A fab blog penned by our newest recruit Jen Crossan. It gives an insight into her first week at Keenan as a Recruitment Consultant and provides some useful tips! 

I’ve had an absolutely fantastic first week here at Keenan Recruitment, I’m delighted to be surrounded with such a supportive and encouraging team!  This has definitely made my ‘being the new guy’ experience, less overwhelming and daunting.  It’s also got me thinking… although starting a new job is an exciting opportunity to connect with interesting people and learn/build upon your current skill set, it can also make even the most confident among us feel awkward and vulnerable.  A successful start to any new job role, is key in ensuring a consistent and confident transition period, requiring an open mind and drive to show the best version of yourself. 

Here’s my ‘Survivor Guide’ for the first week in your new job!

1. Take a breath, Pat yourself on the back and allow yourself to be excited for this new opportunity.
2. Dress Code – don’t be afraid to ask what the normal dress attire is.  Showing up ‘business casual’ whilst everyone else is suited and booted- awkward!
3. Know your logistics.  Before accepting the job, its important to know whether its accessible to you.  Will there be parking available?  How long does it take you to travel from home?  What bus route is best?
4. Arrive early - Plan to arrive early during your first week. So many factors can make you late, for example traffic, problems finding parking.  First impressions are everything during this period.
5. Invest time getting to know your peers and your new working environment.  From as early as day one, understanding how your team communicates will really support you in building relationships.  Do they prefer for you to call rather than email?  Would they prefer to have that face to face contact over Teams?
6. Remember, initially you’re in a learning environment – embrace it!  We don’t always get this time to invest in our training, so try not to get too excited with practical element of your new role, be sure to take the time understanding the theory.  
7. Be patient with yourself. Remember- this is new to you!  Nobody expects you to pick everything up on first day or week.  Consider the small achievements that you’ve accomplished daily and take the pressure off yourself. Your motto this week is “one day at a time.”
8. Ask a lot of questions!  Don’t shy away from asking questions, these little nagging queries in your head are all relevant and having a clear understanding will allow you to continue building confidence within your workplace.  A Good workplace should support your hunger for knowledge.  Some common but important questions: What's the purpose of your role? What are your customers' needs and expectations?  What tasks do you need to do to fulfil those expectations? What resources and input do you require to execute on those tasks?  Who can support you with your learning?
9. Find a tour guide!  It takes time to become comfortable in your new working surroundings, but this will prove so much easier if you have a personal guide.  Initially you’ll have the fire exits pointed out to you, where to find the toilets and perhaps where to locate the kitchen,  but has anyone taken the time to show you how to use the super trendy coffee machine in the breakout area that you’ve awkwardly stared at each morning, too nervous to try in case you break it?  This is the real office tour! Where can I find the hidden stationary, what meeting rooms are the best to use and how do I book them? Is there a recommended place nearby to grab a sandwich at lunch time? This is the tour that will prove invaluable.
10. Buddy up!  The age-old buddy system continues to be a lifeline for those thrown into the ‘unknown!’   This is a fantastic opportunity to gain really great knowledge through someone who has lots of experience with both the job role and the environment you’re going to be working in.  You can shadow them, ask them the questions that you’ve been holding back on, gain a better understanding on how your role may develop and quite possibly gain a long time friend and mentor. – Grab hold of this opportunity if its offered and if its not offered, be cheeky and request a buddy- not only will it be of great support to you, but your confidence and support in role will greatly benefit the company.

Well done Jen on a superb first week. You are already a huge asset to our team!