Comments on: The Hardest Day of your Career - the First Day of a New Job! http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/ The thoughts and experiences of Merrill Dubrow Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:23:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Susan Hayes http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-155 Susan Hayes Wed, 04 Oct 2006 03:41:12 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-155 Was this a set-up? I started with MARC this week, and yes, it's been one of my best new job experiences. I'd like to suggest another requirement... positioning the new hire to the current work force. I had an uncomfortable first few months once, as the existing staff was not highly valued and the new staff was hyped as people who were going to "turn around the department" (the department built by the existing over-worked group). The barriers in place before I walked in the door made for a rough beginning, though we worked through it in time. Make sure your existing staff understands the need for the new hire, so they can be as excited as the new employee and hiring manager. Was this a set-up? I started with MARC this week, and yes, it’s been one of my best new job experiences.

I’d like to suggest another requirement… positioning the new hire to the current work force. I had an uncomfortable first few months once, as the existing staff was not highly valued and the new staff was hyped as people who were going to “turn around the department” (the department built by the existing over-worked group). The barriers in place before I walked in the door made for a rough beginning, though we worked through it in time.

Make sure your existing staff understands the need for the new hire, so they can be as excited as the new employee and hiring manager.

]]> By: Karen Dawson http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-154 Karen Dawson Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:28:05 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-154 Upon taking a new position a couple of years ago, the company went through a rigorous informational session that first day, discussing health care programs, 401K, etc. But when I got to my desk for the first time, I did not know how to use their phone system....either how to make internal calls, outside calls or long distance calls. Don't laugh..... It took me 3 days before I received a list of internal extensions for my own department. Companies need to go back to the basics of what a new employee really needs. It's the little things that cause the stress for a "newbie". Upon taking a new position a couple of years ago, the company went through a rigorous informational session that first day, discussing health care programs, 401K, etc.
But when I got to my desk for the first time, I did not know how to use
their phone system….either how to make internal calls, outside calls or
long distance calls.
Don’t laugh…..
It took me 3 days before I received a list of internal extensions for my own department.
Companies need to go back to the basics of what a new employee really needs. It’s the little things that cause the stress for a “newbie”.

]]> By: Pam Galley http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-150 Pam Galley Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:53:09 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-150 One new hire policy that works well for us is a buddy system. Each new team member is paired up with a peer for the purpose of learning how we operate as a department and an organization. It can often be confusing and or intimidating to start a job in a large organization and this system makes it easy to know who to ask questions or to point you in the right direction. Pam One new hire policy that works well for us is a buddy system. Each new team member is paired up with a peer for the purpose of learning how we operate as a department and an organization.

It can often be confusing and or intimidating to start a job in a large organization and this system makes it easy to know who to ask questions or to point you in the right direction.

Pam

]]> By: Ed Case http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-148 Ed Case Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:32:54 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-148 On my first day on the job at Bristol Myers' Market Research Department, I was told; suits, no sport jackets and no wing tipped shoes!! Boy things have changed...!! ed case On my first day on the job at Bristol Myers’ Market Research Department, I was told; suits, no sport jackets and no wing tipped shoes!! Boy things have changed…!!
ed case

]]> By: Tim Sunderland http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-131 Tim Sunderland Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:18:26 +0000 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2006/09/27/the-hardest-day-of-your-career-the-first-day-of-a-new-job/#comment-131 You might also add that if there are going to be any terminations, you should, buy all means, try to get those out of the way prior to a new employee coming into the office. I worked at an agency several years ago in which the owner, who was a nice person, brought in a new receptionist (one of the most important people in the office -- this person is your front line account manager and responsible for the first impression many people form about your business). The same day the receptionist was trying to figure out how the phone system worked, the boss terminated another employee. She knew beforehand that she was going to have to terminate that person. To do so on the same day you bring in a new employee gives that employee a rather shaky start. Being the newbie is bad enough without having to watch someone go out the door on the first day. Give these folks a break. You might also add that if there are going to be any terminations, you should, buy all means, try to get those out of the way prior to a new employee coming into the office.

I worked at an agency several years ago in which the owner, who was a nice person, brought in a new receptionist (one of the most important people in the office — this person is your front line account manager and responsible for the first impression many people form about your business).

The same day the receptionist was trying to figure out how the phone system worked, the boss terminated another employee. She knew beforehand that she was going to have to terminate that person. To do so on the same day you bring in a new employee gives that employee a rather shaky start.

Being the newbie is bad enough without having to watch someone go out the door on the first day. Give these folks a break.

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