Whenever you start a new job, a great first impression plays a key role in your eventual success. After all, you want your managers and coworkers to welcome you as part of their team. Making a great fit also improves your morale, helping you contribute and become a productive employee.
This article focuses on advice for starting off a new life sciences job on the right foot. We cover what to do when first joining a new organization as well as things to avoid. Use the advice to make a positive impact with your new team. It’s the right approach for keeping your regulatory affairs career on a path to success.
The Dos of Starting a New Regulatory Affairs Job
Here are some of the important tasks to perform before beginning a new job and right after starting work. Following this advice helps you become productive as quickly as possible.
1. Research and Preparation
You probably researched your new employer before the first interview. After accepting the job offer, also inquire about any systems, policies, or procedures to learn. Being prepared before your first day in this manner helps you quickly make a positive impact.
2. Set Clear Goals
Work with your manager to set a few short-term and long-term goals covering the first year on the job. Having these tangible and achievable goals provides a sense of direction for the first few months in this position. It also helps you quickly make meaningful contributions to the organization.
3. Build Relationships
Begin to build meaningful professional relationships with managers and coworkers. Take things to a personal level by going out to lunch with these new colleagues. Adding new connections to your professional network also pays dividends throughout any career in the life sciences.
4. Ask Questions
Don’t feel shy about speaking up if you don’t understand a certain procedure or technology tool used at work. Asking meaningful questions shows you aren’t a know-it-all and ultimately want to learn. It also helps show your managers and coworkers that you enjoy being part of a team.
5. Learn Continuously
Somewhat related to the last point, always learning new things is a must for any regulatory affairs professional. Take advantage of any employee development opportunities offered by your new organization. These include training and certification programs in addition to tuition reimbursement if you want to add to your education.
6. Time Management
Time management skills remain essential for any professional in the life sciences and regulatory affairs. Be sure to arrive early for work and stay late, especially when first starting out this new position. Staying focused on your first assignments also remains critical for new employees.
7. Adaptability
Regulatory affairs employers want professionals that are both highly flexible and adaptable. As such, always be willing to take on new assignments, even when these are not part of your original job description. This provides a great way to get noticed at work and put yourself on a path to additional responsibility.
8. Effective Communication
Strong verbal and written communication skills remain essential for any regulatory affairs and life sciences professional. Verbal communication highlighted by speaking confidently matters when interacting with coworkers and client stakeholders. At the same time, writing chops help you easily craft reports that explain complex topics in a clear manner.
9. Seek Feedback
Wise life science organizations don’t wait until an annual review to provide constructive feedback to their employees. Be sure to regularly seek out feedback from your managers and coworkers, both positive and negative. It helps keep you focused on meeting your goals and becoming a productive contributor to your new employer.
10. Maintain a Positive Attitude
Keeping a positive attitude at work remains important throughout your career. However, it especially matters when you are a new hire at a regulatory affairs organization. Never let stress or a difficult project cause your employee morale to suffer at the wrong time.
The Don’ts of Starting a New Regulatory Affairs Job
After analyzing the things to do when starting a new life sciences job, let’s look at the opposite view. As such, here are some things to avoid after joining a new organization.
1. Avoid Overconfidence
Nobody wants to interact with a new employee who comes across as arrogant. Sure, it’s important to have confidence when starting something new, but resist the urge to take things too far. Organizations in the life sciences and regulatory affairs value teamwork and collaboration. Being someone that’s easy to work with benefits your career growth over the long haul.
2. Don’t Isolate Yourself
We just mentioned the importance of a collaborative approach in the life sciences. Never keep to yourself when starting a new regulatory affairs job. Interacting with your new coworkers remains important, especially during your first few months at work. Building professional relationships with your colleagues provides many benefits, including those related to networking.
3. Don’t Neglect Professionalism
A regulatory affairs career essentially demands that you never act in an unprofessional manner. This golden rule applies when at work as well as during your personal life. Don’t let an embarrassing incident cause damage to your career both now and in the future. This includes spreading gossip at the office.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Whenever you find yourself stuck or struggling with an assignment at your new job, always ask for help. It helps you stay productive while keeping you on track to achieve the short-term goals assigned to you. Additionally, it builds valuable relationships with your coworkers that play a key role in any successful career. Remember what we previously said about the importance of collaboration in a regulatory affairs career.
5. Don’t Overcommit
As a new employee, avoid overcommitting when it comes to a new assignment with an aggressive due date. After all, it remains natural to want to quickly become a productive and valuable member of the team. However, when starting a new job, under promising and over delivering offers a chance to truly get noticed by managers. Keep this in mind when setting your goals with your manager during your first week in the office.
6. Don’t Forget to Listen
Listening needs to be your focus during the first few months on the job. In fact, be sure you listen more than you speak. When your manager introduces you to your new coworkers, pay close attention to their role, duties, and their advice. Take a similar approach during communal lunches or coffee breaks. It helps you truly get a feel for the culture of your new employer.
7. Don’t Disregard Feedback
Constructive and actionable feedback remains important throughout any career in the life sciences and regulatory affairs. In fact, it becomes especially important for new employees trying to make a positive impact. Never disregard any feedback given to you by your boss, someone from the executive team, or even another coworker. After all, everyone wants you to be successful in your new role.
8. Don’t Fear Mistakes
Never fear making a few mistakes at work during your first few months. Importantly, most managers worry more about how an employee reacåts to a mistake they have made than the error itself. Therefore, never deflect blame! Instead, take ownership of your mistakes, while treating them as learning opportunities. Ultimately, it helps you grow as a life sciences professional.
9. Don’t Ignore Your Goals
The best managers regularly check on their direct reports’ progress towards reaching their assigned goals. This is especially the case when considering someone new to the organization. If your manager doesn’t follow this approach, you still need to be proactive on providing your own status updates. Remember, don’t hesitate to reach out if you are struggling with an assignment or even a new software tool.
10. Don’t Be Impatient
If, after a few months in your new role, you still feel like you aren’t making a positive impact, stay patient. Speak with your boss or another coworker to get their insights on the situation. Once again, your new employer wants you to be successful. So expect your leadership to provide you with the needed help to thrive at work.
The Benefits of Partnering with Our Regulatory Affairs Recruiters for Your Job Search
Building a rewarding career in the life sciences and regulatory affairs requires talent, persistence, and a plan. At the same time, partnering with an experienced recruiter serving this market also helps immeasurably. The top recruiters understand your career dreams as well as your unique skills and experience. This knowledge lets them provide the right advice and job leads to keep your career path trending upwards.
Looking for a Regulatory Affairs Career? Contact Our Recruiters Today!
When searching for a top-shelf life sciences recruiter, look no further than the team at Shepherd Regulatory Search. As one of the top staffing agencies in this industry, we know the companies looking for talented candidates like you. Schedule some time with us at your earliest convenience.