Starting a new job in a new company is not always an easy task. Whether you are shy or extroverted, the first day of work will be the one that sets the tempo in the early days. Keep in mind that you have been chosen by your employer. You must therefore make a good impression and give your best.

Integration into a company can be influenced by various factors that do not necessarily originate from you, such as:

- The welcome procedure ;

- The training program for new employees ;

- Workspace attribution ;

- The availability of colleagues.

However, you can positively influence your integration and create a professional bond with your colleagues.

Here are some tips to help you successfully integrate and feel good at work.

1- Making a good first impression

A good first impression starts with respect, arriving on time, being polite, saying hello to colleagues and introducing yourself. Learn their first name and their function.

Show that you are interested in them, by asking questions and actively listening to them. By keeping this open-minded, respectful and smiling attitude, you build a positive and sunny image with your colleagues.

This may seem like common sense, but it is essential to start from the beginning on the right footing because you are going to spend 40 hours a week with them!

2- Demonstrating adaptability

You have probably imagined several times what your first day would be like and how it would go. But be careful not to project too many expectations. The fall could be difficult to bear. Indeed, the integration day does not always go as planned.

You must therefore be ready to adapt and change your way of doing things. To do this, be curious and observant. Gradually immerse yourself in your new environment. Observe what is going on around you. Who manages the teams, who employees turn to for approval of ongoing projects, who is in charge of which sector, etc. Ask questions to clarify unclear situations.

Finally, identify the people who are going to be part of your team and start to reproduce their way of working and the course of their day. Take notes so that you don't miss anything and get up and running as quickly as possible.

3- Being open and listening

In the beginning, you have to learn everything. You have to be on your toes and sometimes too much information can overwhelm you and make your integration quite complicated.

Therefore, try to get as much information as possible, both about your new colleagues and about the division of tasks and working methods. Take all the good advice that your team and your manager have to give you. This will help you gain confidence faster and you will also feel more at ease.

Listen to all the clues at your fingertips to understand your company's codes:

- The way his colleagues interact;

- The way of working;

- The quality of exchanges between employees;

- Conflict management;

- Celebration of objectives achieved.

Identifying these points will show your ability to listen and integrate.

4- Adapting to the company's culture

Every company, even every department, has its own way of following its rules, traditions, rituals and values.

To integrate into this new company, it is essential to understand the corporate culture in order to speak the same language and thus be accepted. The difficulty lies in the fact that most of these rules are tacit and unwritten, so you have to be observant and know how to decipher the customs and the unspoken.

Be ready to adapt to follow the movement: if your colleagues have taken the habit of having lunch together, join them to facilitate your integration. Also, if they use different communication channels than you, adapt to join their way of exchanging (example: WhatsApp group, Slack, Google Meet, Teams, Trello etc.).

5- Showing your willingness to doing well

Since you are joining a new team/company, it is essential to take its place. Make yourself available, committed and invested. This will give your colleagues and manager confidence and they will be more available to help you.

However, admit that you don't know everything and that you have a lot to learn. Certainly, your colleagues have a lot to learn about your skills and fresh perspective. But, in the beginning, be more of a listener and a learner.

Afterwards, you will be able to challenge them and make proposals.

The good points to make you feel good in this new company are therefore to investing yourself and to listen. Both with your colleagues and your manager.

6- Taking stock

After one month in your new company, have a review with HR and your manager. Talk about your feelings, the first tasks accomplished and how they perceive your integration and your willingness in this new environment.

By being proactive, you create room to improve your work before the end-of-probation meeting. It shows that you are motivated, committed and that you care about doing a good job.

By following these tips, you should not only succeed in integrating as well as possible, but also in feeling good in your new company. In fact, to feel fulfilled in a new environment, you have to learn the new codes. It is a learning process. If you are reluctant to do so, you will have difficulty integrating and therefore feeling at ease in the company.

At Les Pitchous, we are committed to open-mindedness, communication, listening and honesty. The values of a company are the key to employees who are happy and fulfilled in their work. We are convinced of this!

To find all the Pitchous articles, click here!

Would you like to discuss this topic? Follow us on LinkedIn.

-

Sophie Fromont
-
I am Sophie, Account Manager at Les Pitchous. I have a passion for digital, marketing and art, and tried my hand at several jobs before I really found my way.

I also thrive on travel. After living in different countries, I settled in Canada, in Montreal. Adapting to a new environment stimulates me on a daily basis and pushes me forward. 

I have been enriched by all these different experiences and cultures and today I can say that I have grown and been enriched by these beautiful experiences. That's all I can wish you, and also to be happy. Because life is more beautiful when you are happy!