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We
usually write about how to get interviewed and then
get hired for the best job. But this week's tip is
about what to do after that happens. Finding a job
is largely a sales process - finding prospects
(finding jobs), qualifying those prospects further
(interviewing) and closing the sale (getting hired).
Good salespeople know the sales process does not end
when you close the deal. It continues after that as
post-sale customer management. In the career world,
this translates into post-hire "boss management."
When salespeople make a sale, they know if they're
going to get maximum value out of the account in
terms of future business with the customer and
getting referred to other customers, they need to
have a strong post-close relationship. If you can
adopt this kind of attitude with managing your boss,
you'll be well equipped to move ahead in your
career.
Learn the Culture
The
first thing you need to do after you get hired is
keep your eyes open. If you want to know how things
are done around your new office, just look around.
Your first few weeks should involve a lot of
listening, learning, and just plain watching. Find a
trusted co-worker who you can ask questions of about
how things work "around here." Once you understand
how things work and what is expected of you, you'll
have a much better time producing it.
Manage Expectations
Salespeople often talk about managing expectations.
This is a very important concept to keep in mind
when developing the relationship with your boss. If
you don't know what your boss expects of you, you're
on track to a bad relationship with them. Find out
what your boss's short-term and longer term
expectations are for you, and confirm it with them
by expressing it in your own words. This is the best
way to make sure you're on the same page.
When it comes to operational issues of getting tasks
done, it's always better to under-promise and
over-deliver than it is to over-promise and
under-deliver. Even if you're sure you can get
Project X done by Wednesday, give yourself some
breathing room by telling your boss it will be done
Thursday or Friday. If you get it done before
Thursday or Friday, your boss will be pleasantly
surprised and will think of you as a professional
who budgets the time necessary to get the work done.
However, if you promise Wednesday and get it done
Thursday, your boss will think of you as careless,
unprofessional, and disrespectful.
Make Your Boss Feel
Comfortable
You
want your boss to think of you as their kind of
person. One way to do this that many people overlook
is to adjust your personal style slightly so it's
not incongruent with theirs. If your boss wears
suits to work but you wear khakis, he or she may be
less likely to think you're their kind of person. It
works the other way around too: if your boss wears
khakis to work but you wear a suit, he or she will
also think you're not on the same wavelength.
Get
a feel for how your boss likes to interact with
people. Does he or she want "just the facts, ma'am"
or does your boss prefer to joke around a little?
Whatever their preference, if you don't adopt your
style somewhat to theirs, it could cost you. If you
don't, you can still do well in your position, but
when a promotion becomes available or it's time to
consider raising your salary, your boss is going to
consider whether you're their kind of person or not.
Anticipate Your Boss's
Needs
Most people know this but it doesn't hurt to mention
it anyway. Bosses don't like to have to ask for
things, and they hate having to ask twice. If they
have to ask twice, they see it as a sign of
disrespect that you didn't comply with their first
request. On the other hand, if you produce what they
want before they ask for it, it will go a long way
to making them feel respected and valued.
A
great way to make a real impression on your boss and
the company in general is to take the initiative at
all times. Don't wait to be asked to do something
you know you could or should do. This doesn't mean
you should take on other people's projects or try to
show people up. What you can do however, is notice
when small tasks need to be done and go ahead and do
them. Remember, climbing to the top starts with
little things at the bottom. Show your boss that
you're not afraid to work hard and they'll look to
you for success from then on!
Scott Brown is the author of the Job Search Handbook
(http://www.JobSearchHandbook.com).
As editor of the HireSites.com weekly newsletter on
job searching, Scott has written many articles on
the subject. He wrote the Job Search Handbook to
provide job seekers with a complete yet easy to use
guide to finding a job effectively.
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