Chapter News

I just landed my first job after a couple of years spent traveling the world and surviving the pandemic. I've been lucky enough to get a job in the corporate scene and start my climb up the ladder. It's 2022, and in today's world, I am beginning my brand-new job at 90% remote with the option to go to the office as I wish. I thought this was great until I was sitting at home alone, trying to figure out what I'd been hired to do for eight hours a day. From spontaneous 5 - 20-minute calls here and there with your superior, a little introduction, and on-the-job training, you are supposed to figure out what to do with yourself the entire day; now, this is a challenge. With the combination of complex projects and on-the-job training, your workday is very stop-and-go; you do what you can and what you know how to do until you reach a point where you have questions, or you don't have the training or tools to go further. This poses a challenge in the modern-day work environment because the majority of people you rely on are in meetings for the ENTIRE day. I am not exaggerating; this is probably the biggest challenge I've encountered in my first month on the job.

 

Fortunately, there is a solution - I've got some lessons learned for both the PM Newbies and their Managers. 

 

For the Newbies:

1. If you are not sure, ask.

A problem I uncovered while stepping into the real world is making mistakes because you weren't given all the information you needed to know/learn in the first place. If you don't know, ask, and if you need more information, so you know what you don't know, ask for content, also. 

2. Walk through a problem with a more senior person.

For complex processes, it helps to ask for someone to show you a complete process so you can see if you are missing a piece of the puzzle. This will limit mistakes later.

Make notes to show the person helping you that their time is well spent. 

3. Be a fast learner.

Learn how to learn at your company, and take time to document what you learn in an organized way, so it makes sense to you. 

4. Build quality into your work. 

When you are just starting out, you may be enthusiastic about getting the job done; great. But mistakes can happen that way - so do it, walk away, then review it. Check your work before someone else has to. 

5. Show Enthusiasm.

Show you like your job, and when asked, be ready to let your manager know what you like about your job. Positivity is a life skill. We, newbies, need to stay upbeat even when the work overwhelms us. 

 

For the Managers:

1. Set a 15 min checkpoint call.

Something that both new employees and employers should be wary of, employers ensure to make yourself available to new employees. Do this by setting a daily check-in meeting for 15 minutes or so. Just 15 minutes can help a new employee, such as myself, to get all the guidance we need from you, including answers to our questions. Spending 3 hours in the first 3 weeks to do this can set your new employee up for success for the coming 12 months. 

2. Make sure to onboard your team.

 There are so many details with a new job; make sure you use a simple onboarding process to get them up to speed. Give them a buddy to show them the ropes for a day if that helps leave you free for other work.

3. Invest in training.

 Even though I've completed university education and courses to learn project approaches. Everything may go great until I get feedback on the "wrong approach." Set your team up for success with transparent processes and procedures. They cannot guess the process you'd prefer. Time to make 1 A4 on approach can be used again and again with new staff. New employees may not expect 3 months of training, but we need some kind of overview of the work, business goals, and best practices to ensure we can handle the various situations of the job. 

4. Check in with new staff.

 Apart from the initial check-in calls, remember to have short conversations when time and work permit. This will help you determine how your new employee is doing and if they are struggling. You want new staff to have the confidence to do the job. Checking in with them can help to ensure they feel the confidence you have in them.

5. Be patient with newbies. 

Remember, managers, when you were just starting out, the struggles that come with beginning a new job in today's work environment. The challenge is real. Many of us are hiding behind our screens, not knowing what to do half of the time when we first begin a new job.

 

Remember, the start of a job is stressful for both parties. So, both the manager and the new employee should be free to set expectations, ask questions and have the ability to connect with the team. 

 

If you want to see an onboarding checklist, you may want to download one here (you can look online for a free downloadable or one I created here).