Relax, You’re Not Clueless, You’re Just New

By Jenny Crumrine:

So you’re starting a new job? Congrats! You’re probably thinking about what you’ll wear to work, how much time you should plan for your commute and what your coworkers will be like. What you’re most likely not thinking about is the overwhelming amount of information you’ll be exposed to and some of the more difficult aspects of your first few days on the job.

If you’re looking for a foolproof guide to acing your first week, you’ve come to the wrong place. Who am I to be giving tips? I’ve worked here for two days, and I’m not even sure how to adjust my chair yet, but I will provide you with an honest rundown of my biggest challenges thus far and what I’m doing to get past them.

Feeling Clueless

Being unfamiliar with office shorthand and new technologies can be frustrating. Even company culture takes time to grasp fully. Not to mention memorizing your coworker’s names and all the information thrown at you during your onboarding. Did you know that by default people forget 80-90% of the information they learned in the last six days?

Experiencing a new environment often has a way of humbling a person. No one likes feeling like the least knowledgeable person in the room. When you start a new job, remind yourself that every expert was once a beginner and that it will take time for you to learn the ropes.

Cut yourself a break. You’re not clueless; you’re new.

Experiencing Lower Productivity Than Expected

When you start a new job, you’ll want to impress your coworkers and bosses by being uber-productive right from the get-go. You’ll want them to know how much of an asset you’re going to be. Honestly, it’s not going to happen honey. It’s going to take some time before you are churning out awesome work quickly.

Don’t get discouraged by this. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you need help.

Take some comfort in the fact that everyone in your office was once in your shoes. Here at Red Branch Media, I’ve been met by people who want to see their co-workers succeed and are happy to answer questions. I’ve never felt like a burden when asking for help here and I’m so thankful for that.

Overthinking Everything and Feeling Self-Conscience

“Ugh, I’m a terrible writer.” “Why have I forgotten everything I know?” “Am I doing this right?” “What if my boss hates this?” These are all thoughts that have crossed my mind since I started writing this article. You could say I’m a little in my head. This negative self-talk isn’t doing anyone any favors.

When you’re thinking these things, remind yourself that you’re already hired. Your first few days are not an interview. You were hired because management saw potential in you, not because you are perfect. Additionally, your employer knows you will need some time to get adjusted and doesn’t expect you to be a rockstar right off the bat.

What Does it All Mean?

Chances are you’re going to feel the same way all new hires feel, and while it’s tough at times, it’s not impossible and, you won’t feel that way for too long. Here’s a practical list of advice:

• Learn everyone’s name ASAP.
• Google search before you ask a coworker a question.
• When you do ask a coworker for help, ask confidently.
• Get organized.
• Folders and bookmarks – make ‘em
• If you aren’t receiving a ton of feedback, don’t assume you’re doing poorly. Feedback styles vary in each workplace. This may take some getting used to.
• Take it one day at a time and be patient with yourself.

Here are more tips for crushing your first week on the job. Did you know Red Branch is hiring? Check out our openings.

The Branchers

We build the best damn marketing campaigns on the planet. And we do it for industries and companies you might not identify as easy to market (right away). Working here takes a very special kind of person.