How to Ask for Feedback at a New Job - The Muse

How to Ask for Feedback at a New Job - The MuseHow to Ask for Feedback at a New JobThe first 90 days of your new job are crucial to set yourself up for long-term career success. Its where you make good on the promises you touted during your interview and set the stage for how people perceive you. Thats why asking for feedback during this time is so, so important. It quickly demonstrates to your new boss that youre invested, youre committed to excellence, and that youre in this for the long haul. Plus, if done well, you can earn major brownie points that may help you get recognized later for opportunities to work on interesting projects or even advance more quickly. Easy enough, right? Now that you know just how important your first 90 days are, here are some guidelines for how to ask for feedback to ensure youre on the right path (or how to get on it).When Should You Ask?Eliciting feedback in these crucial first few days is a balance between giving your new manager and co-workers eno ugh time to form concrete thoughts and opinions of you, while also being proactive in prompting feedback that will help you as you get onboarded. Rule of thumb Dont expect a formal review by the end of week one. After that, its all a judgement call. How much real work have you actually had a chance to do? If youve just completed a big project or finished a tougher assignment, now may be the perfect time to ask for some input on how you did. Regardless of the above, dont let three weeks go by without making the big ask. A good rhythm for how frequently you continue to check-in will hinge on the volume and involvement of your work. That said, a good best practice is no more than once a week, but no less than once a month. How Should You Ask?Dont pounce at the water cooler or in the bathroom while your boss is washing her hands. Reach out to your manager via emaille or in person and request a meeting directly. Explain what the meeting is for- people will appreciate having a heads-up so they can prepare ideas ahead of time.Try something like, Id like 15 minutes of your time to talk about how you think things are going so far with me. Are you satisfied with what Im doing, and the work Im producing? Is there anything I can be doing differently?What Should You Ask?Give your manager suggestions on what you want to hear, such as, How am I integrating within the team? Am I operating at the speed you need me to? or How is the quality of my work? Any development areas you have already identified that I can work on?This is also the time to coach your manager on what you need in terms of resources. Would you benefit from regular one-on-ones or additional training? Perhaps a tracking system that you and your manager have access to to share what youre working on? Who Should You Ask?Besides your boss, co-workers are also a great resource for feedback. While it doesnt need to be as formal as with a manager, try crafting an email along the lines of, Hey, Im loving it here so far , and would love to get some feedback from you to make sure Im setting myself up for long term success. Its really important to me Im doing a good job and making a good impression.The reality of soliciting feedback is that it may not always be 100% positive. So, prepare yourself mentally. All your good intentions will immediately be nullified if you go into defensive mode. Keep your ego out of this conversation and stay open and non-judgmental. Then, send a follow-up email thanking your manager or colleague for their time and candor, and briefly outline your takeaways and any next steps you plan to take. Implement any areas of improvement right away and follow-up with your boss to make sure the adjustments youre making are correct and noticed. We know theres a lot to learn in your first 90 days. Youve got new systems, technologies, faces, and names to remember, and so much more. Its easy to feel overwhelmed.Incorporating this advice displays maturity and commitment on your part, and will also give you a good indication of whether youre doing well, or need to make some adjustments before its too late. Regardless of what you learn, it will empower you to excel in your new role.