With young people the most affected by a rise in unemployment due to the pandemic, you might be nervous about making a good first impression in order to feel secure in your new role.

 

Additionally, your first day might be the first time that you’ve met your new employer in person. It’s important to remember that many people feel this way, so you’re not alone, and being nervous doesn’t mean that the job isn’t the right fit for you. In fact, being nervous can show that you care about how it goes.

 

Being the new person in the company might make you feel like you need to keep your head down. But building relationships and social connections can be key to both success and your enjoyment of your new role, especially if you work remotely or in a hybrid working environment.

 

Whilst putting yourself out there might feel a little out of your comfort zone, there are ways to do it without walking in and boldly shaking everyone’s hand. Here, we take a look at three ways to build connections that suit all sorts of personality types.

Ask questions

People generally love to talk about their roles and their own personal interests. After all, the average person will spend 35% of their waking hours at work (over a 50 year period), so you spend a huge amount of time with your co-workers. If you don’t know very much about them, it can make for a boring workplace. Everyone has a right to privacy, but as long as you aren’t pushy, you’ll generally find that people open up to you if you take an interest.

 

Instead of turning up right on time for meetings, try getting there a few minutes early. Not only does this show good time management, but any social chat is likely to happen before all the participants have joined. Being early means that you’ll be included in the conversation, and then you can ask questions too. For example, if someone asks how everyone is doing, someone might say “I’m good, I went to a yoga class last night and it was really nice”. Now, you have an opportunity to ask what type of yoga they do, and how long they have been doing it for.

 

Be sincere and don’t fake an interest in something that you don’t genuinely like. There’s no requirement for you to like the same things as your colleagues, but appreciate their interests and try to remember them for the next conversation that you have with that person.

 

Push your routine

Maybe in the past, you’ve spent your lunch hour sitting alone with a book, or put your headphones in and listened to a podcast. Whilst there will be times that you want to do this, the first few weeks can be a good time to try and push that aside and try and sit with colleagues instead. Whilst you might feel awkward asking someone to get lunch together, hopefully they’ll say yes, and then you'll be well on the way to getting to know that person.

 

Initially, in a friendly company, hopefully at least some of your new team should ask if you want to join them, so make sure to take them up on the offer. Conversations over lunch are much more natural, as the removal of the feeling that you should be working instead of chatting is taken away. Do be careful to avoid gossip though, as you don’t want to get a negative reputation.

 

Attend socials

If your company does social events, try your best to attend them. It can be difficult if you work remotely and live far away from the office, but even if you can’t attend the spontaneous after work drinks, then do try and get to the pre-arranged events. These are beneficial for getting to know your co-workers in a neutral environment, and they often include an activity, which can be helpful for people who don’t love to have intense one-on-one conversations.

 

Remember, whilst it can be exciting that the company is paying for you to have a night out, keep your professional reputation intact and avoid drinking too much or buying expensive items. Take your cues from others around you and err on the side of caution and you’re sure to enjoy your night, rather than waking up with a sense of regret.