Do’s and Don’ts for Job Seekers in the Nonprofit World – Onboarding
So you said yes, they said yes, and you’re ready to embark on your new adventure with a new team, new priorities, and new tools. How do you make sure you maximize your opportunities for success?
Do:
1. Understand the priorities of your team, your leader. Find out early what the job description is, and what is actually expected. What are the task and value priorities that drive your team?
2. Find out the sources of power in the organization. Who has positional power, who has personal power, who has the power of the purse?
3. Introduce yourself to everyone. Be friendly, open and inquisitive in a gentle way. You want to acknowledge your colleagues and use the “new eyes” opportunity to understand the culture.
4. Find ways to get to know everyone. Lunch, coffee, walk, whatever. Connect outside of formal meetings.
5. Get the jump on the technology tools. They can be your friend or your confusion. Ask for tutorials, a tour of the technology and a mentor/guide if you know you need to acclimate.
Don’t:
1. Wait for people to tell you where things are or how things work. Ask questions. Look at past work plans and documents that relate to your work.
2. Jump to conclusions when something feels/seems confusing. There’s more to the story.
3. Work in a vacuum. Let people know what you are doing, share your accomplishments, ask for input.
4. Challenge the rules before you know why they are there. Your ideas may be very helpful, but without knowing that context you may just look arrogant, foolish, or inexperienced.
5. Under communicate. Check in early and often, especially when assignments are broad. Tell people what’s being accomplished and what’s ahead. Lots of opportunities for mid-course correction if you share what’s happening!
