WORKPLACE SPECIAL..... 5 WAYS TO Be a Fast Learner at Your New Job

5 WAYS TO Be a Fast Learner at Your New Job

Starting at a new workplace can be challenging and exciting. Anjali Venugopalan finds out how you can start delivering results quickly so that you’re off to a great start.

1 Choose the Right Job

Slow down first to be able to speed up later, says Gaurav Dewan, chief operating officer of Travel Food Services, a franchisee company. “You career is not like a one-day cricket match, it’s like a Test series,” he says, adding careers are not made by hopping jobs. Being hasty while picking a job could lead you to get stuck in a job where you can’t learn quickly.

2 Understand Your Role

These days, a job description may not necessarily be useful, says Renu Bohra, director (HR) at DB Schenker, a transportation and logistics company. She says it’s better to get clarity from your manager on what expectations he or she has from you. Agree on priorities, and timelines to deliver results. Then, keep them posted on your progress. Seeking continuous feedback will help you stay agile.

3 Don’t Overcommit

At the beginning of a new job, it’s not a good idea to juggle too many things, say both Bohra and Dewan. “If you overcommit and under-deliver, it creates a downward spiral,” explains Dewan. You may be coming in with the baggage of your previous organisation, and things may not work out as planned as the environment is different. For the same reason, it’s also a good idea to wait for a while before you bring in new ideas to the table, says Bohra.

4 Build Networks

It’s not just managers, but peers too that you have to build relationships with, says Bohra. We’re not talking about socialising about chai here, but helping your colleagues out professionally. At the end of the day, they are the ones who can put in a good word about you to the bosses, even if informally.

5 Learn About the Organisation

Many organisations assign peer-mentors, or “buddies” to help new employees adjust in the first few months. Bohra says that you should take your induction process seriously. If you still have questions, you can seek help from your peer-mentor. This will make sure that not too much time is wasted in learning what kind of administrative processes take place in the organisation, like say, how to get reimbursements. Dewan says that it’s also the company’s responsibility to help an employee learn.

TOI  3OCT18