On Your First Thirty Days: Onboarding & Integrating into a Company
Your first thirty days will set the standard for your tenure - make them count.
Your first thirty days in a new role comes with a mix of excitement and nervousness. This first month will set the tone for your journey ahead: it’s about making a strong first impression, learning quickly, and laying the groundwork for long-term success.
Overview of the First 30 Days
During the first month on the job, you will be onboarded into the organization, meet your colleagues, get acquainted with the company culture and processes, apply your knowledge into real-world work situations and scenarios, and establish your objectives & goals to accomplish during your tenure. Many organizations will structure this first month into well-defined training or enablement modules; some organizations will expect you to “hit the ground running” with minimal formal engagement.
Regardless of the company’s investment in a formal onboarding and training process, your first thirty days on the job should incorporate six major milestones:
Today, we will cover the first two milestones in the first thirty days: onboarding and integrating within the company.
Step One: Onboarding at the Company
Your first day – if not your first week – will feature the standard onboarding process for the organization. This is a time for paperwork, setting up any equipment required for the role, and an initial introduction to the company policies, procedures, and culture.
Many organizations will organize onboarding cohorts; you will start on the same day and time as others recently hired by the company. Your first relationships with those in the organization will often be with the people in your onboarding class.
A few tips for a successful onboarding:
Confirm the Date, Time, Place, and Materials for Onboarding
Your offer letter will typically include the information for onboarding into your new role. After you’ve accepted the offer and before your onboarding date, reach out to confirm the date, time, place, and any materials required for onboarding.
Some organizations may require in-person onboarding, even for remote roles, which may necessitate travel. Some organizations may send a laptop or other materials needed for the role ahead of the onboarding schedule and require some preparation ahead of the first day. Some organizations may onboard new employees on a Wednesday or Thursday, or may expect you at a different time than a typical work day. Confirm these details ahead of your first day to ensure you’re prepared.
Make a Positive First Impression
First impressions are important – this impression will set the tone for your engagement and interactions at work. To make a great impression with your colleagues and manager:
Be Punctual During Onboarding, Training, and Beyond
There’s a saying in business: “Early is on time, on time is late and late is unacceptable.”
Arrive on time, or a few minutes early, to showcase your reliability and respect.
Punctuality is a critical aspect of professional etiquette that significantly impacts your reputation at work, especially during the early days in a new job. Being punctual demonstrates your respect for other people's time, your commitment to the job, and your ability to manage your time efficiently.If you can’t avoid being late, let your manager or relevant colleagues know as soon as possible and provide an estimated time of arrival. Once you arrive, offer a sincere apology to those affected by your delay and strive to make up for the lost time without it impacting your work quality. Reflect on why the delay happened and take steps to prevent it in the future. Continuous lateness can harm your professional image, so it’s crucial to address the root causes promptly
Dress Appropriately for the Workplace & Culture
Dressing appropriately for your new job is more than just a matter of personal style; it's an essential component of your professional image. The way you dress can convey respect for the company culture, your role, and yourself. If you’re unsure about the dress code, it’s better to dress more formally on the first day. You can adjust your attire once you have a better sense of what others wear.
Your hiring manager, recruiter, or onboarding contact may also have more information regarding the company dress code. Here’s how to interpret common guidance for dress code:
Business Professional: This is the most formal work attire, including suits, dress shirts, conservative dresses, skirts and jackets, ties, and dress shoes.
Business Casual: A step down in formality, business casual might include slacks or khakis, dress shirts or blouses without a tie, dresses, and skirts of appropriate length.
Smart Casual: This dress code blends casual wear with a more polished look. Think of dressy tops, casual blazers, jeans without tears, and clean sneakers or casual shoes.
Casual: If the workplace embraces a casual dress code, you can wear more relaxed clothes; however, it’s still important to avoid anything too informal, like flip-flops, tank tops, or clothing with offensive prints.
Adopt a Growth Mindset
Onboarding and training are a fast crash course in the essentials of what you need to know about the company to perform your job. Absorb as much as possible during these sessions; you need to understand the company’s products, services, culture, and where your role fits within the organization.
Setting the right attitude and perspective for learning – called a growth mindset – is critical for anyone starting a new job, especially during the initial days and weeks. This approach is about being fully present, actively listening, and being open to learning from every experience and interaction.
Stay Curious: Approach each day with curiosity and an eagerness to learn. Whether it's understanding the company’s products and services in depth, the nuances of its culture, or the specifics of your role, every piece of information is valuable.
Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask questions, even if they seem basic. Seeking clarification not only helps you learn but also demonstrates your interest and engagement.
Listen Actively: Pay close attention to conversations, meetings, and even informal chats. Active listening helps you absorb details that can be critical for your success and integration into the company.
