Tell me about being the new person

[ThesecondLEM]

So I'm starting a new job in a few weeks. Leaving a place that I have worked for donkey's years. Where I am a "go to" person. Partly dictated by my role and partly due years of experience in THAT place. Im not in a senior role though Get on with everyone, apart from one person, and we have a real laugh and lots of banter. It's a high stress environment, there have been many changes and it's time to move on.

I am now going to be a new person in an established team. I'm going to have to learn new computer system, new processes and SOPs, new equipment.

What will they expect from me? Will I need to be super professional from day one? Should I try to establish friendships or keep my head down and do my job.

I've not really experienced being the new person within an established team.

Any tips and advice gratefully received.

Following as I’m 8 weeks in to being the new person and finding it hard (sorry!).

I think I’ve got to expect feeling uncomfortable for 6 months. And the only things they expect in your first few days is to be friendly.

Just us then. Its kind of reassuring to read your post that people don't just step in and fell into place.

Im just about to hand in my notice after working for the same employer for 20 years, different roles within that time but in my current role for 6 years. I to am the 'go to' person, im sooooo excited to be leaving but already the doubts are creeping in!

I’ve changed jobs in May so fairly recently… also was very much to go to person in my old role. Spent ages training people up and answering queries.

But guess what it’s sooooo nice not to have people asking you questions all the time. I literally felt like I was having a lovely break from it. Also in a weird way I’m a bit more junior but at the same time paid more so at the moment it suits me very well.

I’m terms of fitting it I made a lot of effort and you might find that people don’t chat to you first (we work from home so it might be different in person). So I had to make a lot of effort. I would message a small conversation to various people every now and again. Obviously be mindful of work load and don’t want to annoy people!

I also joined everything … a book club, a walking club, a wine tasting session. Basically a lot more effort that I would have if I saw them everyday at the office.

But also enjoy! It’s exciting to change jobs and enjoy the peace for as long as it may last…

My advice would be to prepare yourself that no one knows who you are or what you can do. After so many years at another employer, I moved companies and it was a shock to the system to have no gravitas and no reputation. I knew it wouldn't be the same but it was still a shock to be back at the beginning.

I'd concentrate on learning all you can but be polite and friendly to everyone. You'll need to learn who is who and what the politics and culture is of this new place so observe all you can.

I started a new job 13months ago after far too many years in my old one. Same organisation though a very different role and not comparable to my last job. I too was the go to person, knew everything inside out and was well respected by my colleagues in all depts except one arsehole who no one likes
I had to learn whole knew systems, sops, risk assessments the works and I'm fairly introverted and hate feeling like a burden/inconvenience. I kept my head down for the first wee while especially in training. Once I was "live" I came out my shell a bit more. My colleagues are lovely but definitely colleagues and not friends.

It was hard being the new person and not having all the answers for things that cropped up. I think it's only now I'm starting to come out my shell a bit more now I'm comfortable with what I'm doing

@Blueblue37 I have to say, I'm looking forward to being able to focus on the task in hand rather than having to attend to several queries and urgent requests. I joke that I want to change my name sometimes.

I am at the same time worried I'll be all fingers and thumbs and hesitant to start with and will need to ask lots of questions and drive people mad. I'm worried they will think I'm shite and have high expectations 😱