Tips for successful transition into new job

I thought you might be interested in some thoughts on keys to successfully transitioning into a new job, put together by Lynne Sarikas, director of MBA career services at the College of Business Administration at Northeastern University:

First 90 days is critical - whether or not there is a formal assessment of not, most employers are evaluating the fit in the first 90 days, you want to work to convince them that they made the right choice, best way to do that is to demonstrate your added value, do they job they hired you to do and do it well.

Especially in those first 90 days, listen much more than you talk. Don't try to impress them with what you know. Listen to as many people as you can to learn the organization, the culture and the work you need to perform. Ask questions but do your homework first so you are asking good questions and demonstrating your desire to learn. Don't immediately try to change things - take time to understand why it is the way it is before recommending improvements.

Accelerate your learning in the first 90 days by expanding your focus. Instead of just focusing on what you need to do, observe how to do it, who makes decisions, how are decisions made, what and who are they key resources to get the information you need, what does it take to be successful in this organization, etc.

Make a good first impression. Dress professionally and appropriately for the environment. Be punctual. Be courteous. Be eager to learn. Ask questions.

Build a collaborative network of people who can help you and do not make any enemies in the organization. Be a team player. Jump in to help others on the team - you will learn something, you will gain a reputation as a team player and you are building a network of people who could help you one day.

Don't stop networking. Just because you found this great job, don't stop your networking efforts. Networking is a life-long adventure that helps you keep growing. Your network can help you with visibility in the broader industry and the appropriate professional organizations. Also be sure to add your new job to your resume so it is up to date.