6 Tips for the first week at your new supply chain job!

Your phone rings and you hear,  “…we would like to offer you the position”.

Awesome!

The next day is spent negotiating terms, conditions, salary and any other perks you can wrangle.
Done. Woo Hoo!

So what can you do to prepare yourself for your new demanding job as a crucial link in the supply and demand chain?

1. Practise your inner Explorer!
Ever been stuck in traffic due to road works?
Got lost because your car GPS hasn’t had a map update …ever!?
Got on the wrong train platform, or experienced a change in bus schedules?

Get smart, do a week of commuting to the new distribution centre, corporate office or wherever you are sited.
Learn all the complexities of peak hour travel.
Like short cuts that work, where to park, and any contingency plans if things go pear shaped with public transport or the roads are gridlocked with an accident.

Being Late is a big no no or most workplaces, …’coz everyone notices the new guy or gal!

2. Become a Stalker! ( no ski mask required)
Get your google happening and research your future colleagues.
This is not meant to be a creepy thing but a way of getting to know who you are working with.
And how to make professional and personal connections with people you will be spending a lot of time with.

If John from Fulfilment is into fly fishing, and that’s your thing, then voilà, workplace relationships can flourish.

Conversely if Susan from Procurement is into Smocking and Cross Stitching and your Gran was three times winner of the annual Jeparit district Country Women’s Association quilting award, then I’m sure she could be interested,
…but you better remember the details!

3. Impressions…get that smile on and handshakes happening!
Go out of your way to meet and greet anyone, from the Cleaner to the CEO.
You never know who has influence, and could make your job easier or more interesting.
And what did your Mum say…remember your manners, with everyone.
People like people who are likeable!

4. Culture, rituals and dirty cups.
Observe what the office or company culture is.
Are their office rituals, often simple things like turning the kettle on, getting the milk out for the morning caffeine rush or washing your cup and putting it away?
Maybe it’s the 5 or 10 minutes of banter in the tearoom before getting stuck into solving the world’s logistics and supply needs.
Sometimes it’s just the little things that can help build or destroy harmonious office relationships.

5. What’s in your lunch box?
Until everyone loves you, don’t bring a garlic and fermented fish paste curry and nuke it in the tearoom microwave for the whole workplace to smell.
Same with 3 rounds of egg and onion Sangers.
Be mindful of what’s in the box until people accept you as a gastronomic office icon!
…and remember to turn the fan on.

6. Stating the bleeding obvious -managing that anxiety
New job, new people, well probably new most things so your Anxiety is normal.
Whew… thanks for that!
And you also want to come across as confident and competent.
 
So dress for success, not in an over the top way, your going to look like a wanker wearing a 3 piece suit if polo tops and chinos are the default dress standard!
You can become a fashionista once you have settled in.

Have some familiar desk toys, or a photo of a loved one, (real or imagined!), maybe it might be your favourite pens or notepad, …whatever makes you feel good.

If you are starting to feel overwhelmed at any stage get that breathing technique happening.

Insert prod minds infographic breathing technique

Do it in the car before getting out, do it on the train commute or somewhere private like the washroom,
…just make sure you wash your hands when you come out!

In fact make it a habit for life, but that’s another article.

So I hope you can use these 6 tips to settle into your new supply chain job and start making a difference in this complex and frenetic industry.

Good Luck and enjoy it!

Someone once said…a change is good as a holiday!

Chris Richardson
www.productiveminds.com.au