Your first day in a new job is bound to be difficult as you try to get to grips with what is expected of you. A new Canadian study has found that new recruits are often left feeling dazed and confused, due to a lack of help to integrate them happily into their new working environment.
As a result, many new employees are disappointed that the job doesn’t live up to their expectations and they don’t develop the self-confidence and effectiveness they could. This may lead them to start looking for another job rather than finding ways to fit in and become effective, said Jamie Gruman, a professor of organisational behaviour at the University of Guelph. He conducted the study with Alan Saks, professor of organisational behaviour and human resources at the University of Toronto.
Managers should make a much greater effort to introduce new employees to their organisation, inviting them to lunch and to join staff social events, Prof. Gruman recommends.
The two researchers examined of dozens of existing studies on organisational socialisation, as well as surveys of employees’ experiences in starting in new jobs.
“We found most companies still have the idea that handing new recruit a booklet of policies and giving them a walk around the office is sufficient to get them on board. Most don’t try to encourage interaction with the existing staff or use social networking to help develop a feeling of camaraderie,” Prof. Gruman said.
“Today, when most employees work in office jobs, where the work requires more thought and individual creativity, they need to be provided with resources that lead to engagement and experimentation.”
“Relationships with co-workers are integral for rapid adjustment of new employees because co-workers can act as role models, provide encouragement and positive feedback and help new recruits cope with work demands and stress,” Prof. Gruman said.
“Currently most companies will only give someone limited functions when they first start a job, to cut down on potential mistakes. This idea is short-sighted. What they should be doing is allowing new employees to take on a wide range of tasks so they can learn from their mistakes, broaden their skills and build confidence and resilience.”
Supervisors should play a pivotal role in encouragement, the researchers found. “A leader should be checking in regularly, at first at least once a week, then every month, for the first six months,” Prof. Gruman recommended.
That is particularly important for young workers with little or no previous experience, he added. They will gain confidence that they are supported and then will take more initiative and will feel more confident, which will lead them to be more successful.
