Starting a new journalism job is exciting. It can be a fresh start and a great opportunity to reconnect with your network, says technology reporter Paresh Dave.
Dave recently joined WIRED as a senior writer after covering technology at Reuters. We asked for his advice on creating a smooth transition when arriving at a new publication.
Here are his tips:
“Use the opportunity to improve relationships with sources old and new. Announcing your new role to your contacts is a good excuse to get in touch and hear their ideas. We all tend to want to help people just a little bit more during job transitions, so take advantage of the support offered. People who you thought would never speak to you may be more open in the first couple of months as you’re settling in.
You also want to make sure people know where to find you and how to reach you. And on the reverse, it’s a good chance to make sure your contact info about others is up to date.
Set a healthy foundation. Talk to your new manager as soon as possible about your ambitions for the rest of the year and the next couple of years. They’ll remember from the interviews why you’re excited about joining the team, but it doesn’t hurt to reiterate and go deeper about what you want to get out of your new publication. Plus, strategies and desires could have changed since the first interview.
Then, go into the basics. What hours do they keep? What hours would you like to keep? How often should you be in touch? Who should you call with a late-night scoop? Who else should you be introducing yourself to on the team? What does effective collaboration look like with the teammates?
Soak it in. I love when new employers give you time and space to connect with other teams — not just your immediate colleagues — right after you start. Having people you can turn to for guidance across the publication is a wonderful way to set yourself up for success. More importantly, it helps provide an instant sense of belonging.
In the hybrid work world, you can foster that experience by joining a variety of Slack channels (you don’t need to keep the notifications), joining (at least initially) any of the publication’s standing meetings that they will allow you sit in on, and participating in activities, events, or get togethers that may be happening. Become as much part of the squad as personal circumstances allow and start feeling confident about how the place operates and how you can excel.”
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Tags: Career