Integrate into a new company

Three months to prove what you are capable of
The first days in a new business are a bit like starting school. It is a new universe that opens up before you and that you need to get to know quickly. In addition to your professional skills, approved at the signing of the contract, the success you will achieve will also depend on your first days in the company, that is, on your ability to integrate. From day one, you need to be pleasant, helpful, and convincing, all while learning about the structure of your workplace. The integration period generally coincides with the trial period, and therefore lasts between 3 and 6 months, depending on the terms of the contract.

The basis for good integration
Adapting to a new job often requires compliance with some basic rules:
- Get ready: whether you come out of a period of unemployment or from another job, the ideal is to start your new job at the beginning of the week. During the weekend, you will have had time to relax, think about other things and arrive fresh and rested for the fateful day. And if you are worried and have little self-confidence, you can prepare for your arrival by studying some documents that your employer will have given you or that you have procured yourself.

- Make friends: presentations are generally made by the superior who shows the workplace, explains the organization chart and introduces colleagues. This can be done individually or during a meeting, for example. The aim is to get to know the people you will be working with. To do this, try to think team spirit. Take the initiative to have a chat, without waiting for others to come looking for you. Coffee break? Make an effort to participate, because these habits are an integral part of the unofficial operation of the company. It is a way to make yourself known and to make friends and acquaintances with your colleagues, taking an interest in their life, their hobbies ... Another rule to respect: rhythms. Try to organize your working times based on those of others (arrival, lunch break, end of the day), at least for the first few months.

- Familiarize yourself with the business mindset: since the long-term goal is to be productive, you need to know the company well and know what is expected of you. Be as communicative as possible and ask your superiors a lot of questions, especially if you find that they don't come spontaneously to ask you how things are going. What do you have to do? Do they have any advice for you? What was done before your arrival? All the information is useful to see more clearly in what you do.

- Listen to the others: right from the start, as soon as you have doubts about how to behave, do not hesitate to ask your boss what he thinks and what you could improve to give your best. Be open to criticism and take it constructively, without getting defensive. This attitude will bear fruit.

- Show that you can be independent: Don't wait for a colleague to decide to teach you what you need to know about the company. Take the initiative and ask questions about everyone's work and the objectives of the company or your department. Don't wait for every gesture to be dictated to you. Set a schedule and avoid asking for advice every five minutes to avoid disturbing colleagues and superiors. In short, learn quickly to handle it alone.

- Do not overdo it: to be at ease, there is no need to exaggerate. The ideal is to maintain a calm attitude without intervening too much at the beginning. Be careful not to take part in any conflicts that may exist between different groups and remain neutral under all circumstances. If the company is presented to you in an idealized way or if, on the contrary, strange rumors come to you, think about relativizing and judging on your own.

- Be careful: during the first few months, avoid taking too many initiatives, or you risk attracting the ire of your colleagues. An obvious organizational problem, a wrong method ... If you have ideas for making things better, keep them to yourself at first. Have a supportive role rather than an initiative one. Doing so will increase your credibility and the esteem of colleagues towards you.