Expectations can feel more like a curse than a blessing in the world of work. Whether it’s your first job, or your third, starting a new position can be both exciting and stressful. The expectations you put on yourself and those put on you by others. Especially when it comes to job and career choices. Especially when you are young and inexperienced. The reality is more complex and nuanced. Systemic, as well as personal factors, play a part. They include the nature of the work itself, the working conditions and environment, the resources available, your confidence and competence in the role, how well you are treated, the effectiveness of your manager, and the company culture. Not to mention the political, economic, social and technology upheavals affecting the employer’s world of work.
Starting a new job is never easy, regardless of age or experience level, but it’s even more difficult when it’s the first year at a job. There is uncertainty about the workplace, the co-workers, and even the company. There are always more questions than answers about what to do, how to do it, who does what, and what’s expected.
The stress and anxiety of uncertainty can’t be fully eliminated, however, there are a few things to remember that will make this transition easier during the first year of a new job.
Don’t expect too much from yourself
It’s only natural to place high expectations on yourself, especially considering the last few years of education and hard work were all for the purpose of getting to this point – no company will expect you to be a top contributor on day one. Employers may have hired you because of your degree and the traits you exhibited during your interview, but they most likely did not hire you because of your innate knowledge of their business. Good companies realize you will need to be trained and developed before you start making valuable contributions.
Be a professional and make great first impressions
Be pleasant, work hard and give 100% at everything you are asked to do. This will set the tone and the manner in which others perceive you and will serve you well as you continue your career with the company.
Don’t keep everything hidden inside
Still on the theme of communication, don’t feel you have to keep everything bottled up and handle it on your own either. Sometimes we want things to go well, we go into people-pleasing mode and say yes to avoid disappointing people, but in the long term that just makes the hard part take longer to resolve. When you keep everything under lock and key, it can soon lead to you feeling like a failure. Believing you’re supposed to be able to do everything without any help can also cause combative feelings which will harm your working relationships. Ask questions, share your worries, and most importantly, work on solutions with your colleagues and managers.
Have reasonable expectations of the company
Businesses are comprised of people, and every business has its own set of issues and challenges. You may experience a level of dysfunction and disorganization in some areas of the business, or even quickly identify areas that can be improved. You may also encounter a culture or workplace environment different than what was expected. Don’t be alarmed -simply allow the proper amount of time to really understand the company and the culture, warts and all, before making quick judgments.
Realize the initial workload may be fluid
Companies typically take time to integrate and orient new college graduates, starting them off slowly to ensure they are comfortable in their new environment and allowing them time to adjust to the day-to-day rigors of a structured forty-hour work-week. They may also still be evaluating the specific work you will be given even months after your initial start date. Be patient, understanding heavy workloads and larger, more defined responsibilities will come over time.
Don’t expect too much of your manager
While of course, your new boss shares some of the responsibility for helping you adjust to your new job and they want you to do well. It’s a bad idea to expect too much of them. We sometimes expect our managers to be rested, resourceful, well-trained, really good managers for us specifically, and that’s often not the case. They might be very well-intentioned but they are also humans, stressed, tired, forgetful, busy and impatient. They may never have learned to manage in a way that works well for you. As a new starter, hold some of the responsibility for and develop a skill for managing up. Work on your communication skills and getting clarity around prioritizing or reassessing the timeline or scope of work. You expect something to look or be a certain way because of how it was portrayed, but once you’re in the role you can see that it’s actually quite different. This is normal and doesn’t have to be a crisis. Focus on communication and figure out with your manager what you are doing, how you can do it, and find a solution.
Plan your exit strategy
This might sound counter-intuitive, the last thing you want to think about when starting a new job is leaving it. But it can help to diffuse a situation if you know it’s not forever. When it’s time to leave, how do you want to leave?, If you go into a job and the reality is extremely far removed from your expectation then you have a decision to make. Some people may decide to just quit and that’s ok if that’s right for you. If you aren’t in a position to do that then think about what you need to make the most of the situation. Take care of your own well-being and think through the path forward. What does it look like, what are your goals, and what do you want to get out of it? How will you learn and grow? If you’re having a hard time distinguishing between whether you’re going through the normal adjustment to starting a new role or whether it’s the kind of thing you need to get out of, then getting an outside perspective can help. You can turn to a career coach but also a trusted person within the company who can give you their point of view, or someone who knows you well, like a mentor or advisor.
Navigating the challenges of the first year of a job and managing expectations are crucial aspects of a successful career transition. Embrace self-awareness and practice self-kindness while adjusting to your new role, and remember that it’s normal to encounter unanticipated obstacles. Open communication with your manager and colleagues can foster stronger working relationships and help you find solutions to any challenges you may face. Prioritizing your physical and mental well-being is also essential for building a strong foundation for success in your new position.
Having an exit strategy in mind can empower you to make informed decisions about your career path and ensure you’re making the most of your current situation. Seeking external perspectives from career coaches, trusted colleagues, or mentors can help you determine if you’re experiencing normal adjustment issues or more significant concerns. By incorporating these strategies, you’ll be better equipped to overcome the challenges of starting a new job, allowing you to excel in your career and reach your professional goals.