Go (Back)To The Sandbox and Play Nice(r)

Now that you have that new job it's time for you to start creating new relationships, building mini-friendships and creating your reputation. Millions of people have been furloughed and millions have found their way back to work. According to an October 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics report over the last year hires totaled 70.4 millions and separations totaled 77.4 million with the next employment loss of still 7 million jobs. This number includes workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year. So starting or restarting a career opportunity can be quite critical.

Here are three of my suggestions for starting a brand new job or restarting your career today:

Find A Way To Start Fast.

Starting New. You focus on the first 90 days and make sure your performance is stellar. You need to create new relationships with people within your management team and your peer group. But slow your roll when it comes to hanging out, spending too much time on personal issues and creating a clique. Be a diplomat and make sure you are doing your job to the best of your ability. Ask for feedback. Ensure that your employer is glad they hired you. Try to make sure you have earned those first 90 days when in almost all cases you are being watched very closely.

Returning. If you are or get to return to your "old company" or "old job" it would behoove you to show them that they just rehired a new, more energetic person. So many people have struggled to create value in their career life during a furlough that they look like the same person the company hired before the layoff or furlough. Even if you are going back to your old company or organization show them that you have built new skills, knowledge and that you have pursued and built a new network.

Demonstrate The New and Better You.

Starting New. Even though as a new hire the company or organization may not have known you this is your chance to look like and act like you have career healthy habits. How do you do this? Without upstaging anyone you work with remind people that you are open to taking continuing education in an area where you need to reinforce skills or improve. Let people know, often by your actions, that you try to eat healthy, have some work-life balance and do volunteer work in the community. Let people get caught up in the positive, healthy side of you if they can and don't be afraid to show it.

Returning. A company or organization who brings you back on expects that you have not really changed. Even if you haven't changed in the last few months or so wouldn't it be nice to let them see you as the friendly person they once knew at the office but also the person that decided to improve themselves during a downtime or a layoff? Think about sharing some new goals, new habits and new learning with those who supervise you, your peers and even new folks. They may like it and be attracted to you trying to improve your reading, your health, your idea generation and your relationships.

Bring An Improved Work Etiquette Daily.

Starting New and Returning. After a full examination of the renewed or new work processes, procedures, forms and details of the new or renewed job find ways to quietly demonstrate improvements in some tangible and intangible areas. Where you were once the person who took lunch to check their cell phone and stay in your space why not ask someone out for a one on one? Why not ask for a virtual lunch meeting with other remote workers who are peers? One of my clients who was recently hired told her group that she was "trying to be at least ten percent more enthusiastic and energetic on her calls and 'Zooms'" than she was previously. People loved that and mimicked her renewed enthusiasm. Let people know that you are working on things like: responding quicker to email, making yourself available for small talk, leaving your phone in your car at least three times a week, going for a walk at lunch, listening more. Just letting people know you are "trying" to be a better colleague and example will get you respect, maybe a little chiding but most people will appreciate it and want to go along.

This is not a definitive path to happiness at work but trying to improve, becoming a better colleague or co-worker regardless of the on or offline nature of your work is a worthy endeavor to share. In all of this you are not trying to show people up but present and restart the best of you.