that will help you get noticed, but don't neglect any assigned work. Keep a positive attitude and an open mind. Your life has changed and it will take getting used to.
New jobs present many changes and challenges, and it's natural to feel stress over this. There are several things you can do to both relieve stress and combat its effects. Here are some suggestions in dealing with stress at a new job or in any other situation that requires change and adjustment:
Find Support: If you can, find support from people in your life. Talking about what's stressing you should help a lot.
Quick Stress Relievers: There are many ways to calm down quickly when you suddenly get blindsided by stress and feel overwhelmed. The following are a few quick and easy ways to regain your calm so you can deal with whatever situations are at hand:
Take a Walk: Exercise can be a great stress reliever in itself, as it helps you blow off steam and releases endorphins. Taking a walk when stressed provides the bonus of getting you out of the stressful situation and providing some perspective so you can return in a new frame of mind. Take a Breath: If you're not in a position to leave, you can feel better right away by breathing deeply in a measured way for a few minutes--sit or stand in a relaxed position; slowly inhale through your nose, counting to five in your head; let the air out from your mouth, counting to eight in your head as it leaves your lungs; repeat several times. Take a Mental Break: If you can steal away a few minutes of peace and envision, with great detail relating to all of the senses, a relaxing scene—visualization is a wonderful way to restore peace of mind. Re rame Your Situation: Sometimes we intensify our experience of stressful situations by the way we look at them. If you can look at your situation differently, you may be able to put it into a different perspective--one that causes you less stress! Being “Type A”, Negative Self Talk, Poor Conflict Resolution Skills, Pessimism, Taking On Too Much are some of the most common ways that people create mental and emotional stress in their own lives. Carefully think about whether any of these self sabotage techniques apply to you, so you can make simple changes to reduce significant mental and emotional stress from your life.
Once you've been able to calm down, you should be in a better position to address whatever stressful situations you're experiencing. It's also a good idea to adopt a few regular stress relievers and healthy lifestyle habits so that you can reduce your overall stress level, experience less stress and are less bothered by the stressful situations you do encounter.
Have a Regular Stress Relief Hobby: Try to maintain some time in your life to do some stress-relieving in your life, so that you feel less stress overall--exercise, a hobby, or another regular practice that you enjoy.
Take Care of Yourself: If you're able to eat right, get enough sleep, and take vitamins, you'll be less worn down physically so you'll be less reactive to stress, and you'll be in better overall health.
People have deep attachments to their work groups, organizational structures, personal responsibilities, and ways of accomplishing work. When any of these are disturbed, a transition period occurs. During this transition, people can expect to experience a period of letting go of the old ways as they begin moving toward and integrating the new.Source: About.com
