5 Things You Should Never Do When Starting a New Job — And 5 Things to Do Right Away

There can be numerous upsides to starting a new job: a fresh culture, new relationships and colleagues, and (hopefully) exciting pay and benefits. There are plenty of things to do on your first day at a new job to set yourself up for success, too. However, it's important to remember that new beginnings require a fresh perspective, too. 

For instance, you may have formed bad habits at your previous job. Maybe you got too comfortable, or maybe you started getting lazy towards the end of it because your morale was low. Whatever the case, a new position is the perfect opportunity to do away with those habits and have a fresh start.

There are several obvious things you shouldn't do a new job — like complain about your old job, gossip, come in late and other faux pas. But there are also some not-so-obvious behaviors you should avoid, too. Avoiding the following five behaviors will help set you up for success earlier on in your new job.

Asking for help feels uncomfortable, but it is crucial in any position. Although we’re eager to show our expertise, there's nothing wrong with vulnerability. You’ll never know everything about a new position, so why pretend?

Every workplace has its own culture — there's a morning routine, there's a lunch ritual, there's a social scene. While some of the aspects of your work culture may be explained to you, like, say, what time you need to come into the office, others will not be. Be sure to pay attention to social norms and mimic those of people around you, at least until your reputation is set. 

Now that you know what not to do on the job, here are seven ways to start things off on the right foot:

Now is the time to ask questions. In your first 90 days, seek clarity on everything — from a process you don't understand to the nitty-gritty details of your boss's expectations of you. Be candid in your questions. It's OK to say that you don't understand something, or that you need to understand how much time something will take each week. Having clear information from your manager, and letting them know where you stand in your onboarding process, will help everyone set reasonable expectations and boundaries for your contributions to the team in your first year.

Speaking of boundaries, at the start of any new job, you should come in with healthy boundaries in place. Don't work an unreasonable amount of overtime just to look like you're working hard. Don't volunteer for a million projects just to prove you're eager. And start learning right away about cultural norms so you can take PTO when needed, and put in the correct amount of effort for your role. Setting boundaries now will paint a clear picture for others as to what they can expect from you and what you won't stand for. This keeps you from being a doormat later. 

As discussed above, there's no need to rush into relationships. Instead, set aside some time each week in your first 90 days for a quick meeting with someone new. Once you've met all of the important folks, set up follow up time with the ones you clicked with or who will be useful in your new role, and let those relationships develop naturally. And remember: There's no need to spill all the details about how you're feeling or what your personal life is like to people you've only known for a few weeks.

Now is the time to understand how you are performing all of the parts of your new role. Each time you take on a new task, it's OK to ask your manager for feedback if they don't provide it on their own. This will help you learn quickly and avoid any unseen criticisms in your 90 day review.

Now is the time to sit back and focus on learning. Pay attention to how things work, both technically and socially. The most successful person is the one who can use their surroundings to get things done. That requires learning about your surroundings first!