Abridged version published on Manila Bulletin, June 21, 2009
Any new employee can expect that on their first day on the job, they will undergo an orientation to help him get to know the company and the job more. The orientation is a crucial part of work that will help set your goals and work plan for your stay with the company.
Not all orientations need to be formal. For some, especially call centers, the new employee undergoes several days of foundation training which helps put them in perspective for the job they will face. For companies who are more hands-on with the job, the employee’s first day starts out as a day with their superior, learning the ropes. Whether it’s a classroom set-up, or an informal on-the-job training type of orientation, the most important lesson you must learn is how to be able to do your job properly within the restrictions and expectations of the company.
There are times, though, when your employer is in dire need of your skills that you may be given an incomplete orientation. While employers are generally encouraged to provide a full orientation to the new employee to ensure the best, there are times when the employer is forced to teach you about their own rules, regulations and company culture “the hard way”. This calls for you to take the initiative to learn the things they did not teach you. You can ask more tenured colleagues about the rules and regulations, or you can try to catch a few minutes of your boss’ time to clarify ideas. To ensure your success in your chosen career, you will need to be brave and learn how and where to ask questions. It is better to ask and learn the truth, rather than make your own assumptions and bear the brunt of the consequences later. As early as your first day, learn how to protect yourself from making a misstep at the office by being brave enough to check out your facts.
What are the things I should learn about?
To make it easier for you to understand how the company works, you can start by understanding the things that are most relevant to you. Start out with their compensation and benefits plans, and available perks in the company. The things that you may receive, or the things that you deserve to get, are great motivations for doing a good job. Knowing what exactly you are working for can help you focus on the job on-hand. Goals make work more tolerable, and easier to handle. Working for somebody gives you a big responsibility, and big responsibilities can be very stressful. Dividing your work into bite-sized chunks, with rewards at the end, can help you handle the stress better.
Also, look for the policies and procedures of the company. The policies and procedures of the company are comparable to the company’s bible of ethics and processes. You may be a wonder kid at your job, but if you end up bypassing or violating core procedures of the company, you may end up sacked and sent back home to your parents. Just like in school, you must also follow a set of rules to follow at work, and certain procedures to get the things that you want. Following the rules and procedures is a sign of good breeding, and gives you additional credit with the supervisors.
Learn about the company’s history, vision and mission. As part of a company, you are now part and parcel of an entity that seeks to grow and take itself to new places or heights. Knowing the company’s objectives, for both short-term and long-term, can help you assess your skill level and talents to see where you may best help out with the company within your jurisdiction.
Last, but not the least, a new employee should get to know his fellow employees – particularly the managers and supervisors. Not a lot of people appreciate arrogance or disrespect. The man with a tie beside you in the elevator can be the owner of your company. The man in simple jeans, walking with his kids at the lobby may have been one of the managers on vacation dropping by. It pays to know who the bosses are, to be able to treat them with the respect they deserve. Remember: they went through the same things you have and will go through. You have to give them credit for giving their best at their job, and reaching their current position.
Other than knowing who the bosses in the company are, find the key people you need to interact with. Good impressions with these key people can help make future transactions smoother. Entering a company requires you to make many new and different relationships. Starting each relationship on a good note can go a long way to your success in that company.
Your first day at work is your chance to learn the things that you need to know to keep yourself happy and working productively inside the company. For the company, your first day at work is their chance to impress you, and show to you that they are worth more than just what they are paying you. The first day at work shows the new employee that their company is worth their loyalty, and their productivity becomes the strength and future of the business. A lot of exchange of trusts happens during this first encounter. As a recipient of that trust, we should learn how to take care of it properly by living up to the company’s expectations. Learning the basics of life inside the company is just the first step, like a baby gingerly putting its foot down on the floor. Its gives you the courage to take yourself further, and will be your support in making your dream job come true.
Any new employee can expect that on their first day on the job, they will undergo an orientation to help him get to know the company and the job more. The orientation is a crucial part of work that will help set your goals and work plan for your stay with the company.
Not all orientations need to be formal. For some, especially call centers, the new employee undergoes several days of foundation training which helps put them in perspective for the job they will face. For companies who are more hands-on with the job, the employee’s first day starts out as a day with their superior, learning the ropes. Whether it’s a classroom set-up, or an informal on-the-job training type of orientation, the most important lesson you must learn is how to be able to do your job properly within the restrictions and expectations of the company.
There are times, though, when your employer is in dire need of your skills that you may be given an incomplete orientation. While employers are generally encouraged to provide a full orientation to the new employee to ensure the best, there are times when the employer is forced to teach you about their own rules, regulations and company culture “the hard way”. This calls for you to take the initiative to learn the things they did not teach you. You can ask more tenured colleagues about the rules and regulations, or you can try to catch a few minutes of your boss’ time to clarify ideas. To ensure your success in your chosen career, you will need to be brave and learn how and where to ask questions. It is better to ask and learn the truth, rather than make your own assumptions and bear the brunt of the consequences later. As early as your first day, learn how to protect yourself from making a misstep at the office by being brave enough to check out your facts.
What are the things I should learn about?
To make it easier for you to understand how the company works, you can start by understanding the things that are most relevant to you. Start out with their compensation and benefits plans, and available perks in the company. The things that you may receive, or the things that you deserve to get, are great motivations for doing a good job. Knowing what exactly you are working for can help you focus on the job on-hand. Goals make work more tolerable, and easier to handle. Working for somebody gives you a big responsibility, and big responsibilities can be very stressful. Dividing your work into bite-sized chunks, with rewards at the end, can help you handle the stress better.
Also, look for the policies and procedures of the company. The policies and procedures of the company are comparable to the company’s bible of ethics and processes. You may be a wonder kid at your job, but if you end up bypassing or violating core procedures of the company, you may end up sacked and sent back home to your parents. Just like in school, you must also follow a set of rules to follow at work, and certain procedures to get the things that you want. Following the rules and procedures is a sign of good breeding, and gives you additional credit with the supervisors.
Learn about the company’s history, vision and mission. As part of a company, you are now part and parcel of an entity that seeks to grow and take itself to new places or heights. Knowing the company’s objectives, for both short-term and long-term, can help you assess your skill level and talents to see where you may best help out with the company within your jurisdiction.
Last, but not the least, a new employee should get to know his fellow employees – particularly the managers and supervisors. Not a lot of people appreciate arrogance or disrespect. The man with a tie beside you in the elevator can be the owner of your company. The man in simple jeans, walking with his kids at the lobby may have been one of the managers on vacation dropping by. It pays to know who the bosses are, to be able to treat them with the respect they deserve. Remember: they went through the same things you have and will go through. You have to give them credit for giving their best at their job, and reaching their current position.
Other than knowing who the bosses in the company are, find the key people you need to interact with. Good impressions with these key people can help make future transactions smoother. Entering a company requires you to make many new and different relationships. Starting each relationship on a good note can go a long way to your success in that company.
Your first day at work is your chance to learn the things that you need to know to keep yourself happy and working productively inside the company. For the company, your first day at work is their chance to impress you, and show to you that they are worth more than just what they are paying you. The first day at work shows the new employee that their company is worth their loyalty, and their productivity becomes the strength and future of the business. A lot of exchange of trusts happens during this first encounter. As a recipient of that trust, we should learn how to take care of it properly by living up to the company’s expectations. Learning the basics of life inside the company is just the first step, like a baby gingerly putting its foot down on the floor. Its gives you the courage to take yourself further, and will be your support in making your dream job come true.
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