When in the working environment, it is always an idea to develop and progress to a higher status in the workforce. This guide illustrates ways in which you can develop your career from settling into a new job to heightening your success.

Settling into new employment.

Further are five simple ways to make full use of your newly gained job opportunity. They highlight various areas that instruct an employee on how to become knowledgeable and prepared

Prior to the commencement of your new employment invest time in further increasing your awareness of the organisation you have become a part of. This exercise will undoubtedly heighten your sense of confidence and should give you a positive frame of mind. Remember, the more you have independently learned, the less you will have to be taught by another.

Examples of information resources are as follows:

• Refer to the research you embarked upon prior to the interview
• Remember any knowledge gained at the interview itself. Perhaps there were questions you asked, take note of their answers!
• Read over any further familiarisation that your new employer may have provided on accepting the employment offer i.e. literature on products, services, systems etc.
• Any experience that you or your existing employer can provide.
• Take a look at your self-assessment profile, or if you do not have one, create one! Analyse what you could differently this time round. Think of ways in which you could further improve your career and maximise your potential.
• Talk with people who have experience in the field you are starting in.

Before your first day of employment, consider what form of image the employer may feel to be appropriate to your job and try to stick to it.

Take into account your:

• Appearance
• Clothing
• Life-style
• Attitudes
• Communication

Soon after you have started working in the organisation, try to gain knowledge on the following areas:

• he structure of the organization
• Identify job titles and statuses of fellow employees, formally and informally
• Establish the relationship of your job to others
• Understand forms of communication available, i.e. personnel department etc
• Identify the preferred communication networks within the organization, whether they are written, oral, via email or committees etc
• Understand the procedures of rules that operate in regards to health and welfare or discrimination etc
• Learn about the history of the organization

It is most likely that you will already have been given a job description, if not, request one from your employer. Read it carefully and try to clarify to yourself the boundaries of your job.

Finding out the following information will guide you further:

• What are the limits to your authority?
• What do the main objectives of your job consist of?
• Are there any expectations of your superiors and colleagues? If yes, what are they?
• What kind of feedback do you expect to receive from superiors?
• What are the limits of your responsibilities? I.e. personnel, products, services etc
• Does your job play a part in a quality system in use?
• What are the resources you will have?
• What are your main priorities in this job?
• How much time should be spent on each priority?
• What are the main problematic areas in this job?
• Is your job unique in any way? If yes, in what ways?

• Listen to the information given to you
• Be modest, nobody likes a know-it-all
• Perform to the best of your ability, even on day one!
• Be tactful and diplomatic.

• Constantly reminding your present peers or employer of how you used to do things in your previous job.
• Criticising your present or previous employer or colleagues, this portrays you as a gossip; that is not the outlook you want to project.
• Encouraging negative storied about your predecessor
• Joining a sometimes-inappropriate clique!
• Heighten your chances of success from day one Always remember that in some cases, first impressions are last impressions. The impact you make in the first days or even weeks of your arrival can have a lasting effect. Thus, you must strive to create a wholly positive first impression.

To do so, follow the few simple steps provided:

• Before you start, make sure you carry out the steps given in the previous section. These are vital to create a positive first impression. They suggest an interested and enthusiastic employee.
• Concentrate not only on your work, but also on building good relationships with your peers. These are the people who can help you to establish yourself and make you aware of problems. Remember, they have the experience that you may need to learn from.
• Always try to make relationships a two-way process. Do not just take support but give it also. Your early interaction may be what helps you progress on the career ladder at a later date.
• On an early date, clarify your targets with your employer so that you know what is expected on you. Focus on achieving these targets to avoid wasting time and dealing with frustration.
• If you have any concerns in regards to your job, speak with your employer. Dealing with problems at an early stage is often easier than at a later date when a real crisis occurs.
• Use an appropriate time management technique to allow you to plan your tasks and objectives on a daily or weekly basis and stick to it. Remember, failing to plan, is planning to fail!