10 Ways To Dazzle In A New Job

Boston – Merely succeeding in a new job is no longer sufficient to ensure you will keep it. Newly hired employees now must impress and dazzle quickly. This is true whether you have been hired for your first job after graduating from college or high school, re-entered the work force after a layoff, or started a new position, according to ClearRock, an outplacement and executive coaching firm headquartered in Boston.
 
“Getting rapid results now matters more than ever and there is much shorter time frame. Employers want to immediately start to see confirmation they made the right decision in hiring you. There are plenty of other people waiting for a chance to take your job if you don’t impress,” said Annie Stevens, managing partner with ClearRock (www.clearrock.com).
 
Clear Rock offers the following 10 Ways To Dazzle In Your New Job:

1. Know what is expected of you and by when. “Understand exactly what your boss requires you to accomplish and the timetable you have in which to deliver.  Also establish how your performance will be evaluated,” said Stevens.

2. Immediately start to make progress on your “critical few objectives.” “These are the one, two, or three major reasons why you were hired, and you need to demonstrate advancement in them as quickly as possible. Whether you are considered a success or failure will be judged by how well you achieve these targets,” added Stevens.

3. Add value as soon as possible. “Determine whether you can bring in business from past employers or provide a referral. Do you have any contacts with vendors that may result in discounts? Use special relationships to help grow business and cut costs,” said Stevens.

4. Surprise on the upside. Gain a reputation as someone who consistently delivers more than is expected. “However, do not continually set goals low and under-promise, because constantly lowering people’s expectations may result in you not keeping your job,” noted Stevens.

5. Beat deadlines and budgets.  Don’t aim for only meeting deadlines and keeping within budgets. Always try to attain goals and objectives early with the highest quality and as cost-effectively as possible.

6. Build teamwork with co-workers and colleagues.  Foster a sense of partnership with co-workers, direct reports, bosses, and employees in other departments and functions. Reaching out to workers in other areas of the company can help ensure your own success if you are transferred, promoted, or become part of a cross-functional team.

7. Perfect your communications skills. Good communications skills consistently rank at the top of employers’ wish lists for their workers, according to ClearRock surveys. Inability to communicate well – both verbally and in writing – is a major obstacle toward being promoted or even retaining your job.

8. Volunteer to lead a special project, task force or charity drive if there is little interest from others. “Volunteering for tasks like this – particularly those you’re comfortable with and know you can perform well – is a way to showcase your ability to take on responsibility, and earn gratitude and recognition from your boss,” said Stevens.

9. Discover which communication methods your boss prefers. Find out if your boss wants to keep informed through e-mails, weekly reports, lots of facts and figures, informal face-to-face meetings, or a combination of these.

10. Recognize the contributions of others and share their successes. “Selfless people are quick to credit the value others add and don’t hog the spotlight. This cultivates a spirit of teamwork and speaks volumes about the kind of person you are,” said Stevens. 

Contact Information

Annie Stevens

Managing Partner

ClearRock

(1) (617) 217-2811

annie@clearrock.com