Learning to navigate your career while grasping the culture of a company is one of the greatest challenges a new employee will face. Whether you’re a recent college graduate or a seasoned pro, figuring out the unwritten rules of corporate culture can be challenging and confusing.
Throughout the interview process, you probably heard how great the culture is at your new place of employment, how you too can have a long and rewarding career at Company A, which offers flexibility, mobility and interesting projects. But, come day one, all you can concentrate on is getting through the first day, meeting your boss’s high expectations, getting along with your peers and hoping you made the right decision to join the company in the first place.
According to Ebony Thomas, director of diversity and campus recruiting at Prudential Financial, “New employees often find success by relying on a few simple tasks that you didn’t learn in the classroom: focus on learning your role, ask clear questions and observe how to navigate through your new organization.” Now you’re the professional It is important to remember that you are a professional and that often means managing the delicate balance of work relationships among peers, management and senior leaders.
Thomas also advocates “managing your manager to make your life easier.
“First, understand your supervisor’s expectations of your role and responsibilities. Make sure you both have clarity on tasks and ask for formal and informal feedback periodically.” Observe what motivates him or her. Once you know these things, flex your working style.
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