How to Earn Trust from Those Around You Immediately After Changing Jobs: A Must-Know Action List for Your First Steps

Your actions immediately after changing jobs determine the first impression you make at your new workplace and greatly influence your subsequent career. The first month in particular is a critical period during which your colleagues are sizing up what kind of person you are.

By taking the right actions during this period, you can smoothly integrate into the workplace and build strong relationships of trust at an early stage. Rather than showing off special skills, demonstrating a proper attitude and steadily learning the work will lead to a positive evaluation.

This article explains specific actions for earning trust in a list format.

3 Basic Attitudes to Keep in Mind on Your First Day

To make a successful start at a new workplace, it is essential to have the right mindset before taking any specific actions. Even experienced hires are newcomers in a new environment.

While drawing on your past experience, a humble attitude of “being willing to learn,” proactive communication that does not create barriers with those around you, and flexible thinking that does not cling to past ways of doing things form the foundation for building smooth interpersonal relationships and earning trust.

Being constantly mindful of these three basic attitudes is the key to getting off to a smooth start.

Never Forget a Humble Stance of “Being Willing to Learn”

Even if you have changed jobs with extensive experience and skills, it is important to remain aware that you are a newcomer at your new workplace. Every company has its own unique culture, ways of doing things, and rules to follow. There will be many situations where your previous approaches do not apply.

First, set aside your pride and adopt a humble attitude of honestly asking questions about things you do not understand. This stance not only makes it easier to draw cooperation and support from those around you, but also leads to earning trust, as it is evaluated as a high willingness to adapt to the new environment.

Be Proactive in Initiating Communication

In a new environment, it is essential to take the initiative to engage with others rather than waiting for them to reach out to you. In addition to greeting people when you arrive and leave, it is a good idea to introduce yourself to the people you work with.

It is also effective to ask questions about unclear work matters and to try making small talk during breaks. By opening up yourself first, the other person will also lower their guard, making it easier to build smooth interpersonal relationships.

These small daily accumulations develop into the building of strong relationships of trust.

Reset Your Previous Job’s Achievements and Ways of Working

While the experience and success stories you gained at your previous job are valuable assets, you should avoid bringing them up immediately at a new workplace.

First and foremost, show that you are willing to fully understand and accept the new company’s culture and ways of doing business.

Comparisons such as “at my previous company, we did it this way” can be taken as a denial of existing practices. By resetting your own approach and demonstrating the flexibility to learn the rules of the new environment, your colleagues will recognize you as a cooperative person.

After that, if you make improvement suggestions based on your experience, they will be more readily accepted.

【By Period】A Concrete Action List for Winning Trust

Earning trust after a job change is a long-term challenge, but the period immediately after joining is especially important. Your actions during this time form the foundation of your first impression and evaluation.

Rather than acting haphazardly, it is effective to divide the time into “your first day,” “your first week,” and “your first month,” and to clarify the goals to be achieved at each stage.

Here, we introduce specific actions in list format for earning trust during each period. By methodically following the steps, you can steadily settle into the workplace.

【First Day】4 Actions to Make a Good First Impression

Your first day is an extremely important day that will determine your first impression. How you conduct yourself on this day will greatly affect your future relationships. First, arrive 15 minutes before the designated time and prepare yourself with plenty of time to spare. Then, greet everyone you meet with a smile and energy, and aim for a clear and concise self-introduction.

Always carry a notepad and pen, and be sure to take notes on everything you are taught. Also, record the names of the people who taught you, which will help you fit in more quickly.

And do not forget to show your gratitude. Expressing thanks even for small things conveys a humble and sincere character, and becomes the first step in building good relationships of trust.

【First Week】5 Actions for Smoothly Integrating into the Workplace

The first week after joining is an important period for getting used to the atmosphere and relationships in the workplace. First, actively participate when invited to lunch, and cherish opportunities for communication outside of work. It is also necessary to make an effort to match the faces and names of department members using the organizational chart and seating chart.

