Beginning a job at a new workplace can be daunting, especially as a graduate. It can take time to get used to not only the duties and obligations associated with the role, but also the company culture and the new coworkers. One way to ease this transition period is for graduates to introduce themselves to their new coworkers. It is important to conduct introductions as it is the first step in building a positive workplace relationship. This article will provide advice for graduates on how to effectively introduce themselves to their new coworkers.
When Do I Introduce Myself?
Introductions may occur during the orientation stage of graduate recruitment. Orientation is an excellent opportunity for graduates to meet their new coworkers and introduce themselves. These introductions are made easier as a manager, supervisor, or human resources representative typically accompanies the graduate to guide them to know who the right people to talk to are.
Alternatively, if the company does not have an employee orientation phase, graduates may be required to conduct introductions independently. It is also typical for a manager or supervisor to introduce a new team member to the team, either through an email or a verbal introduction. While these methods of introduction are effective in relaying who a graduate is to their new coworkers, a more comprehensive approach to introductions is required to build an effective working relationship.
What Should I Say When Introducing Myself?
Whether your introduction is formal or informal will depend on the workplace environment. It may be difficult to ascertain whether a workplace is relaxed or not at the beginning of your employment when introductions are conducted. If you are unsure, it is best to maintain a level of formality to ensure that your introduction is not inappropriate. A formal introduction will include only relevant information to the workplace, such as your name and position. An informal introduction may also add additional information, such as any hobbies or interests you may have. If multiple new hires are making introductions, you can choose to follow the lead of the others by only sharing information that they do. Your initial introduction should also be concise. This is because introductions may occur before a team meeting or at the beginning of a work day, so efficiency will be appreciated by the coworkers and your manager. There will be additional opportunities for your new coworkers to learn more about you. This does not mean that you should be curt or dismissive of any efforts by your co-workers to get to know you. You can share more information if they choose to ask follow up questions.
How Can I Build Positive Connections with my New Coworkers?
Beyond simple introductions, it is important for graduates to get to know their new coworkers in a professional capacity to build a positive connection. Here are some tips to consider and steps to follow when beginning a new role and introducing yourself to new co-workers:
Ask Questions
You may find that after introducing yourself to new coworkers, the conversation may die down before it has even begun. In order to instigate a conversation, you should ask your new coworkers questions. These questions can be centred around finding out more about your co-workers, the workplace, and the job. You may ask your new co-workers how long they have worked at the company, the dynamic of the team, or the duties associated with the position. Asking questions can help you form a connection with your new coworkers and get to know them better. This is important as you will naturally be seeing a lot of them!
Company Hierarchy
Companies will typically have a hierarchy that organises the level of command and responsibilities of employees. Information about a company’s hierarchy can usually be found online on their website or communicated to you during the interview or induction stages of recruitment, typically using an organisational chart. By having an idea of the company’s hierarchy, you can place yourself within it and identify the people that you are going to be working with and who you will be reporting to. After completing this identification, you can introduce yourself to these individuals as the first step in forming a productive and positive working partnership.
Follow Up
The best way to maintain any kind of relationship, whether it be a friendship or a professional partnership with coworkers, is to follow up. As a grad, you’ll be meeting lots of new people, as well your colleagues around you - so it’s important to be proactive about reaching out! You can follow up using different means -send an email to your new coworkers expressing your delight at having met them and excitement at the prospect of working together. Or perhaps invite them to a coffee catch up or after-work drinks! A follow up email opens up communication between you and your new coworkers, allowing you to get to know them better and build a positive working relationship. You may also choose to use any other communication channels that the workplace provides to conduct your follow up.