How to Overcome Your Inexperience at a New Job - The Muse

How to Overcome Your Inexperience at a New Job - The MuseHow to Overcome Your Inexperience at a New Job There are few things more exciting than landing the job of your dreams. There are also few things more heart-stopping than leaving at the end of your first day only to realize youre probably the least experienced person on your team. First things first, lets do a quick pep talk Youre there because youre qualified- dont feel any differently. Now that we got that out of the way, here are some things you can do to catch on quickly and make everyone forget that youre the newbie.1. Always Run Ahead of ScheduleWhen it comes to proving yourself in the workplace, you cant go wrong with always being early (unless you show up, say, two hours before a meeting). By giving yourself this extra time, youre not only making a very physical statement- Im here, Im present, and Im ready to work- but youre also giving yourself time to play catch up if needed. So, get to the office 10 minutes earlier th an youre asked to in the morning and stay 10 minutes later in the evening to get a head start on the next day. Whenever possible, show up to meetings in advance and give yourself some time to grab a seat and look over any related notes before everyone else gets there. Along those preparation lines, turn in projects a day (or more) before theyre due- so that if changes are needed, you wont be behind schedule, and your boss wont look at you like youve very possibly ruined everything. 2. Ask the Right Questions at the Right TimeYour manager and your teammates know that you wont walk in on day one knowing everything. So, youre not only encouraged to ask questions, but in most offices, its expected that you will. (Fun fact Doing this is an easy way to sound smarter) Following up on anything youre unsure about shows that youre proactive and doing your best to get the hang of things as fast as possible. By inquiring throughout your training (and not after a week of trying to figure out how to access the shared drive), youll not only learn faster and waste less time, but youll show that youre actively listening. Pro tip Why? is a completely valid question (assuming you dont ask it like, But whyyyyyyy?). Unlike other ones that pertain to your specific duties, this one shows youre curious about the entire process, and not just your part of it. Right off the bat, it proves youre a big picture thinker whos interested in putting all the pieces together. 3. Ask the Right Person (or Search Engine)When looking for certain answers, try doing the research yourself first (Google is your best friend)- that way, youll be able to approach your manager with as much information as possible. Now, obviously, you shouldnt be searching the internet high and low for in-office processes, but rather industry acronyms youre unfamiliar with that keep getting brought up or people or companies mentioned as major influencers. And if its time to ask a live human being for assistance, think about whom youre approaching Is your boss the right person to be asking about your healthcare policy, or would HR be a better choice? Does your co-worker really understand the project youre designing for another department, or should you contact someone on that team? In general, you always want to gauge your audience. If the person looks busy, keep your questions short- or choose another peer whos more available. And, if he or she seems excited to talk to you, take advantage of the opportunity to ask even more4. Make Yourself as Available as Possible (in the Beginning)Lets start this one with a disclaimer You do not need to be answering emails at 2 AM. Burning out before your first months over is a schwimmbad idea. But rather, you should expect to work longer hours in your first few weeks as you get the swing of things. Not only will you pick up more information, but youll show from the start that youre reliable (even if youre not the most experienced). If a project sounds up your alley ( and you can do it without learning an entirely new skill), volunteer to take it on or help out. Overall, be willing to volunteer for a number of responsibilities, no matter how big or small. For example, be the one to step up and take on more of the busy work- your boss will notice your work ethic and flexibility, and youll be soon be considered for more significant assignments.5. Dont Remind People of Your Age or InexperienceAfter all your hard work, youd hate to ruin your reputation with a joke about how funny it is that you still dont know how to use Excel, or that youre not used to waking up before noon, or how back when you started in marketing, the Twitter founder wasnt even born yet. ansicht comments rarely make people laugh, but rather remind them that you are in fact the new amateur in town.So, rather than kidding around about what you dont know, talk with others about what you recently learned about your job, your company, or even about the industry. Rather than highlight ing areas youre not strong in, this instead points out how eager you are to soak up knowledge. Even when youre speaking more casually, make sure theyre highlighting your competencies, rather than the areas in which youre still lacking.Just because youre inexperienced doesnt mean you cant make a good impression. Use these tips to prove right away that youre a key member of the team- and someone with a lot of potential to do really big and impressive things.How do you overcome your inexperience in a new job? Let me know on Twitter