Before You Dive Into a New Job, Consider This
The first six months in a job are like swimming into the ocean.
Whenever we go to the beach, I remember how rough the first 100 yards can be. I don’t enjoy getting hit by waves, knocked over, and having sand stuck in my swimsuit. I’m a strong swimmer, and it still feels chaotic, disorienting, and exhausting.
At this point, I often look back at the beach, tempted to head straight to the comfort of my towel.
Yet, I have this stubborn sense that I can’t give up. I hear the call of smoother waters beyond the break.
I start to feel the ocean’s rhythm. I turn my back on the shore and focus on diving under the incoming waves. I’m no longer being hit or caught off guard. I’m still getting tossed around, and I can’t swim smoothly yet — but now I can see past the break and know I’m close.
Finally, I reach the break and find my stroke, gliding atop the rollers and enjoying the gentle sway of the ocean. Now, I can swim farther out or parallel to the shore. The real adventure has just begun, and I feel far more in control.
Of course, large waves still come and occasionally push me down deeper than expected. But instead of panicking, I relax, hold my breath, and trust I’ll pop back up.
Here are three ways to get past the break faster:
1. Commit to giving it at least six months.
Getting past the “break” takes time in a new job. You might fight through waves for three to six months, sometimes even a year. Be patient with yourself and turn your back on the shore — it’s the only way to fully commit to getting through.
You'll never get comfortable if you keep one foot out the door. Mentally commit to staying in the same role for at least six months. And keep in mind how long you were at your last job — if it’s been a while since your last switch, it’s easy to forget just how challenging the early days can be.
Important Note: This doesn’t apply if you face illegal, unethical, or abusive behavior. You do not need to stay in an unhealthy environment because you haven’t been there long enough. Do what you need to stay safe and sane.
2. Make at least one friend outside your team.
Starting a new job can feel lonely, especially as you adjust to a different culture. Research confirms what we already know: having a friend at work improves everything and encourages us to perform at our best.
I’ve been lucky enough to make genuine, open friends at each job within weeks of starting. These partners helped me navigate the unspoken rules of the organization and called me out when I was getting in my own way — always with the compassion and trust I needed to hear it. Having someone to laugh with about the absurdity along the way? Priceless.
3. Find a way to make an immediate impact.
Most teams have more than enough work to go around, but sometimes they’re so overwhelmed they don’t even know how to ask for help. Ask what you can take off their plate instead of waiting for someone to tell you how to contribute. Even better, observe the team and suggest where you can jump in — this might be outside what you were hired to do.
When I started at one company, the product team was in the final bug-squashing phase before launching a new partnership offering. Although I was hired as a UX designer, I had QA experience from previous roles. I offered to help with the QA stories in the backlog, bringing a fresh perspective and unique structure to my approach. As I worked, I mocked up usability improvements and introduced new wireframing tools to the team.
Within my first week, I made significant contributions, establishing a reputation for being flexible and valuable while learning the ins and outs of the product. Plus, I felt more connected to the team and the organization than in previous roles.
Lastly, recognize, accept, and choose to play the game.
I’ll be honest — this one is the hardest for me. As someone driven to do my best, I used to believe good performance and results spoke for themselves. If I kept my head down and did excellent work, the rewards would follow — raises, promotions, and recognition.
But here’s the hard truth: good performance isn’t enough. In fact, according to Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford, it might not matter nearly as much as how you navigate organizational politics.
“As long as you keep your boss or bosses happy, performance really does not matter that much,” Pfeffer explains, “and by contrast, if you upset them, performance won’t save you.”
For better or worse, that’s the system we’re working in today. Should it change? Absolutely. But am I willing to wait decades for that to happen? No.
Without repeating all of Pfeffer’s insights from his book, Power, here’s how I’ve learned to play the game without losing my soul (while continuing to do work I’m proud of):
- First, remember it’s not personal. Recognizing that you’re working within a wonky system can provide the emotional distance needed to help you see the bigger picture and avoid internalizing what’s happening around you. No matter how personal it feels.
- Take ownership of your career path. No one cares about your growth as much as you do — and they certainly can’t read your mind. Invest time in identifying what matters most to you and pursue it. Speak up about what you want and need. If you’re looking for a promotion, put together a solid case and share it with your manager. You know the details of your accomplishments, so arm your manager with the details rather than waiting for them to do it on your behalf.
- Build strong relationships with your manager and their manager. Early on, invest in getting to know your manager personally. You will enjoy the role more, and they’re more likely to be an advocate for you in the organization. Also, ask your manager what success looks like for them. Questions like: What do they want to accomplish in the next six months? What hurdles do they anticipate? How can you help? This shows you care about their success and are a partner in making it happen. Do something similar with your skip-level manager. Figure out if you can support your skip level directly. For example, my skip level needed a better visualization for company-wide communications. I worked with her to create what was ultimately shared for months across the entire tech org and the board. This gave her a direct view of my willingness and ability to contribute value that complemented what she was hearing from my boss. I’ve had three managers leave within 3–4 months of my start date, so I’ve learned the hard way to ensure the visibility of my value beyond my direct manager.
- Find your voice and use it strategically. In meetings, don’t sit on the sidelines. Take your first few weeks to observe the communication style — how are people participating? Is there an established pecking order? How does that show up in meetings? How are people able to share their input? This looks different at each organization, and you’ll need to adapt your style to fit the culture — even if it feels unnatural. At some companies, I’ve had to learn to interject mid-conversation as nobody would call me in or create space for me. I had to do it for myself. Not doing so meant missing opportunities to share input and advocate for my team. I found it easier to embrace this communication style when I realized I was hurting my team by not adapting. I needed to do it for them and me.
- Build allies across functions. I genuinely enjoy getting to know people, so I strive to set up as many meet and greets with folks across the company as possible in my first 30 days. Even if it’s not your thing, the larger your network, the sooner you’ll make an impact. Put yourself out there and you’ll find it gets less and less scary the more you do it. Say yes to projects in which you can jump in the trenches and deliver work through collaboration with cross-functional partners. Achieving something together forges tight bonds that last.
- Finally, keep your options open. This may contradict my initial point, but keeping your network strong and saying yes to external interviews is a good idea. It sharpens your skills and forces you to keep your resume and portfolio up-to-date. Knowing you have options if things don’t work out helps you feel more secure and willing to take healthy risks.
Remember: Just keep swimming 🐠
Like swimming out into the ocean, your first six months in a new job will be challenging. Sometimes you feel like you’re constantly being hit by waves, tempted to turn back to shore. But if you keep pushing through, you’ll eventually find your rhythm, break through the turbulence, and start gliding smoothly.
The key is patience, persistence, and the willingness to adapt. Once you reach those calmer waters, you’ll be free to explore new depths and chart your course. Yes, there will still be big waves from time to time, but with each one, you’ll become more resilient, knowing you’ve made it through the most challenging part.
So, dive in with commitment, build your network, and find your flow — you’ve got an ocean of opportunity ahead of you.
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