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HBCU Careers Magazine
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Understand What’s Expected of You
Determine what your manager expects of you from the very beginning. Typically, your manager will
meet with you within the first few days of your employment to discuss expectations and responsibilities.
However, if this is not the case, it is up to you to ask. Confirm your understanding of your responsibilities
with your manager to make sure that you are both on the same page. Find out if there are any “priority”
projects that require your immediate attention. Be sure you know how your manager wants you to
communicate with him or her. Does he or she prefer email, conversations or voice mail? It is also
helpful for you to know how your performance will be evaluated. Having a clear understanding of what
is expected of you may help you to adapt more quickly to your new job as well as ease some of the stress
related to starting a new job.
Ask Questions
As a new employee, your manager expects that you will have some questions, so do not
be afraid to ask. If any assignments are unclear, ask for clarification. In addition, keep your
manager informed of your progress and ask for regular feedback on your performance.
Establish Good Work Habits
Establishing good work habits not only shows your employer that you are reliable and responsible, but it
helps you to be a productive employee. Alternatively, if you establish poor work habits from the start, it
may be difficult for you to change your employer’s negative perceptions of you.
The following are good work habits to establish:
• Be punctual to work and meetings
• Avoid frequent absenteeism
• Make sure your office or workspace is neat and organized
• Keep personal phone calls and outside distractions to a minimum
• Meet established deadlines
• Be a dependable employee - someone that can be counted on to get the job done
Transitioning to the Workplace
Starting a new job is exciting and rewarding,
but it can also be a little stressful because you
don’t know what to expect. Whether you are
starting your first “real” job after college or
changing jobs or careers, it’s up to you to
prove to your new employer that they made
the right decision by hiring you. Below are
tips to help you make a smooth transition to
your new job.