Starting a new job is always an exciting and interesting time for everyone.
As such, I happened to come across one of my notebooks from when I began a previous job of mine. It contained the daily notes from the first three months worth of work — one-on-one notes, meetings with my boss, the first sales meeting I attended as an observer before I took them over, key client meetings and interactions, and more.
The start of a new job is full of highs and lows, good days and some head-scratcher days. You're always sold a bill of goods by the hiring manager, but then you start and you realize that it's either everything they sold it as or it's a hot pile of garbage and you're responsible for cleaning it all up.
When you get to reflect on these initial weeks and months, you have so much perspective that you otherwise didn't have when you started.
I've been fortunate to work for some really great companies, a few terrible leaders, and some great brands that actually had a name in the marketplace. I don't have any of those career horror stories like some have, but I of course have moments and interactions that stand out.
But when you reflect back on the initial start of a role, it can often tell you a lot about how the future might play out.
One of the first things that stands out in those early days is the learning curve. Every company has its own unique systems, processes, and unspoken rules. Figuring out who does what, where resources are kept, and how to navigate internal channels can be overwhelming. You're essentially trying to fit into a machine that's already running at full speed, and that can feel both exciting and exhausting.
Even in my notes, it's obvious there were acronyms and phrases I knew nothing about. Starting a new job is like learning a new language at first.
Then there's the "getting-to-know-the-team" phase. This is where you start identifying personalities, understanding group dynamics, and discovering who you can rely on. Building these relationships early is key, and they can make or break your experience in the role. Some colleagues are quick to offer help, eager to onboard you, while others may seem distant or hesitant. Navigating these dynamics can feel a bit like high school all over again, where finding your tribe takes time and patience.
I always love it when I start a new job and the person they passed up is either reporting to me or a peer of mine. That makes things a tad awkward at first, and can certainly cause a rift among teams and people.
Alongside the relationship-building and learning curve is the inevitable reality check. For most people, there comes a moment when you start to notice the gaps between what was promised in the interview process and what the role actually entails. Maybe the work is more demanding than expected, or the tools you're working with aren't quite as sophisticated as advertised.
My favorite part is when you learn the culture isn't what they portrayed. You were told it was a family-like atmosphere except nobody told you that family was dysfunctional as fuck.
As you begin to settle into a routine, you'll also start to see your contributions make an impact, and that's where the highs come in. The first time you solve a problem, streamline a process, or bring a fresh perspective to the table, you start to feel a sense of ownership and pride. These small wins are incredibly validating, especially during the early stages when you're still finding your footing.
I can see the turning point in my notebook too when I started to introduce new ideas and challenge the team on working norms. It's a great feeling when it happens, but you have to be prepared that it takes time. Some people get frustrated long before that though — they feel like they're not making an impact.
It takes time when you start a new role to fit in, feel like you're adding value, and to start winning.
The initial lows and frustrations begin to ease up as you gain confidence in your abilities and become more comfortable with the team. The steep learning curve flattens, and the sense of being an outsider fades. You start building a rhythm, and with that comes the excitement of working toward bigger goals. This gradual shift from feeling like the "new person" to becoming an integral part of the team is one of the most rewarding aspects of starting a new job. It's a journey, but as the dust settles, you begin to realize the possibilities that lie ahead.
I encourage you to take notes in your first few weeks so you can reflect as well. It's amazing what you can learn and how you can calm your own nerves as you journal the initial part of your new journey.