Tips for Starting a New Job Successfully As A Software Engineer

Advice for successfully navigating a new team and culture in your software engineering career

As professionals, we sometimes take on new challenges by joining different teams or companies. Through my relatively short career, I have been fortunate to have worked with various teams and have learned fundamental lessons on managing change and being an effective engineer. In this article, I would like to share some of my learnings, acknowledging that what worked for me may not work for everyone.

The image is actually from a guided DIY project at a workshop and this sign is currently on my wall :)

Setting Expectations

Navigating a new team can be challenging, especially if you're not sure what's expected of you. There are short-term expectations like becoming familiar with the team's work and completing administrative tasks like setting up your machine and sharing your compensation preferences. Usually, there's a defined process for this.

Medium-term expectations may not be as well-defined. It's important to understand what deliverables are expected of you within the next few months and how they can help you interact with the code base. Some teams don't have established processes for new engineers, so it's crucial to ask for a plan and identify tasks that can set you up for success.

Leverage the Past

Learning from past mistakes and successes can help you propose improvements or start conversations. As a new team member, you have a unique perspective that can contribute to the team's success. For example, you may have experienced a code formatting template in a previous team that could be useful in your new team.

When proposing changes, be mindful not to come across as a know-it-all or overly negative. Since you don't have institutional knowledge, it's best to ask for the team's opinion on a certain change, which can lead to more collaborative discussions.

Cultural Differences

Different teams or organizations operate in various ways, and it's essential to understand and adapt to cultural differences. For instance, some teams prefer unstructured discussions, while others prefer more formalized meetings. It's best to align yourself with the team's culture before starting and make small changes to feel included and connect better with the team.

Better Questions

As a new team member, there are no bad questions, but some questions are better than others. Open-ended questions can prompt relevant discussions and help you understand things you might not have otherwise thought of. However, be mindful of your colleagues' time and research beforehand to avoid taking up too much of their time.

New Habits

Starting a new job is an excellent opportunity to develop new habits that can benefit you in the long run. You can establish better work-life balance or watch more tech talks, for example. The fresh start effect can help in developing better habits, and it's essential to take advantage of this opportunity.

I hope this article has provided you with some helpful tips to succeed in your new team. Remember that everyone's experience is different, and it's best to adapt to your new team's culture while staying true to yourself.