Take Notes
In the first 30 days, your company is incentivized to get you up to speed and productive as quickly as possible. Often, this results in feeling the effects of information overload. To combat this overload, and ensure you don’t miss something important, document your notes & insights as you become acquainted with the company, your role, and your colleagues.
Keep a notebook or digital document where you jot down important information, observations, and questions. Writing helps reinforce memory and will be a useful reference as you settle into your role.
Set aside time to review your notes regularly. This can help you connect the dots between different pieces of information and gain a deeper understanding of your new workplace.
Engage with Your New Environment
Your impression of your new workplace is as important as the impression you make – and you will get what you give in this new environment. The first thirty days will have opportunities to participate in onboarding activities within your cohort and within your new role. Whether it’s training sessions, meetings, or social events, take advantage to actively engage in these opportunities to learn and network with others across your team and organization.
Stay Positive
The initial weeks can be overwhelming. Try to maintain a positive attitude. Your enthusiasm for learning and integrating into the company can help you overcome early challenges. A couple reminders:
Be confident in your abilities. Remember that you were hired for a reason. Have confidence in your skills and what you bring to the team.
Stay humble as you learn. Recognize that there’s always more to learn. Being open to feedback and willing to admit what you don’t know can facilitate growth and endear you to your colleagues.
Step Two: Integrating with Your Colleagues
While your onboarding class will likely be the first group of people you engage with in a new job, you will quickly begin integrating with your direct team and manager. This may initially look like a welcome lunch or happy hour, an onboarding buddy to help you integrate with people and how work is done, or other focused integration activities.
Introduce Yourself
The first action: introduce yourself. Introducing yourself in a new job is about more than just stating your name; it’s an opportunity to showcase your value to the team.
Prepare a Brief Introduction
Prepare a brief introduction that includes your name, your role, and a little about your background or what brings you to the company. Tailor it to be relevant to the person you're speaking to, whether they're a peer, a manager, or someone from another department.
You may be asked to share this introduction with your hiring manager; often, an internal announcement is made to welcome you to the organization, which will include this brief message about you, your background, and your role.
Approach with Confidence
Approach people with a smile and open body language. A positive demeanor encourages others to be receptive and welcoming. Make eye contact as you introduce yourself, as it helps create a connection and demonstrates confidence.
Remember: each of your colleagues had a first day at the company too. It can feel intimidating to initiate an introduction – and overwhelming to remember everything in the interaction. Take a breath and do your best.
Be Mindful of Timing & Context
Look for appropriate times to introduce yourself, such as during breaks, in common areas, or at the start of meetings where introductions are customary.
If someone appears busy or is clearly heading to a meeting, plan to introduce yourself at a more convenient time.
Listen as Much as You Speak
After introducing yourself, show interest in the other person. Ask about their role and experiences at the company. Listening attentively not only helps you learn about the company and its culture but also demonstrates your interest in your colleagues’ perspectives.
Be Yourself
While it’s important to be professional, it’s also crucial to be authentic. Let your personality shine through in your introductions. Authentic interactions are the foundation of meaningful professional relationships.
Be Culturally Aware
Your team has their own culture: how they communicate, how they work and collaborate, and how they make decisions. Part of integration with the team is learning the culture of both the team and individuals on that team. Be mindful of potential cultural differences and open to learning about how the team – and every person – works together.
Follow Up in a Timely Manner
Make an effort to remember the names of those you meet. Jotting down names and a few notes after conversations can help.
Sending a brief follow-up message or email after meeting someone new can reinforce your introduction and show your enthusiasm for building professional relationships.
Create a Mental Model of the Team
Once you’ve met your colleagues, the next action is to create the map of how your team operates independently and collaboratively with one another – and how your role functions as part of the team.
Participate in Mini-Interviews
Schedule formal or informal meetings with individual team members to understand their roles, how your work intersects with theirs, and how you can support each other. Pay close attention to what others are saying. Active listening can help you catch nuances, understand team dynamics, and identify areas where you can contribute.
Ask Questions Regularly
Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you need clarification or want to delve deeper into a subject. Thoughtful questions can demonstrate your engagement and interest in understanding the project or topic fully.
Take Notes & Document Insights
Jot down key points, decisions made, and action items for which you’re responsible. Note-taking not only helps you remember the discussion but also prepares you for follow-up or action.
As you engage in these conversations, consider creating an informal organization chart. This visual will help solidify who does what work and how the team connects and collaborates for larger outcomes. Confirm your understanding of the team with your manager or with trusted colleagues.
Engage at the Human Level
Finally, the third action to integrate with your team: engage with them on a professional and personal level. The first month is a great team to not only learn about the company, it’s an ideal opportunity to connect and engage with your colleagues on a human level.
Consider informal opportunities to build relationships with your direct colleagues – sharing a few minutes over coffee, lunch, or a mid-day break is a great way to build and reinforce your relationships.
Next Week: Understanding Your Role & Setting Goals