For many people, working for startups can be more exciting than working for established businesses, however, it comes with its own challenges. Startups are struggling businesses, but they also have great potential for growth which will ultimately be the reason for your professional growth.
Struggling businesses are more concerned about employee productivity and leveraging the employee skills and expertise for the business growth. So, the chances of your professional growth are higher, but you may also undergo a great deal of hard and smart work.
Very much like an established business, when you start a new job with a startup, it may come with a trial period. Be sure to check the contract or employee handbook. Many employers enforce trial periods of varying lengths to protect them in the event that the hire isn’t a good fit. Essentially, what this means is that if you fail, you can be fired without question or recourse.
The employee “trial period” protects employers from wrongful termination lawsuits during the set timeframe. So, if an employer has a 90-day trial period, they can terminate your employment without reason.
This is one of many reasons why it’s so important to make a good first impression at your new job.
This article will cover a few ways you can reduce your chance of failure when starting a new job with a startup.
1- Practice Punctuality
One surefire way to fail at your new job is to show up late. Regardless of what others in the company do, you must hold yourself to higher standards if you want to keep your job.
Better than showing up on time is showing up 10 to 15 minutes early to get your work desk situated and ready for the day. Showing up on time and ready to take a five-minute coffee break doesn’t really help anyone (or make you look great).
In case, if you are working remotely, logging in to your workstation on time is a must.
2- Bring Your A-game
We all have good days and bad ones, but if you want to succeed at your new job, do what you can to keep those good days flowing. This means getting enough sleep and avoiding vices like alcohol.
If you show up after a night of heavy drinking, you can bet your day isn’t going to be stellar. You’re going to feel groggy and tired, and you’re not going to have the brain cells you’ll need to impress your new boss and coworkers. There are no guarantees that every day will be a winner, but when you avoid bad habits, you’ll have a better chance at making a good impression.
3- Make Friends
This is one thing people often forget when starting a new job, but your boss isn’t just going to be looking at work performance. He or she is going to want to see that you’re a good fit for your department and the company overall. The worst thing you can do is start conflict with your coworkers.
Instead, just let things roll off your back and try to be nice to everyone. Don’t join any workplace cliques and avoid spending too much time socializing (that will inevitably work against you).
4- Follow Through on Promises
When we’re in the interview process, we might say anything to get the job. But we have to remember to follow through on all those interview promises. If you tell your interviewer that you’re punctual and diligent and don’t show it, you may fail at this job before it really begins.
Following through also includes written promises on your resume. If you write that you’re proficient in certain software, you had better be able to prove your proficiency. And if you’re just looking for a job now, it’s a good time to read up on how to build a resume that accurately reflects your skills.
Starting a new job can be nerve-wracking, especially since you may not have the legal protections a seasoned associate may have. But remember that you were chosen for a reason.
As long as you were honest about your skills, all you really have to do is show up on time and be yourself. And practice good workplace etiquette, of course. You already won them over in the interview. Keep the momentum going in the first few months of your new job.
