What are the biggest challenges faced when starting a new job? How can these be turned into a positive learning experience?

Focus on a Few Quick Wins

During this time, try to focus on small, early wins. It's important to secure early wins because these help build momentum and establish your credibility. But make sure you know how your new company defines a win.

Build the New Skills You Need

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you start a new job, and you might worry that you won't be able to perform in the way that you're expected to.

Navigate the New Culture

Every team or business unit has a different culture. Even in the same company, the chances are that the culture of any new team that you're joining will be different from the one you just left. In addition to learning how to operate successfully in this new culture.

Learn Who's Who

When you start in a new department or organization, learning who everybody is – and what they do – can be critical to your success on the job. This is true for the team with which you'll be working directly, and also for other key players who might hold more power than their positions seem to indicate.

Tips for Starting Your New Job

• Make sure you understand from your first day why you were hired and what your goals are for the first6–12 months. This can help with your direction in the weeks to come.
• It's not weak to ask for help. If you don't know how or where to find the information you need, you'll waste your time if you search for it yourself. Ask your boss or colleagues for help when you need it.
• Many people feel overwhelmed when they start with a new company. Everything is dramatically different, which can leave you feeling stressed and chaotic. Try to identify stability zones   to help you find peace and stability in your new environment.
• Avoid making comparisons between your new company and your old company. Your new team doesn't want to hear "At my old job, we used to…" Focus on what you need to do now, not what or how you did something in the past.
• If someone on your new team does not respond well to you, don't take it personally – at least in the beginning. Remember, you might be in a role that someone else used to have, and that person might have been a friend of this team member. It will take time to establish trust. If someone on your team is being especially rude or difficult, our article Dealing with Difficult People   can teach you how to resolve things diplomatically.