The Secret to Making a Great Impression in a New Job:

# How to Master the Unspoken Rules of a New Job

Starting a new job can feel like starting at a new school. You're meeting new people, being thrown into unfamiliar situations, and constantly wondering: What do others think of me?

But whether it's your first job ever or a new role, making a great impression doesn't have to be so intimidating. It all comes down to understanding the unspoken rules and demonstrating what I call the three Cs: competence, commitment, and compatibility.

In this post, I'll share with you some tips and tricks on how to ace your first week in a new job and set yourself up for success.

## The First C: Competence

On your first day, your new colleagues are probably evaluating whether you can perform your job. To convince others, as well as yourself, that you indeed can, you must show your diligence and provide something tangible for others to react to.

Let's say it's your first day and everything is chaotic. People are forwarding you messages with only a "See below" at the top, and you're being pulled into meetings without any notice or context. Your manager assigns you a task, and within two minutes, you're already confused.

Instead of immediately going back to them and saying, "I don't know what to do next, help!" or doing what I did, which is not asking any questions at all, think of a similar task you encountered in a previous job, in school, or even personally. What steps did you take in that situation? Then make an educated guess and give it a try.

Afterward, go back to your manager and say, "I'm currently working on X, but I'm unsure about the next steps. I've taken X steps and consulted with so-and-so, and I grasp this part, but I'm still unclear about this other part. What are your thoughts on this approach?"

No, I'm not suggesting that you pretend to know it all until you figure it out. Rather, I'm encouraging you to keep trying until you exhaust all your options. However, keep in mind that time matters, so set a limit for yourself. Depending on your deadline, try to solve the problem independently first, and then ask questions and learn from what others tell you. This will be your first step towards understanding how things operate here.

## The Second C: Commitment

Apart from assessing if you can perform your job, your colleagues are also evaluating your dedication. During your first week in a new job, it's beneficial to ask your manager questions about their expectations. Some questions I recommend are:

1. What are my top priorities in this role?
2. How would you prefer communication on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis?
3. Based on your experience, what have your highest-performing employees done that you would suggest I do as well?

For your peers, try to approach them more casually. In the first few days, your manager will likely introduce you to your other teammates. During these interactions, think about how you can turn simple greetings into conversations and those conversations into relationships.

One approach is to inquire about how their week is going. For those you have a good rapport with, try involving them in your work and even your personal life by saying things like, "I would love to hear your input on A" or "Could I get your advice on B?" These gestures can go a long way in building strong connections.

## The Third C: Compatibility

When a new person joins a team, existing members want to know if they will get along with them. By initiating conversations, you are already displaying compatibility. However, while doing so, use this opportunity to identify who is responsible for what, or what I refer to as "invisible swim lanes."

Suppose you've recently started a new remote job. Start by asking your manager if there is an organizational chart that shows reporting structures. If one exists, that's great. However, formal job titles and reporting lines can only provide limited insight into how things truly operate.

Therefore, pay attention during meetings and group chats. Try to ascertain each person's role, reporting lines, alliances, who commands respect, and which behaviors are rewarded or punished. Understanding these norms, power dynamics, influential individuals, and areas of responsibility is what people mean when they talk about understanding a team's "culture."

Also, while identifying these swim lanes, observe if there are any unoccupied ones, or in other words, if there are any tasks currently not being addressed that could help your team achieve more, improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance safety, or strengthen security. By doing this, you will demonstrate your competence in identifying gaps, your commitment to filling them, and your compatibility in not overstepping boundaries.

## Conclusion

The reality of starting a new job is that it's not only about performing your assigned tasks. The way you interact with your colleagues is equally important. Despite our focus on how others perceive us, don't forget to evaluate whether this is an environment where you can flourish and thrive.

I hope you found this post helpful and that you'll apply these tips to your next job. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And if you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends and colleagues. Thanks for reading!