Also, focus on grasping the overall picture of the work and the daily flow, and do not leave questions unanswered. In particular, thoroughly reporting, communicating, and consulting with your supervisor even on small matters demonstrates a sense of responsibility and contributes to building trust. In addition, it is important not to forget to express your gratitude to those around you.

【First Month】3 Habits to Be Recognized as “Someone Who Gets Things Done”

By the time one month has passed since joining, you will have become accustomed to the work, and you will gradually be expected to contribute as a productive member. During this period, it is important to arrange a meeting with your supervisor to specifically align on your role and the results expected of you.

Find things you can do, such as taking minutes or handling miscellaneous tasks, and proactively take them on to show your willingness to contribute. By not waiting for 100% completion before reporting, but instead consulting once the work is about 80% done, you will be recognized as someone who can prevent rework and proceed efficiently. Visualizing your own progress through daily or weekly reports also serves as proof that you are steadily carrying out your duties.

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Watch Out! 5 Unconscious Behaviors That Can Cost You Trust

While it is important to make efforts to build trust at a new workplace, it is equally important to avoid behaviors that undermine trust. An action taken with good intentions or a word said unconsciously can give a negative impression to those around you and lower your evaluation without you realizing it.

In particular, job changers are not uncommonly cases where pride stemming from past experience or the desire to produce results quickly backfires.

Here, we introduce five typical NG behaviors that can unintentionally cost you trust. Use this as an opportunity to objectively reflect on your own conduct.

Making Negative Comparisons with Your Previous Job’s Way of Doing Things

Statements like “at my previous company, we did it this way” or “this method is inefficient” tend to be taken by existing members as a denial of their own work, even if intended as a well-meaning suggestion for improvement.

There is always some background or reason behind the way things are done at a new workplace. It is essential to first respect and seek to understand that culture and those rules. Comparisons and criticism made without fully understanding the current situation create rifts in relationships and hinder the building of smooth trust, making this a behavior to be especially careful about.

Pretending to Understand When You Don’t

Out of a desire to be recognized as competent quickly, you may find yourself pretending to understand things you don’t, rather than honestly asking. However, this “pretending to know” carries the risk of leading to major mistakes or problems later on. If you proceed with work based on a vague understanding and fail, you will end up causing trouble for those around you and significantly lowering your evaluation.

Not knowing something is nothing to be ashamed of. On the contrary, honestly asking questions at an early stage is seen as a sincere and eager attitude, and ultimately leads to gaining the trust of those around you.

Remaining Passive and Always Waiting for Instructions

Immediately after joining, there may be many situations where you are unsure what to do and must wait for instructions. However, if that state continues for too long, it will give a negative impression of being “lacking in initiative” or “lacking motivation”.

When you have a moment between tasks, it is important to proactively seek out work by saying “Is there anything I can help with?” Also, by showing proactiveness such as reading through materials related to assigned work or gathering information on your own, you can demonstrate a high eagerness to grow and a desire to contribute, going beyond what you have been instructed to do.

Making Improvement Proposals Before Grasping the Full Picture of the Work

Making improvement proposals for work immediately after joining out of a high desire to contribute may seem like a positive action at first glance. However, proposals made without fully understanding the background of that work, the cooperation with related departments, and past circumstances may be off the mark or even cause confusion in the field.

First and foremost, it is essential to deeply understand why the current way of doing things came to be.

By accepting the current situation positively, grasping the full picture, and then making constructive, fact-based proposals, you can effectively demonstrate your value.

Disregarding the Unique Culture and Rules Established Within the Company

In addition to formalized rules such as work regulations, companies have their own unique cultures and customs, such as unspoken rules about dress, how to take lunch, and how to use chat tools. Ignoring or dismissing these as “irrational” is seen as a lack of cooperativeness and can cause you to become isolated from those around you.

As the saying goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” It is important to first respect the culture of that workplace and make an effort to fit in. The accumulation of these small considerations is indispensable for building smooth interpersonal relationships and trust.

