How to make a good impression?

[Greenspace81]

Just that really. I start next week. I was fortunate to get a fixed-term, three-year Assistant Professorship in the social sciences at a Russell Group uni.

Having been previously based at home as researcher, I am just wondering how I can bond with colleagues and do well in the department.

Congratulations!
Don't try to make an impression. Just smile and look people in the eye, try to remember their name and their subject. General chat, don't be too personal or eager. Be open to socialising in a group if offered but to don't get in deep with one person until you are sure you want to. It's your time to observe dynamics and personalities, there will be politics at play. Let things evolve naturally over time, to suit your personality and inclinations.
All the best OP, what a wonderful opportunity.

congrats! Just find out who works in related areas and see if they’re up for a chat over coffee. Maybe give a seminar soon so people get to hear about your interests. Obviously muck in with teaching or service roles - good citizenship is often really important. And jump at any chance to go for socials - leaving dos etc.

Get to know the professional and support staff for your programme and research teams. They'll probably reach out, I always did, but pop in anyway.

In terms of bonding, you might be disappointed - a lot of people don't come into the office any more. Go to seminars and attend hybrid meetings in person and you'll meet some.

Do a professional job with your teaching - not just a good job pedagogically, but be organised, reply to emails, get your marks out on time etc. Department heads love the kind of teachers they can hand a module to and then instantly forget about it because it's in capable hands.

Just do your job.

Try to be a team player and try to be collaborative rather than competitive.

Go to staff meetings. Learn quickly what all the acronyms are and which are applicable to you. Don’t be the one always asking “What does that mean?”

Be pleasant to colleagues. If there are Friday night drinks or lunch or whatever, go. You don’t have to stay long.

If there are research seminars, go.

Read your department administrator’s emails and try to respond in a timely way. If you don’t understand something, don’t spam the whole department.

Enjoy your teaching. Bright young people learning in front of you is one of life’s great pleasures!

Do a professional job with your teaching - not just a good job pedagogically, but be organised, reply to emails, get your marks out on time etc.

Indeed!

Font be like a Teaching Fellow I had to supervise who could never get marking done on time. Once, we had to employ someone else to do their marking. A nightmare colleague although a lovely person. But a nightmare to work with.

Thanks so much for the replies, they are really useful.

Now for some more specific and superficial questions:

Will it raise eyebrows if I wore eye catching trainers (yellow, multicoloured) whilst dressed otherwise smartly?

Is it ok to heat food, possibly the type perceived as “smelly”, in the department kitchen and then eat it in my room (thus possibly creating a smell in the department’s hallways)? 😂

Neither of those would raise the slightest eyebrow in my department anyway!

When I started in academia half a lifetime ago I asked about the dress code and someone told me it was "dressed"

Seriously, have you ever been in a university department? Honestly these things are not an issue. There are far more important things to worry about!