How to Succeed with a New Boss

Tips for Impressing Your New Employer

In these difficult times, finding and keeping a job can be a difficult task. A big part of finding employment is impressing your new employer, but being around your new boss can make you nervous.

Here are some questions you should ask to make the transition easier and keep your career on track.

Get to Know Your New Boss

1. What Is Important to Them? Many employees make the mistake of focusing their first discussion with a new boss on their own job and career issues. While that is important to discuss, you should set the right tone by asking the manager what they find most important. What results are they interested in?
2. How Can You Help Them? What does your boss want from you? Ask them what previous employees have done that they found helpful.
3. What Problems Can You Help Them Solve? What keeps them up at night? You want to be seen as a trusted resource that can help them to be successful.
4. How Do They Like to Get And Give Information? Some managers prefer quick e-mails and others like to have long meetings. It's important to understand how your manager communicates and adapt your style. For example, if you work for a manager that dislikes details and just wants to talk about the big picture, that's what you should focus on.
5. Do They Know Your Accomplishments? Give your new boss a results summary with your accomplishments highlighted. Think of this as an internal resume and let your new boss know what you've done for the company. Discuss your strengths and be prepared to talk about how you plan to capitalize on them to support the new direction of the group. In future meetings, talk about projects you want to work on and other development opportunities.

Getting a new boss can be a stressful time in your career. It's important to realize that it's also a stressful time for your boss. Let them know you want to help them be successful in their new role and they will want you to be successful too.