Today, our topic is mastering your 30-day success plan in your new finance role. After working closely with your financial recruitment team to find the right role and nailing the interview process, you might think the hard work of getting the right job is over.
However, the reality is that even after a hiring manager decides to give you a chance in their company, they’re still looking for evidence that you’re the right person for the role. It’s up to you as a financial professional in your field to validate their hiring decision.
During the first 30 days with your new employer, you have an incredible opportunity to demonstrate the skills, characteristics, and factors that can impress your new manager and team, leading the way to promotion and progression opportunities.
Fortunately, mastering the first 30 days in your new role isn’t always as complex as it seems. Here’s how you can boost your chances of success.
Step 1: Gather the Right Information
To thrive in your new finance role, you need some crucial information. It’s important to understand exactly what your employer expects of you, what your responsibilities are, and how you can help the business achieve its wider goals.
If your employer has an induction plan and onboarding plan in place, these will give you an excellent opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the landscape you’re going to be working in. If not, it’s up to you to ask for clarification.
Read through your job description carefully, and ask your manager key questions about your role, such as:
- What is the mission or vision of the company?
- How will my work be evaluated?
- How often will I receive feedback on my work?
- Who are the key stakeholders I’ll be working with?
- What should my priorities be in this role?
Step 2: Building a Strong Foundation
Even if you’ve earned your dream role as a leader in a financial organisation, there’s always room for growth and development. Though it’s likely you’ll already have a lot of the skills and attributes necessary for your role, you may still need to bridge certain gaps.
Start by taking a closer look at your skill set and what’s required of you in your role. Are there any areas you need to develop? For instance, you might need to learn how to use a new piece of accounting software or adapt to a new type of schedule.
After you’ve found opportunities to enhance your skills, focus on building a strong foundation for success in your role by:
- Seeking opportunities to make impactful contributions quickly, such as offering suggestions in meetings or offering to train and support other team members.
- Networking consistently with your colleagues and higher-ups both inside and outside of the financial department.
- Learning about the company culture and finding ways to integrate yourself into it by joining voluntary meetings or interacting regularly with team members.
As you work in your new role each day, look for opportunities to improve your efficiency and productivity. Think about how you can improve your time management strategies, organise yourself, and use tools to accelerate the results you achieve.
Step 3: Create a Personal Development Plan
Ensuring you can excel in your new financial role doesn’t just mean ensuring you have all the skills and talents listed in your job description. Committing to a constant quest for growth and development will ensure you can continue to thrive as the landscape evolves.
This is crucial in the financial world, where new regulations and technologies are constantly changing the environment professionals work in. Start by setting clear goals that align with the targets of the business you work with. For instance, you might decide to look for ways to make yourself more efficient, punctual, or accurate with your reports.
Next, speak to the managers and supervisors in your team. Ask them whether they have any development plan opportunities in place or whether they can offer access to training and learning resources. Actively seeking out feedback from your peers and superiors can be helpful, too, as it gives you an insight into your strengths and weaknesses.
Another great way to invest in continuous development is to seek out a mentor or buddy who can provide guidance or insights to help you in your role.
Step 4: Cultivate the Right Habits
Every financial professional will develop certain habits over time, formed by their understanding of the company culture and the needs of the business. However, the habits that worked for you in previous roles may not be applicable to your new position.
With this in mind, pay close attention to the people around you. Examine the company culture carefully and determine which actions help other employees to succeed in similar roles.
No matter the company culture, one of the best things you can do to impress your employer is to maintain a professional attitude. Stay calm and collected in the face of challenges, and own up to your mistakes when you make them.
If you struggle with anything, from using new software to attending meetings, ask your supervisor, mentor, or manager for advice on how you can improve.
Step 5: Overcoming Common Challenges
Starting a new job in the financial sector can be both exciting and daunting. While you’ll have great opportunities to build your network and develop new skills, you’ll also face a handful of challenges. Knowing how to address these challenges head-on will help you maintain your confidence and positively impact your employer.
Key challenges to address include:
- Adapting to change: Change is always difficult, even if the transformation is positive. Be open to exploring new ideas and processes you might not be familiar with. See every interaction and experience as an opportunity to learn.
- Managing work/life balance: Managing your schedule and maintaining work/life balance may be difficult initially while you’re getting used to a new role. However, it’s still important to set boundaries based on your own limitations. Know when to delegate and say “no” to requests you simply can’t handle.
- Staying informed: In a fast-paced landscape like finance, the world you work in can change rapidly. It’s important to ensure you stay updated with what’s changing in your sector so you can continue to offer value. Follow financial blogs, read news reports, and check out insights from thought leaders online regularly.
Master your First 30 Days in a New Finance Role
The first thirty days you spend in a new finance role can feel like a whirlwind. There’s so much to take in, from a new company culture to new technology and processes. However, if you can maintain professionalism and show value during your first month, you can validate your employer’s decision to bring you onto the team.
You might even find that your success in the first 30 days of your new role paves the way for new opportunities, from advanced projects to promotions.
Thanks
Rachel
About Rebus Financial Recruitment
Rebus Financial Recruitment provides a specialist and focused recruitment service to its customers, ranging from various organisations, including SMEs, to large PLCs.
We strive to offer both the client and candidate a seamless recruitment experience. Using our expertise, we get to the heart of employer and employee needs, and, in doing so, we match the two perfectly.
To learn more, contact one of our team today or call us on 01282 930930.
