Re: Knocking 'em dead at a new job

[Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>]

Don Sargent <don -dot- sargent -at- template -dot- com> wrote:

>Aside from doing what they ask really fast and really well, name
five
>things you do to make a great first impression. If additional
info
>helps, my new company is a maturing startup and I'll be founding
a new
>group.

I don't know about five, but here's four to get started:

1. Take the time to introduce yourself to the subject matter
experts you'll be working with. This step is especially important
if you are a lone writer.

2. So long as your SMEs aren't too busy, get them talking about
their work. I haven't met anybody yet who didn't like talking
about their work to somebody who listens. Not only will you get
on good terms, but you'll also start to learn something what
you're working on.

3. As soon as possible, finish a small product the way that you
mean to keep on. If people like your work, they'll start to
assume that you're organized and competent (of course, you have
to sustain your starting efforts). If they don't like your work,
then you'll know early and have time to change before you've
invested a lot of effort.

4. Show your willingness to do more than your basic job. For one
thing, in a startup you'll have to do a little of everything
anyway; specialists are not appreciated. For another, you'll have
a chance to define your job position. If you're interested in
marketing, design, interfaces or usability, you can probably do
them - and keep doing them, if you like. You might even find
yourself in another line of work entirely, which is what happened
to me.


------
Bruce Byfield, Product Manager, Stormix Technologies
Vancouver, BC, Canada

"J'y suis, j'y reste" - Louis XIV of France