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New Job Adjustment Period: How Long Is It And Tips To Adjust To New Job  

Everyone has to undergo a new job adjustment period, whether they change employers or enter an entirely new field. However, the onboarding program, environmental factors, and leadership aptitude can affect the adjustment period drastically.

Here’s some information about new job adjustment periods and what you can do to ensure that you adjust to your new career smoothly:

What Is a New Job Adjustment Period?

A new job adjustment period is the time it takes for a new worker to become comfortable in a position. The term “comfortable” refers to job tasks and duties and relates to interpersonal relations with coworkers and management staff.

A decent level of trust must be present for a new employee to transition well. The individual needs to feel confident that team members and leadership staff share the common goal of helping the new worker succeed.

Learning new tasks and procedures is stressful enough, but negative workplace dynamics or unhelpful leadership can further hinder a worker’s adjustment.

Read More: “I Missed First Day of Work!” What to Do to Get a Second Chance

How Long Does It Take a New Worker to Adjust?

New jobs generally have a “probationary” period of 30 to 90 days. During that time, the employer and employee evaluate each other to see if they match. One might consider that as an official new job adjustment period.

The majority of experts say that the employee adjustment period ranges from three to six months. However, after about two months, some workers find themselves comfortable, and others don’t feel connected and secure until the first year.

New routines and habits take about 66 days, according to health psychologists. By that time, a workplace schedule, environment, and job task can become “automatic” and feel natural to a worker.

Statistics on Early New-Hire Turnover

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calculated turnover numbers and found that 4.5 million Americans had quit their jobs recently.

Recent studies performed by BambooHR concluded that 33 percent of workers quit their jobs within the first six months. Over 16 percent of those workers left within the first week, and a little over 17 percent of those workers left within the first month. Therefore, it seems very common for workers to throw in the towel during the adjustment period.

Poor training, negative workplace dynamics, neglect, and underappreciation are the most common reasons for such quick departures.

Only a few workers reported leaving because they were overwhelmed by the actual job tasks or duties. Thus, the type of experience a worker has on a new job plays a significant role in how long that person takes to adjust and whether the worker is willing to wait and see if a situation improves.

Older workers are more likely to bail out faster because they’ve become familiar with gauging whether a workplace fits more quickly. Extremely young workers and employees with no rental or familial obligations may also exit soon.

Read More: Applying For Another Job While On Probation: How To Do It Professionally

10 Ways to Adjust Better in a New Job

Your new job adjustment period should fall within the normal range provided you have a healthy situation there. However, these are some tips you can use to adjust to your new gig more quickly.

1. Be Patient With Yourself

The most vital advice we can offer is to avoid being hard on yourself during this period. Remember that all new workers have to deal with an adjustment period. You will also have an adjustment period, and you will make a healthy number of mistakes in the process.

Don’t beat yourself up when such mistakes happen. Instead, remind yourself of the errors to avoid them the next time. Move past it and get back on your A-game immediately.

2. Reward Yourself for Small Accomplishments

Every day you make it to a new job is a new accomplishment. Don’t be too shy to reward yourself for that. You can even play a little game and reward yourself for each milestone. Do the same when you master a new task or enter a new stage of your development.

3. Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to inquire if you don’t fully comprehend something. A reliable and trustworthy mentor or manager won’t have a problem explaining the process correctly.

Remember that there are no silly or stupid questions when you first start a new job. Your previous experience doesn’t apply because every new workplace has different procedures and practices.

Read More: 14 Tips To Stop Feeling Nervous About Starting A New Job Tomorrow

4. Utilize Training Tools

Most places of employment offer training tools and course materials to their workers. As such, you can go to a trusted member of management and ask them where you can find such material.

Take a bit of time out of your workday to study those elements, as they may help you better understand your position’s mechanics. You may even have the option to take a quiz after each module to ensure that you grasp the material firmly.

5. Ask Management for Feedback and Resources

Managerial persons are there to answer your questions and ensure that you have access to resources to help you excel at your job. Therefore, you can seek assistance from one of those members if you need more learning materials.

You can also ask for constructive feedback to see how you’re coming along in the role. Be prepared to hear about the areas where you’re excelling and the areas that need some improvement. A respectable mentor or manager will use a tactful and non-malicious approach to convey those points.

6. Shadow a More Senior Member

It might be helpful for you to shadow a more senior staff member. You can see that person in action and absorb the steps necessary for success.

Your workplace will have a senior member willing to assist you if you’re fortunate. This individual will be confident in his or her abilities and won’t feel threatened if you grasp the teachings and excel in the job.

You can learn a great deal from someone who has been in the position for a long time and has proven records of success. However, that person also needs to be a trustworthy individual who intends to help you rather than hinder your progress.

7. Focus on the Enjoyable Aspects

All jobs come with enjoyable elements. Focusing on the “good parts” of your career can help you transition a little more comfortably, and it may even accelerate your process.

For example, you can try to throw yourself into the production work or the customer relations aspect of the job and tune out the undesirable elements.

This strategy is not always effective in all workplaces, however. At some point, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of the job and decide whether staying there is beneficial to you and the company.

8. Discuss Management’s Expectations

Many workers have difficulty adjusting because they don’t understand the employer’s expectations. The employer may want team members to participate in different roles aside from their assigned roles. They may expect their new workers to be more vocal. Management members may wish for workers to volunteer to work overtime and such.

In that case, it’s helpful to ask a manager to indicate what they expect from you in your role. Communication is necessary to gain a complete understanding of what you need to do to succeed there. Honorable managers will be straight and direct with you about how they want you to perform.

9. Learn the Workplace’s Culture

“Workplace culture” is a term that often refers to the entire company’s personality. It includes values, beliefs, traditions, missions, goals, and the like. You’ll need to understand the culture to decide whether you can adapt or adjust to it. Sometimes, workplace cultures don’t match a new employee’s values and beliefs.

The best practice is to study the culture before you work there. Employee reviews can give you a healthy amount of information about whether a company is a good match for you.

Former and current employees often provide details about their training, coworker and management interactions, and how they were treated overall while they were there.

You can take a chance and work for an employer with poor reviews, but you may become a low “new job adjustment period” statistic if you find that the negative reviews are accurate.

10. Fuel up and Get Enough Rest

Taking care of your wellness is one of the most helpful things you can do to ensure that you adjust to the job well. Ensure that you eat a nutritious meal, drink plenty of water, and get enough rest. It’s challenging to learn new concepts and processes when you’re exhausted.

It may take several weeks to adjust to an entirely new sleep schedule. You can help yourself with melatonin, calming music, quiet time, or a good dose of exercise before you settle into bed. Those things will keep you fresh every day to be your best self at work.

Now you know some helpful tips that can speed up the new job adjustment period in your new role. It’s wise to give yourself at least two to three months for a new job adjustment period in a healthy workplace. Unhealthy workplaces have entirely different guidelines.

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About Author

Founder of Eggcellentwork.com. With over 20 years of experience in HR and various roles in corporate world, Jenny shares tips and advice to help professionals advance in their careers. Her blog is a go-to resource for anyone looking to improve their skills, land their dream job, or make a career change.

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