7 Steps To Being a Successful Newbie From Day 1

So you were an expert in your old field. But now you’ve quit. Finished the race. Tied the bow on the dapper ribbon. You’re starting out as the new kid on the block again because you got the right stuff (Get it? No, just me. Ok. Moving on….) and you’ve sorta forgotten how to be the new kid.

You want to be seen as experienced (you are a professional, after all) but your experience has been in an entirely different industry. You want to be seen as driven, but you also don’t want to drive over people and don’t want to be driven over yourself.

You want to be respected. You want to learn.

And you want to be successful.

Put simply, you don’t want to be the newbie forever.

Here are 7 steps to being a successful newbie from Day 1:

Even if it’s a decision you were excited to make, it can be hard to remove yourself from a job you felt successful in and throw yourself completely into your new role.

It can feel like taking a step back.

But it’s not.

And it’s absolutely necessary.

As a novice in the field, you will have to fully invest yourself in your new role, learn the ropes, and embrace brand-new knowledge and skills. You will have to become comfortable with being wrong and work from a state of growth mindset where your goal is to improve and become better as a person, not just a professional.

Which means you have to….

Remember how long it took you to learn the ropes in your last field? It will be just like that again, but harder. Remember you are a newbie (nothing embarrassing about that), so dig in. Soak it up.

Absorb all the information you possibly can. Learn and adapt to your new routine. Step out of your comfort zone. Network. Attend skills-based workshops and classes. Learn from the experiences (and mistakes) of both your new and seasoned peers.

And ask a lot of questions!

Remember, everyone you are working with was once right here in your shoes, so don’t be intimidated, but don’t exalt yourself too early either. Be both driven and teachable. Curious and confident.

Be prepared to go that extra mile.

And to be patient.

Be patient with yourself, your peers, and the learning process. It will take some time. And that’s a good thing.

Every successful woman has clear goals and a plan to get there—so make sure you do too! Make some short-term and long-term goals as soon as you join your new workplace. Formulate clear steps to help you get there.

As you achieve each small step, you will get a sense of accomplishment, competency, and confidence that will make reaching your next step even easier!

You will also have clear insight into where you are in the process and can hold yourself accountable for transitioning from novice to expert.

However, be sure to set achievable milestones or this plan will work against you. Remember, it's not always what you can do in a single day that sets up your future. It’s the little things you patiently do every day for a long time that end up really counting. 

It’s all about the SMART goals, y’all!

Competitors in a new field can feel a bit intimidating, but they’re actually a blessing in disguise.

They will push you to do your best!

Imagine a road trip where you have no destination, no point of reference for where you are, and no gas gauge to save you from running on empty. Not only would the need to be rescued from some back country road be almost guaranteed, but pushing yourself to the Airbnb at the end would be less than motivating.

I’m not talking about insecure (or arrogant) comparisons, or burning out trying to be better than everyone else. I’m talking about seeing your competition as a well-mannered GPS to show you where you are, and a way to gauge and fuel yourself as a novice.

Welcome competition in a healthy way, assess yourself, and humbly continue to learn, grow, and set your goals even higher! Competition helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, find ways to improve, and people to learn from.

Changing careers basically means starting over from scratch. You might put in 100% toward a project that your employer asks you to redo. You may need to consult with your senior colleagues before doing an assignment or have your mistakes pointed out by a peer or higher-up.

Look, I know you are used to being an expert in your field and a professional, so being treated like an inexperienced beginner might feel like a slap in the face but let’s be honest: You are a beginner.

Be humble. Acknowledge the fact that you may not know as much as you did in your other field, and even if you’re well on your way—there’s always more to learn! Shift your focus towards learning from those more experienced than you without shame. Take advice. Put your ego aside and concentrate on the tasks at hand.

By seeing the whole experience as a learning opportunity, you are making it easier for yourself to improve in a short amount of time, and thus make the whole transition easier in the process. 

That being said, being a beginner isn’t all bad.

In fact, I want you to lean into it.

You are a new mind in the industry but you are also a fresh mind. Don’t be afraid to curiously probe into that innovative side of your brain, the fresh motivation, and the creativity that is willing to think outside the box.

You will set about tasks in a unique (and sometimes wrong) way. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and use the fresh motivation and insight to your advantage. Who knows? Maybe your way will be better.

Remain teachable, but don’t be afraid to approach things from a new angle. It will help you stand out both creatively and professionally within your new sphere.

It is up to you to introduce yourself and become known. Don’t underestimate the power of networking. Be kind to people. Treat everyone with respect. Go out of your way to connect with your peers and colleagues.

In fact, even before joining the workplace, it can be paramount to volunteer, create a professional association, and meet up with your alma mater’s alumni groups as a way to create connections with people already working in the same industry you’re heading into.

You’ll not only begin to make valuable connections, but it’s also a great way to grow and receive valuable advice on what lies ahead.

Being a newbie again has its challenges, but taking the steps to learn, network, and embrace where you are right now in the transition will make the whole process that much smoother.

I believe in you. You got this!

Now go start your 1st day of being a successful newbie!

•  Detach From Your Previous Role
•  Soak in Everything Like a (Patient) Sponge
•  Set Clear and Realistic Goals
•  Know Your Competition and Aim Higher
•  Be Willing to Take the “Suck” Jobs
•  Embrace The Beginners' Mind-Set
•  Network, Network, Network