22.08.2024

QUESTIONS TO IMPRESS THE NEW BOSS

Starting a new job is a trial and a challenge, and the most pressing and greatest thing is to make a good first impression. The sooner you build fruitful relationships with your boss and coworkers, the easier it will be to steer your career in the right direction.

For the first day of work, of course, you should dress carefully, having researched whether there is a mandatory dress code and, if not, what is meant by "appropriate".

It may help to ask a colleague you know.

If there isn't one, just use common sense. You should be one idea more elegant than you will be in the following days, you still have a more special occasion. But don't be too formal, you're going to work after all, not to a party.

It is true that clothes are welcome, but it is even more important how you will behave. Be friendly, smile, try not to show that you are actually worried. (Tell yourself you'll like them - the so-called prophecy of acceptance helps with success.) Force yourself to restrain yourself if you're the type of person who, under pressure, starts talking a lot or seems to act arrogant.

You will show that you are willing to put your best foot forward by asking questions of your line manager and colleagues. Think about what in advance so that you don't sound bored and look unprepared, but demonstrate that you want to explore the new environment. This is the surest way to make a good impression.

"How are you" is a trite question, but it is a common form of politeness. It won't hurt you to ask. The answers will probably also be banal, but showing interest can be a plus in the eyes of your supervisor and colleagues.

"How can I help" sounds better than "What should I do", although in practice it means the same thing. Since you have just started work, you will probably first need to read and sign a bunch of documents that the Human Resources staff will give you. But when you ask for work instead of waiting for orders, you show good ethics.

It is very likely that the boss already has specific tasks for you. Dealing with them will help you adapt. Doing something is less stressful than sitting anxiously looking around while colleagues around you work.

"What is the preferred method of communication" is a necessary question to the boss and colleagues. It will help you avoid misunderstandings. You will make a bad impression if you go to a manager who prefers to receive information by email. Emailing a manager who is not in the habit of reading their mail will be a waste of time, if not worse.

It is also good to find out in which cases your boss wants written communication, in which - phone conversations, in which - meetings. Even if you don't like the boss's habits, it's clear that you have to adapt to them.

Research what are the accepted ways of communication between employees in different departments of the company and between people on the team. In this way, you will interact effectively from the beginning, and you will gradually understand the peculiarities of some colleagues. There's always at least one person who doesn't read their emails, and if you want to get your work done, you have to call them or have a live chat with them.

"Who are the people I need to meet in the coming days" is an essential question, especially if you work in a large company and your job involves interaction with other departments. Establishing business contacts is critical to your success right from the start. The other benefit is that by getting to know colleagues from other departments and possibly their managers, you'll get a better idea of the company and your place in the bigger picture.

It's smart to ask your boss for advice on the people you absolutely need to meet, because that way you show him that you value his opinion.

By asking, "What should my goals be for the next month," you demonstrate long-term thinking. This conversation with your boss helps you clarify your priorities and focus on the most important tasks.

If you feel that the boss is not ready to give you an answer, in the next moment you can rephrase the question as "What are the tasks and goals of the team for the next month". Your manager should be aware of both them and your specific place in them - after all, you are not falling from the sky and he has thought about what he will assign you to work on.