Adapting to new culture a concern when returning to work
--Office Team

Starting a new job can feel a lot like the first day of school. You just want to fit in. In a recent survey by Office Team, 32 percent of workers interviewed said acclimating to a different corporate culture and colleagues would pose the greatest challenge when returning the workforce after an absence, voluntary or involuntary, of more than six months. Twenty three percent of respondents cited learning new technologies or protocols as their top concern. For 22 percent adjusting their routines or schedules was the major concern.

OfficeTeam, a staffing services that places skilled administrative professionals from 325 offices around the world, developed the survey. It was done by an independent research team that conducted telephone interviews with 464 workers 18 or older employed in an office environment.

“Beginning a new job can be both exciting and stressful, particularly for those who have been out of work for some time,” said OfficeTeam Executive Director Robert Hosking in a news release about the survey. “New hires can make a smoother transition by learning as much as possible about the firm’s culture before their first day,” he said, adding, “Networking actively with current or former employees and asking questions during the interview about the work environment, dress code and other polices are effective ways to gather this information.”

OfficeTeam offers five tips for professionals easing their way back into the workplace:

1. Refresh your skills. Determine which software applications and other tools you will be using. To prime yourself for upcoming projects, consider taking courses on any computer programs you haven’t used in a while or that are unfamiliar to you.

2. Get back in the swing. Adjust your daily schedule week before your start date so you’re comfortable with the routine.

3. Make the rounds. Once you’ve started a new job, immediately introduce yourself to those you will be working with. To break the ice, invite colleagues to join you for lunch or coffee.

4. Watch and learn. Pay attention to how others act in the workplace. Many unwritten rules, such as how and when people communicate, can only be learned through observation.

5. Play it cool. While it takes time to gain trust in a new environment, try to project confidence in everything you do. If you believe in yourself, others will too.