Then you will know your next steps, but ultimately it should be up to the human resources department or your supervisor to initiate early introductions. If he or she doesn’t follow through, then you may need to take matters into your own hands.
If that’s the case, be proactive by implementing some or all of these tips for introducing yourself at your new job.
Just say, “I’ve started getting a feel for who works here and who I’ll be working with, but I’m still a little unclear. Would you have 10 minutes or so for a round of introductions this morning?”
Once you establish that much, be sure to introduce yourself in person and be as friendly and as engaging as possible. Your introduction can be simple. You should, of course, state your name and the role you are taking on. It also can be helpful to share a tidbit of your experience (like where you last worked and what you did there), so your coworkers can get a sense of your perspective and processes. It’s common to also share one or two personal “fun” facts, such as your kids’ names or a hobby.
The elevator pitch—a pitch no longer than the time it takes to ride an elevator—you may have used when job searching will work well for quick introductions.
Don’t be afraid to approach your contact in human resources to ask if he or she can provide an “org chart” so you can get a sense of who you’ll be reporting to and who you might be managing.
Make yourself available for any questions they might have about you and be receptive to any feedback or insights they might have on your role and your future working relationship. It might even be a good idea to ask coworkers who you’ll work with closely to get a coffee, lunch, or a drink after work to get to know them in a slightly less formal setting.
At the same time, start on a good foot and make an effort to acknowledge everyone in your workplace, even if it’s just with a smile and a hello.
It doesn’t have to be complicated:
Hi Susan,
It was great to meet you today! Thank you for the background information you provided.
I look forward to working with you, and please do reach out if you can think of anything else that would be useful to me or if you have any questions.
Best,
Janna
Hopefully, your manager will send email introductions to your whole team and to other key people who you’ll be collaborating with. If not, use the same strategies as above—request an introduction. Then, you can set up quick meetings over video chat or the phone, or use chat programs to have “getting to know you” conversations.
That being said, you may feel there’s someone you need to meet. Whether it’s someone who will be making decisions about your pay and promotions later on, is in your department, is important to get your work done, or was involved in your interview process, don’t hesitate to reach out to your supervisor or human resources contact and ask for, at the least, an email introduction.
