ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2008 > May > 23 > Entry
Avoiding internal job change blunders
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It is obvious to most of us that when we begin a new job, we need to be at the top of our game so that we make a favorable first impression. Usually, with the stress of adjusting to a new workplace and the pressure of learning new systems and people, we stay in interview mode for quite a while.
Because those first 90 days on the job are so critical in terms of establishing relationships, developing your reputation and setting the standard for your future performance, a savvy employee will put in some extra effort to prove to their employer that they made the right hiring decision.
Once you join a new company, it is a good idea to schedule time to speak directly with your manager to clarify responsibilities, understand priorities, and ask about key goals. It is also wise to invest some time speaking to your counterparts to learn more about the challenges they’ve been facing and how they’ve effectively overcome them. In essence, those first few weeks at a brand new company are a working interview.
Eventually, we loosen up and become more comfortable in our new environment. This allows us to settle into a productive routine and hopefully enjoy our new job.
But what if you transfer from one department to another, within the same company? Or what happens if you’ve been promoted and now your former counterparts report directly to you? You already know the company, the people, how to find the vending machine. Is this an easier transition? How does this change your first few days on the job?
It is a big mistake to assume that because you already know everyone, that you can coast through your first few weeks in your new role. In fact, internal transfers can be even trickier than new hire situations because everyone already has a preconceived notion of who you are and what they think you’ll be able to accomplish in your new role.
The scope of your new job will dictate what you’ll actually be doing on the job, but the premise is the same. Treat a new job or promotion within your current company the same way you’d handle a new job at a completely different workplace.
In the same way you’d set aside time in a new workplace to talk with the people with whom you’ll have interaction and to learn about hot button issues, after an internal transfer, you’ll also want to communicate with your new manager and your colleagues to make sure you each share the same expectations for success. Those first 90 days are still critical.
Have you recently changed positions within your company? How has this affected your relationships with your coworkers? Would you have done anything differently? Has it been a positive or negative experience?
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