Starting a new job is nerve-wracking. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or how many jobs you’ve had. A new workplace is daunting. But for fresh-out-of-the-gate graduates or those at the very start of their careers, anxiety can be overwhelming.
How you handle those nerves is where the challenge lies.
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Harness the nerves
Some people work better under pressure, some work harder in harsh environments, but the majority of us work better when we use nerves to motivate us, according to key research.
The skill in harnessing your nerves and turning them into motivation is figuring out what exactly you’re nervous about and leaning into it. Are you nervous about one aspect of the job? Then lean in, learn everything you can and aim to become an expert.
If you are nervous about building relationships with colleagues or presenting to stakeholders, then join the office resource or social group, volunteer to organize a mixer, or practice public speaking outside the workplace. By identifying your trigger, you are more likely to be motivated to overcome the thing that’s holding you back.
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Create relationships
Everyone was new once. Try not to let nerves hold you back from talking to your new workmates and creating relationships––not only will it make the workday go faster, but if the job is hybrid, you need to step outside your comfort zone to build friendships. Knowing where to go for help, and having the support of your team is invaluable when it comes to succeeding within a role.
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Set yourself a 100-day plan
If you want to thrive in a new role, try laying out a 100-day plan based on the priorities your manager has set for both you and the team. What results are you expected to produce and how are they best achieved?
Once you have a plan, work backwards and create weekly and monthly goals that will ensure that by month three, you have hit all your benchmarks. Not only will setting a 100 day plan give you a sense of purpose, it will help you achieve some early wins with your employer, ensuring they see you as a value-add hire.
Long term, this approach can lead to promotion, but in the short term, it will help you see the wood from the trees when you start to experience new starter overload.
Still looking? Whether you’re deep into the interviewing stage or just starting to look for your next role, The Grad Cafe Job Board needs to be your first port of call. Filled with roles across all sectors and experience levels, there are hundreds of opportunities from leading American and global companies. Below, you’ll find three roles which are perfect for ambitious workers looking to climb the career ladder.
Human Resource Manager, Stanley Black & Decker, Holliston
The Role: As Human Resource Manager with Stanley Black & Decker you will focus on developing and maintaining employee relations programs/initiatives to promote a positive working environment and culture.
The Responsibilities: You will be responsible for supporting training and development programs for employees and coordinate management training in interviewing, hiring, terminations, promotions, performance review, safety, and sexual harassment.
The Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree in a related field with a minimum of two years’ HR-related experience alongside a track record of using research methods effectively for data collection, diagnostic, and analysis is required.
Apply for the Human Resource Manager role or browse all available opportunities at Stanley Black & Decker.
Data Engineer, Airbus America, Atlanta
The Role: As a Data Engineer with Airbus America you will design and implement ELT data transformation processes, collaborate with development teams, build cloud platforms, and maintain the production system.
The Responsibilities: You will be responsible for writing code to transform real-world data into high-signal models as well as loading disparate data sets and conducting pre-processing transformation services.
The Requirements: You will have a Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or computer science, and previous work experience as a big data engineer.
Apply for the Data Engineer role or browse all available opportunities at Airbus America.
Software Engineer, Lockheed Martin, Colorado
The Role: As Software Engineer at Lockheed Martin you will be tasked with developing and integrating a variety of software components using Java and Python to support a space command and control mission.
The Responsibility: You will be empowered to sign up for tasks that interest you within the team and will demo your work to external stakeholders up to every two weeks.
The Requirements: You will have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in a related discipline, and a demonstrated proficiency in software development using Java and/or Python languages.
Apply for the Software Engineer role or browse all available opportunities at Lockheed Martin.
Explore The Grad Cafe Job Board to find your next job
Aisling O'Toole is a journalist who over the past 15 years has edited some of Ireland's leading publications, contributed regularly to TV and radio, and occasionally the odd podcast.
