\u200bIt\u2019s your first week of work on a six month assignment. You know you\u2019ll be gone in six months, and the full-time employees likely know you\u2019ll be gone in six months, too. So, while you smile at each other in the hallway and ask about each other\u2019s weekend plans, there\u2019s generally no effort to build any genuine relationships.<\/p>\n
But even though forging connections with people you\u2019ll no longer see in half a year may seem pointless, it\u2019s actually one of the best things you can do for your career.<\/p>\n
First, you\u2019ll be demonstrating you\u2019re a great cultural fit. Second, you\u2019ll get to know people who can answer your questions or direct you to resources, if you ever need help. Third, you\u2019ll feel more invested in the company, which will naturally lead to better work. Fourth, expanding your network is always a good thing\u2014as long as you\u2019re doing it in a real way.<\/p>\n
Convinced? Here are four ways to make lasting connections at your next position.<\/p>\n
Does the company throw a weekly social event? Make sure you\u2019re one of the first people to arrive. Does the company hold monthly \u201cvolunteer days\u201d for employees to help out in the local community? Put your name on the list. Does the company have a fiercely competitive ping-pong tournament? Grab a paddle.<\/p>\n
By joining in on whatever unique traditions the office has, you\u2019ll get the opportunity to meet people from every department. Plus, management will see first-hand how well your personality meshes with the group.<\/p>\n
Most companies have a couple small groups for outside interests, like a book club, photography club, or a running club. You might not be a reader, a photography buff, or a cardio enthusiast, but even if these clubs don\u2019t fit your interests, you should show up anyway. Your co-workers will be surprised and gratified you\u2019ve made the effort to attend. As a result, they\u2019re more likely to seek your friendship.<\/p>\n
Finding these groups can take a little creativity. During your on-boarding, ask if there are any clubs. When you\u2019re introduced to new people, say, \u201cHey, are there any fun office groups I should know about?\u201d Company Facebook pages and internal messaging systems are also a great resource.<\/p>\n
Rather than slapping up one picture of your family and calling it a day, bring some conversation-provoking decorations into your workspace\u2014you want to give people passing by something to ask about or comment on.<\/p>\n
For example, maybe you\u2019ve got some cool travel souvenirs from your last trip to South America. Arrange them so they\u2019re visible to people passing by. When people ask you where you got them, you can talk about your travels and then ask them where they\u2019ve been.<\/p>\n
Of course, this requires you to keep your door open as much as possible\u2014and to smile and be friendly to your co-workers as they walk by.<\/p>\n
As soon as you\u2019re introduced to new colleagues, you should request to connect with them on LinkedIn. Don\u2019t forget to customize your invitation so they know who you are.<\/p>\n
You might say, \u201cHey Mary! It was great meeting you today. I\u2019d love to grab coffee sometime and learn more about your efforts with the training and development team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not only does this give you the chance to ask them out to coffee or lunch (another great way to build connections!) but it also shows you\u2019re invested in a long-term relationship. And once you\u2019ve connected with them on LinkedIn, you\u2019ll see all their career updates, giving you plenty of reasons to send an email or ask to catch up. (\u201cHi Mary, Congrats on your recent promotion to national sales manager! If you\u2019ve got time, I\u2019ll be in your area next week\u2014let\u2019s get lunch so you can tell me about what you\u2019ll be doing.\u201d)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u200bIt\u2019s your first week of work on a six month assignment. You know you\u2019ll be gone in six months, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-consultant"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n