So you just landed a new job…Congratulations! Starting a new job can be overwhelming but I’m here to share how you can crush your first 30 days as a forensic scientist!
Believe it or not, I’m actually a naturally shy person so starting a new job feels very intimidating. Tack on the nerves of finding the place on time, not spilling my coffee all over my new outfit, and trying to remember everyone’s name that you meet is just A LOT!
Throughout my career, I have had multiple opportunities to be “the new kid” and it has taught me a lot about how to make the most out of my new position.
Below are a few of my favorite pieces of advice to crush your first 30 days as a forensic scientist.
Establish expectations with your boss
Knowing early on how high the bar has been set is helpful for you and your boss. Having this conversation lets your boss know that 1. You are fully aware of their expectations and 2. Shows your boss you are willing to put in the work to be an asset to your new laboratory. Ensure there is a clear understanding of your agency’s expectations by discussing any standards or questions you may have. As a newbie, you are on a probationary period. Rise to the occasion to show higher ups you were worth hiring!
Set goals for yourself
Now that you have established laboratory expectations, it’s time to set some short and long term goals for how you will meet those expectations. It’s a proven fact that most successful people create achievable goals for themselves. Setting goals promotes positive behavior, channels your focus and helps propel you from one task to another.
It’s important to have drive and motivation during the first few months of your new gig (and throughout your career) to avoid feeling stuck or doing the bare minimum. To make the most out of your new role, try creating daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals.
If you are looking for more help on how to create sustainable goals for yourself, check out my top tricks and tips for how I establish my goals.
Get familiar with your agencies training program
Another reason why establishing goals early on is important, is so that they will keep you on track with successfully completing your agency’s training program. You don’t wanna be a trainee forever, do you? Take the time to get familiar with your training outline…how long it should take, any required reading materials or exercises, practical examinations, etc.
My advice to you…don’t just breeze through the training portion to be out of training. It has been established for a reason. Take the time to understand and practice key concepts. Ask questions. Make mistakes. This is your time to grow as a forensic scientist. Develop good working practices in order to be an effective forensic scientist. Side note….it’s going to take you more than 30 days 🙂
Eat a piece of humble pie
Chances are this is your first big kid job post-graduation. Let me give you a rude awakening…real life is not like being in school. Yes, you learned a lot about the field you are now currently in (hopefully) but you don’t know everything! There is nothing your coworkers will hate more if you come in with a big ego acting like you know everything. The real world is where you gain your experience to supplement all your book smarts. Absorb everything your peers have to teach you…it’s valuable stuff!
Now that you have a few pieces of advice to make your first 30 days as a forensic scientist successful, go crush it at your new job!
Remember, if you are feeling any kind of doubt, this agency would never have hired you if they didn’t feel you were the most qualified for the job! They trust you so trust yourself and the skills you bring to the table!
