New hire first weeks check-in
For someone a few weeks into a new role: what is clear so far, and what is still fuzzy.
Worth a look
- What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it?Elizabeth Cox, TED-EdFeeling like they hired the wrong person? Most people feel it at some point. Five animated minutes on why, and what helps. (opens in a new tab)
- How you can use impostor syndrome to your benefitMike Cannon-Brookes, TEDAtlassian's co-founder on feeling out of his depth for most of his career, and using that feeling as a cue to learn instead of hide. (opens in a new tab)
- How to Succeed in Your New JobThe Way We Work, TEDCareer expert Gorick Ng on the unwritten rules of the first weeks, and how to tell whether the place is a fit for you too. (opens in a new tab)
- Starting a New Job? Here's a 90-Day Plan from HarvardJeff SuThe book 'The First 90 Days' boiled down: what to learn first, and the point where you start giving back more than you take in. (opens in a new tab)
- 3 Ways to Better Connect with Your CoworkersThe Way We Work, TEDThree small habits for going from new face to someone people actually know, in the office or remote. (opens in a new tab)
The conviction read: new starters tend to agree with everything in their first weeks. A slow, hedged agree on 'know what is expected of me' is the question nobody has asked yet, and a friendly hallway chat rarely draws it out.
What's in the template
- I know what is expected of me in this role. puck
- My setup let me get going quickly. puck
- I know who to ask when I get stuck. puck
- The team has made me feel welcome. puck
- The role matches what I was told when I joined. puck
- I can see what doing well here looks like. puck
Questions about this template
When should I send this?
A few weeks in, once the welcome is over and the real work has started. Sending it again a month or so later shows whether the fuzzy parts got clearer.
Who should send it, the manager or a buddy?
Whoever can fix what it finds. A manager can act on gaps in expectations and setup; a buddy or team lead is a good sender when several people joined at once and the onboarding plan is shared.