STARTING A NEW JOB OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT

Sharp Consultancy Supports Yorkshire Children’s Charity’s annual schools day out at Cannon Hall Farm.

On Wednesday, September 11th, half of our staff from both the Sheffield and Leeds offices volunteered to support Yorkshire Children’s Charity. Each year, this charity provides hundreds of children from schools across Yorkshire with the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic day out at Cannon Hall Farm, and they rely on many volunteers to make this happen.This year, over 600 children who might otherwise not be able to enjoy a day trip like this, partook in what turned out to be a brilliant day. Yorkshire Children’s Charity is very close to our hearts here at Sharp Consultancy as not only is it focused on the county we call home, the charity helps children who for a variety of reasons, are in a position of disadvantage. For many of these children, this was their first visit to a farm and possibly their first experience outside their local area. Apart from a brief deluge for 10 minutes at the start of the day and a light shower at the end the day, the rain mostly stayed away. The team from Sharp Consultancy, along with many other volunteers helped get the packed lunches delivered, drinks poured, biscuits distributed and joined the teachers showing the children around the farm – from reptile houses to the pig pens (much holding of noses and retching noises!), tractor rides to see Llama’s and reindeer, sheep racing, ferret racing, meerkats and mongoose. It was a day like no other.No matter how old you are, if you think back really hard, you can probably just about remember the first time you saw a snake or huge monitor lizard in a zoo; or goggled at the size of a shire horse and the amazement you felt – multiply this by 608 children and you might just have some idea how special the day was. And don’t children ask the best questions. I have never been asked so many questions I didn’t know the answer to – ‘Why do snakes put their heads in that position?’ Why are some leaf cutter ants carrying leaves to their nest and some carrying them away from their nest?’ Why is that cow laying down and that one stood up?’ my answer – ‘it must be tired’ – there response ‘what’s it been doing to get tired?’ Or my favourite ‘What can run faster, a meerkat or a ferret?’. The team here at Sharp Consultancy had an amazing day (I think if enjoyment could be measured, we’d have given the children a run for their money!) It was a humbling and enlightening experience and on occasions, very emotional (my word, you really appreciate just exactly how lucky you are and have been). Most of all though it was a delight to meet 608 amazing young people, dozens of teachers and assistants (you really are heroes, and nothing will make me change my mind on that) and all our fellow volunteers and charity employees Annabel and Abbie – join the teachers in our collective hero worship. A day to remember…forever.

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The first day in any new job is bound to bring a mixture of excitement and nervousness. However, just like a job interview, good preparation can be the key to ensure that your first days and weeks in a new role can be a success.

Be prepared

Make sure that you are familiar with the office dress code and that you know what your route to work will be and how long it will take you. Familiarise yourself with public transport
timetables or check out the best parking options. Depending on your new location, you may experience busier travel times at peak periods so leave yourself plenty of time to allow for any delays. The nerves may be jangling but try to get a good night sleep and leave plenty of time in the morning to get ready and eat breakfast.

First week challenges

From information overload to understanding the team dynamics, there will be a number of challenges that you are likely to face during your first few days. Try to learn the names of your new colleagues by making a note about who they are and what they do to jog your memory and whilst it’s good to reach out and start to build relationships, make sure that you avoid getting caught up in an office clique and participating in workplace gossip.

Share your experience

It’s natural that you will want to prove yourself early on however take some time to observe your new team members and understand what each of their roles involve and how your skills and experience could compliment what others can offer. Understandably you are likely to have some questions as you get up to speed with new procedures so don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice.

Build a relationship with your line manager

During your first week, make sure that you sit down with your line manager and establish lines of communication and reporting. Understand what is expected from you and agree some initial goals so you can both monitor your progress during the early weeks and months. If you are to be managing other members of the team, look to understand the dynamics and motivation within the department so you can set the right tone.

Probation period

It is likely that you will have a probation period when starting a new job and this is very useful to enable both employers and employees to establish if the role is right for all parties. It is important to not be worried about a probation period – seek ongoing feedback about your performance and if there are any areas which you should look to address and use the time positively to build relationships with your team and colleagues in other departments. If you do have any concerns, raise these as early as possible through the correct channels.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond CONTACT UStoday to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.