New at Work?

We’ve all experienced first-day jitters at a new job: the anxiety of a new boss, getting to know your coworkers and finding your ‘place’ can be difficult. Experts say the length of time it takes to adjust varies from person to person and depends on the job, but the first few weeks are vital.

Elana Drell-Szyfer, former SVP of Global Marketing for Estée Lauder, made a big career change when she became CEO of Ahava North America in January. What did she do to prepare for her new position?

 “I’ve used this time to evaluate the things that are important to me,” she tells PINK. “I thought about some of the things I wanted to change about my previous work situation and why, and I tried to create ways to make those changes in my new job.”

Drell-Szyfer, mother of three young daughters, adds that she also took time to evaluate her Life/Work balance, eliminate needless activities and habits, and did “a great deal of networking.”

Feel like you don’t fit in? Your new peers may warm up quicker if you show you’re open to collaboration, follow through on all tasks and make an effort to strike up conversations often.

CNN says coworkers may inaccurately judge you based on age, gender or ethnicity and advises you embrace these differences by offering a unique perspective and showcasing all you bring to the table.

Bonus PINK Link: Find out how to deal with the office gossip girl.

By Aleta Watson

“Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it.
Autograph your work with excellence.” Unknown