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How to Hit the Ground Running
(By Melinda Pittman)
You’ve just received an offer of employment with a company that seems to be a perfect fit for you. You’re excited about the advancement of your career, and you’re eager to get started.
But . . . you have to wait. Or do you? In the past, that might have been the case, but in today’s marketplace, the opportunity exists for you to accomplish things before your first day on the job that will help you to hit the ground running. This process is called “onboarding,” and more and more companies are creating and implementing such programs. Not only should you be aware of them, you should know how to take advantage of them.
A win-win situation
After accepting the offer, be sure to inquire about an onboarding program. This is a win-win situation for you. If the company does have one, you’ll be showing initiative. If it doesn’t, you’ll be showing both initiative and knowledge beyond that of the average candidate or employee.
There are three main areas on which you’ll need to focus with an onboarding program: administrative details, job duties and specifications, and company culture. All three are crucial to ensuring greater success when you start your new position.
Administrative details—These are items that are often overlooked, but are very important to a smooth transition. They include preliminary employment and tax paperwork, in addition to voice mail, email, gaining access to the building and/or parking lot, etc. Be sure to ask the appropriate person from the company (possibly a HR representative) about all of these, and then ask, “Is there anything else I need to do before my first day?” You can never go wrong by being proactive and enthusiastic, and the last thing you want is to be tripped up by paperwork while you’re trying to become acclimated.
Job duties and specifications—These represent the meat and potatoes of your new job. Your ability (or inability) to accomplish these tasks will ultimately determine your future advancement. While it might be premature to discuss specific projects, it would be wise to talk to your soon-to-be immediate supervisor about deadlines, timetables, the chain of information, and anything else that comes to mind. You also want to inquire about your on-site orientation and training schedule, which should occur during your first week of employment. The key is effective communication and the exchange of knowledge beforehand, which will help speed up the process once you begin your new job.
Company culture—This is where you can really cut down on your transition time. Without the help of an onboarding program, it would be virtually impossible to know anything about the company culture of your new employer. However, by gaining an understanding of that culture prior to employment, you will also gain a huge advantage in terms of a smooth transition. Keep in mind that not all companies include this area in their onboarding program (although they should). If it’s not mentioned, be sure to ask about it, and also ask if you can meet informally with a couple of employees—perhaps at lunch—to learn as much as you can about the culture.
The competitive edge
Participating in an onboarding program is an excellent way to hit the ground running in your new position. It’s also a great way to show your value and worth to your next employer in a shorter amount of time. The benefits of this could include new opportunities and new avenues for advancement within the company down the road. In today’s ultra-competitive business environment, you need every edge you can get, and an onboarding program can help give you that edge.
If you have questions about this topic or would like more information about onboarding, please contact me at melinda@thepittmangroup.com.
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