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Careers & workplace advice from Hays

Starting a new job is one of the most stressful and exciting experiences you can go through. Settling into your new team is one of the many challenges you will face, but becoming a valued team member is key to your job satisfaction, workplace happiness and ultimately, your success – here’s how:

1. Find a mentor

A mentor is more of a guide than a teacher

My top tip for integrating into a new team is to find a mentor who can help you feel settled quickly. A mentor is more of a guide than a teacher. Make use of their knowledge, and in return offer whatever wisdom you may have acquired from your previous role.

Building the relationship with your mentor will help you become accustomed to, and understand the company culture and personality. Their expertise will be invaluable as you integrate into the team.

 

2. Get involved

Getting involved is a great way to endear your colleagues to you by showing that you’re a team player. Attend as many social events as possible. Work social events are the perfect way to get away from your desk and meet some of the biggest personalities in your new office. Whether that be the office five-a-side team, Friday drinks or breakfast club.

Be careful not to take on too much, however. It’s tempting to take on as much as possible at the beginning and prove to everyone how competent you are, but don’t take on a workload in the first week that you don’t feel you’ll be able to maintain.

3. Build relationships

Finding something in common with your colleagues is a good way to build bonds

You will quickly work out which of your colleagues you will be working most closely with. So, spend extra time getting to know them better. Ask them lots of questions to get to know them; most people enjoy talking about themselves. Finding something in common with each of your colleagues is a good way to build individual bonds.

Being approachable is also a fundamental part of building strong relationships. More people will come and introduce themselves if you wear a smile.

4. Embrace change

It’s very easy when starting a new job to criticise practices that you aren’t used to. No one wants to hear about how much better your old job was. 

The easiest way to earn respect is to be good at your job

So try to bring solutions instead of criticism. Adapt yourself to your new team’s way of doing things instead of expecting them to adjust to yours. This advice applies from small things such as booking a meeting room up to embracing the wider ethos of the company.

5. What can you add?

All teams have strengths and weaknesses. Being able to show you are adding value to the team is vital to integrating swiftly, so take time to work out what your colleagues are great at and then where your strengths could be best applied.

The easiest way to earn your colleagues respect is always to be good at your job.

A final thought

Starting a new job is a chance to meet new people and develop your skillset. By embracing the company culture from day one and seizing every opportunity to become a bigger ambassador for your new employer the transition will be painless.

Starting a new job soon? Read our tips and advice to ensure you get off to a strong start. 

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Most people find a new job either through a recruitment service like Hays or via a direct application to an employer. When using a recruitment service, all the initial employer introductions and negotiations are left to your recruiter. In this case a cover letter is almost always unnecessary; it is the responsibility of your recruiter to write a letter of recommendation for you. You are advised, in this instance, to write your recruitment professional a short email outlining your recent achievements and current ambitions, for which some of the below may still be relevant.

The second route is to contact prospective employers directly, without the use of a recruiter. For this method of job searching your cover letter is the first point of contact with your prospective employer. It’s your opportunity to make a great first impression, whilst showcasing relevant skills and experience.

It’s a crucial part of any direct job application, so try to avoid making one of these common mistakes.

1. Droning on

83 per cent of employers report that the average length of time they spend reading a cover letter is under a minute. So, keep it short and snappy.

Furthermore, don’t try and be too quirky, and avoid clichés. Such things are distractions for employers who have a primary interest in extracting concrete facts.

Structure your cover letter in a way that helps the employer find what they are looking for, quickly. For instance, the first thing they will be interested in is where you worked last, so make sure that you address this in your first paragraph.

In essence, use your cover letter to tell the employer exactly what they want to know in a short and concise way.

2. Cutting corners

It’s not hard to tell when someone has edited a few words of a cover letter that they use for bulk applications. This tactic implies to the employer that you haven’t fully read the job description and do not have a real interest in the role. Put yourself in the employer’s shoes – if you put this little effort into your job application, how much effort are you realistically going to put in when you are in the role?

Instead, use your cover letter to highlight your genuine interest and understanding of the role and provide a clear insight into how you would make a positive contribution and add value.

3. Overlooking the finer points

It’s the little touches that will help you stand out from other candidates. For instance, if you can, find out the recipient’s name, and address the letter to them personally. This may not always be possible, but going the extra mile here will demonstrate your genuine interest in the position.

I also recommend other personal touches such as signing off your cover letter with your signature and confirming your availability towards the end of the letter – despite this being of vital information to the employer, it is often something that candidates neglect to mention.

Lastly, send your cover letter in PDF format. Don’t risk sending over a type of document that the employer may struggle to open. You want your cover letter to be a pleasure to read, not a chore.

A final thought

A well-crafted, concise and personal cover letter can make all the difference when applying for a new position. CVs often lack personality and context, so use the cover letter as your opportunity to add depth and dimension to the sort of candidate that you are.

Updating your CV? Our CV writing tips and advice will help you get started 

 

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