Tomorrow is my first day on my new position as Director of Architecture at a mid-sized (25) suburban Philly firm. I've already met with most of the senior staff, but I'll be 'introduced' to the other staff at 8:30 in the morning. It's a great spot for me but there is a small amount of trepidation

*I'll be the new guy but occupy the #3 position in the firm.....lots of expectations by the founder of the firm, who wants to 'slow down' and turn over the reins.
*It's in the suburbs 20 miles west of the gritty urban Philly where I've spent most of my professional career. Will I be able to function without the culture of the city and proximity of shops/ restaurants/ entertainment?
*The role includes mentoring the younger architects and design staff. Will I be able to fulfill this goal? This relates to LB's post about 'leadership' of the next generation....very important!
*Marketing for some new project types is part of the equation. How many of my 'vintage' contacts are still around

This will play out for me through 2006....more to follow! I'm almost as excited as Rob is about his new Civic Si

How about you? Do you have sharp recollections of 'your first day on the job'? It could be your very first fulltime job; your best postion; or even your most recent one

 

Jerry,

Good luck. Don't be concerned, you come through with flying colors.

Does this mean you are no longer going to do consulting work?

 

In my past life as a Senior Manager in a retail environment with twenty-eight people in a seasonal business. That is one of the things that I used to stress. Explain to people that you are new on the job. Because it is something that everyone can relate too. All adults can relate to the uncertainty of being new at a job. It is the common denominator, that can diffuse tension when things do not go as smoothly as they should. I think that regardless of the envirnoment, every one can relate to what it is like being new to a job.

 

I started a new, executive level position last September at a big (but not first-tier) research university.

First day? Well, it was the institutional orientation, learning about the benefits packages and on and on. But the things I remember doing that worked (and continue to) are:

Listen a lot. Learn the organizational culture before shooting off your mouth. When people want an opinion, tread carefully and maintain the highest possible moral ground. At the same time, don't hesitate to chime in with technical knowledge that others seem to need help with (although do it gently).

And don't forget the new-guy honeymoon period. Milk it for all it's worth. The introductory clause "I'm still pretty new around here, so I probably don't know the whole story, but..." goes a long, long way.

Pehaps most important, watch out for people who try to use you to advance their hidden agendas. Precisely for the reason of that honeymoon clause above, you'll hear half stories that sound good but represent only a small part of the real deal. Don't make alliances until you are certain that you know the whole story.

Most of all, quit worrying about it and have some fun. You'll meet people and promptly forget their names -- for example, in the first big meeting I was in, everyone went around the table and introduced themselves. When they were finished, the first thing I said was "Is there going to be a test?" Everyone resonated with that, and any fallout from my forgetting someone's name was prevented. All sorts of things like this come up, and keeping things light helps a lot. HPH

 

Best advice of all. And it works everytime.

 

You're a smart and personable fellow Jerry. I'm sure you'll do fine. You may even find time to work in a photography class.

 

That's a rough one. I started my first job (after the Navy) on May 15, 1967 as a electronic tester (technician). I'm sure I looked like a little kid to many, although there were many other ex-military techs there as well. I remember the first unit I was testing had some mis-wires and I took it to a "Rework Girl" and asked her to repair it. She looked at me and with no smile said "Go to hell".
She then repaired it and I went my way. That's just how she greeted all the newbies. Just her style. I was with that company 27 years before being finally caught in a RIF in '94. Started my second job on July 18, 1994 and about the only thing I remember is how much YOUNGER everyone else looked!!! This job will end for me sometime in early H2 due to a buyout of our company.

 

Bad Raymo, bad!

Jer, if you can just keep that VSA part at bay, I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck. You always land on your feet, no matter how big the pile. You know we're all rooting for ya and can't wait to hear how your first day went.

That learning the office culture first part is really good advice. And beware of folks who want to warn you about other folks.

 

This was the advice someone gave me on my last day at one job, which was the day before my first day on a new job.

"Today, you know everything about your job, tomorrow, you know nothing".

First days are always tough, but I haven't had a first day on the job in a longggggggg time.

Good luck, Jerry.

 

It was 1971 and I was assigned to the Norfolk Naval Base. The person I was replacing, had brought in every person in the unit from about 9 job locations within a 50 mile radius. There were about 80 troopers all lined up in neat rows in a massive warehouse, as if for an inspection. It occurred to me that they were all sizing me up, and I was shorter than average.

Don't worry. Act interested in what each person is doing; tell each of them that you'd appreciate their comments to help you get up to speed; and "don't bring me problems without also recommending solutions." These three approaches have helped me immeasurably in my dozen and a half job changes.