Starting the Job

As a Military Spouse, it is common to spend so much effort and time finding the right job in a new location that you neglect thinking about how to most effectively start out in that position. Employers and career coaches agree—the first 90 days on a job can be the most important, and this period is even more vital as a Military Spouse. The average Military Family moves once every 2.9 years, but you may have less time in location than that. Your finite tenure in each position means that the time in which you have the opportunity to become a proven performer or seek advancement is also compressed. It is during the initial 90 days or “on-boarding” time in a new workplace that you make your first impression, establish working relationships and friendships, learn what you have to do and when, where to find resources, and how to get things done.

Learn Your Environment

One of the most important things you can do in your new position is to learn the environment. Don’t assume that the way things are done in your new company will be the same as they were at your previous one. It can be easy to create distrust or discontent in a new workplace if you are perceived as trying to change things without learning how or why they are done in a certain way. Do your research, use your intuition, and talk to your clients, suppliers, colleagues and subordinates, as well as your supervisor. Learn about how your company or service is perceived, what its strengths and weaknesses are, and the history and background of your department. This will help you identify and differentiate between the need for quick fixes and involvement in long-term projects.

You also need to learn and understand how the office’s politics work. “You want to make sure you understand the power structure as quickly as possible,” says Sunny Bates, president and CEO of Sunny Bates Associates, an executive search firm, and author of How to Earn What You’re Worth: Leveraging Your Goals and Talents to Land Your Dream Job. “Try to be Switzerland,” says Bates. “Listen to everyone, be pleasant and you’ll quickly be able to pull together the structure.”

Establish Relationships and Expectations

Take the opportunity to establish a meeting with your boss to discuss his or her expectations as soon as you begin a new position. You will have received the “sales pitch” during the interview process, so you need to sit down and ensure you fully understand your supervisor’s ground rules and expectations. It is important that you connect with your supervisor on a personal level as well, so a meeting over coffee or tea can be a great way to achieve this. You need to learn how your supervisor operates and which form of communication he or she prefers. Some companies exclusively use internal chat or email messaging systems, while others prefer face-to-face meetings. You’ll want to be sure you use whichever form is the standard for your new office so that you are kept in the loop on important communications.

Your goal in the first few weeks on the job is to exceed your boss’s expectations. Find ways of making small achievements or progress and communicate these accomplishments to your boss through the method that they prefer. You are establishing your first impression and credibility, so provide evidence that you are performing as soon as you are in the job. In doing this you also need to be realistic and keep your commitments. Don’t promise a report by the end of the day if you are working on three separate projects for different customers. Make your boss aware of conflicting obligations so that you can both set realistic and achievable deadlines.

Admit Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes and it is likely that you will make mistakes early on in a new job. Instead of waiting around to make a mistake, admit that you don’t understand things as they come up. Ask your boss or colleagues to have patience and reiterate to them that you are learning. If you do make a mistake, admit it. You will get more understanding and respect if you just admit something went wrong instead of trying to hide it, which only makes things worse.

Remember that starting a new job can be a stressful time, but it should also be an exciting time. As a Military Spouse you regularly get the opportunity to re-experience the enthusiasm and excitement of the first day on the job. Approach each new job as an opportunity to reinvigorate yourself in the workplace. You are accustomed to adapting easily and swiftly to change and new environments, so use these skills to help you thrive in your new position.

Please share any experiences or advice you have for starting a new position below.