Insights

So, you’ve secured a new role in industry. Congratulations!  What’s next?  In industry, new hires are often expected to ramp up quickly and contribute early. While many companies pride themselves on their formal onboarding processes and may provide extensive onboarding resources, these resources are often self-directed or informal. The first three months are critical. Having a clear idea of what you want to learn, achieve, and contribute can help you stand out.

Hint: These would be useful additions to your resume at this stage of your role.

Finally, ask clarifying questions, but be sure to take ownership of your work and your work stream. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have made that mindset shift. You are not going to wait for someone to train you. You are going to figure out what the team and the business needs and how you can help.  Demonstrate reliability by meeting deadlines, following through, and communicating early.  Don’t forget to keep your manager informed of your progress and ask for feedback early and often.

This is also your first opportunity to build credibility and start building relationships.  Your success in the organization may hinge on how quickly you can build credibility, trust, and rapport with key internal and external stakeholders.  Take some time to schedule 1:1s with cross-functional colleagues to understand their work and priorities and how it relates to yours.  Report to your manager that you have arranged these brief interactions with colleagues and the efforts you have made to make an impact on organizational priorities. 

Hint: The people in your organization are now people in your network.