Self-Management That Forms the Foundation of Trust Is Also Important

During the first month after a job change, your brain and body are working harder than you realize, consuming a great deal of energy. No matter how excellent your skills are, if you fall ill and have repeated absences, or make a string of mistakes due to fatigue, you will not be able to earn the trust of those around you.

“Continuing to operate stably as a professional” is the most powerful foundation of trust.

Be Conscious of Getting One More Hour of Sleep Than Usual

In a new environment, your brain is constantly processing a huge amount of new information, such as interpersonal relationships within the company, seating arrangements, PC settings, and unique terminology. Sleep is essential for recovering from mental fatigue. For the first month after joining, avoid staying up late and consciously incorporate “sleeping one hour more than usual” into your schedule. Starting the morning in top condition directly connects to your concentration and “good mood” during the day.

Abandon “Perfection” and Set a Lower Passing Grade

The anxiety of “wanting to be recognized for producing results quickly” can corner you and chip away at your mental health. The passing grade immediately after a job change is more than sufficient with just “no tardiness, no absences, greeting people properly, and learning the work one task at a time.” Rather than trying to perform at the same level as your previous job (100 points) from the start, treat “getting used to the environment” as your top-priority mission and secure peace of mind.

Have a Refreshment Technique to Avoid Accumulating “Fatigue”

At a new workplace, you are likely on edge even during lunch and break times. Be conscious of practicing refreshment techniques to avoid accumulating fatigue.

• Short digital detox: For just 10 minutes during your lunch break, step away from your smartphone and PC, close your eyes, and rest your brain.
• Complete days off on weekends: Do not bring work documents home, and intentionally create time to not think about work. By deliberately practicing this “switching between on and off,” you will be able to demonstrate stable performance over the long term.

Frequently Asked Questions About Earning Trust Immediately After Changing Jobs

Immediately after a job change, many people share the same worries and questions about adapting to a new environment and building relationships. In particular, when you encounter situations where your previous common sense does not apply, you may be at a loss as to how to behave.

Here, from among the questions that job changers tend to have, we provide specific advice and answers on three themes that are particularly frequently asked about: participating in welcome parties, points to note when working remotely, and the anxiety of wanting to produce results.

We hope these Q&As will help to ease your concerns even a little.

Should I attend welcome parties and company events?

In conclusion, we recommend attending whenever possible. Communication outside of work is an excellent opportunity for people to get to know your personality and private side.

Breaking the ice in such settings often makes subsequent work interactions smoother. However, if it is difficult to attend due to family circumstances or other reasons, there is no problem with politely declining by honestly explaining your reason.

What should I especially watch out for when working primarily remotely?

When working remotely, the most important thing is to consciously increase the amount of communication. In addition to frequent reporting, communicating, and consulting via chat tools, actively engage in greetings at morning and end-of-day meetings, as well as casual conversation unrelated to work.

In video meetings, turning your camera on to show your facial expressions makes your presence visible and fosters a sense of camaraderie as a team member.

What should I do about the anxiety of wanting to produce results quickly?

Do not rush.

First and foremost, through meetings with your supervisor and the like, accurately understand the role and short-term goals that the company expects of you. After that, focus on steadily carrying out the assigned work one task at a time.

The steady accumulation of diligent tasks ultimately leads to great results and trust from those around you. It is important not to overreach, but to show your true self.

Conclusion

To earn the trust of those around you immediately after changing jobs, it is more important to sincerely accumulate basic actions than to appeal with special skills. Never forgetting the humility of knowing that everyone is a newcomer in a new environment, and a proactive attitude of communicating with others yourself, builds the foundation for smooth interpersonal relationships.

Flexibility that does not cling to the ways of your previous job and instead first respects the culture and rules of the new workplace is also indispensable. By setting specific goals for each period after joining and taking action, while avoiding NG behaviors that unconsciously undermine trust, you can steadily integrate into the workplace.

These daily, diligent efforts lead to the building of long-term relationships of trust.