New Hires Need to Establish Credibility

Establishing and maintaining credibility in the workplace is extremely important. For new hires, building credibility is one of the first things to focus on when starting a new job. The old saying rings true, “credibility is built over time but can be damaged in no time at all.” Even if you have solid industry experience and a great professional reputation, you still need to build credibility with a new employer and co-workers. More importantly, establishing and maintaining credibility with a new employer will be critical to your short- and long-term success.
   
Work Hard and Demonstrate Competence
Your new employer will expect you to work hard and put forth your best effort each day. Doing so in the early stages of your employment will help you to quickly earn the attention and respect of those around you. It is important to maintain a strong work ethic and level of professionalism throughout your employment.

Keep Commitments and Deadlines
One of the most harmful things you can do to your credibility is breaking commitments and missing deadlines. Don’t make commitments you cannot keep, even if it means under promising and over delivering. Obviously, situations beyond your control may occasionally prevent you from honoring a commitment. If this happens, evaluate the impact of breaking your commitment, and be proactive in discussing this with the person you’ve committed to.

Be Open to Learning and Sharing Information 
When co-workers see that you are open to learning and sharing opinions and ideas with others, they will be more comfortable working with you. When handled professionally, a willingness to share your knowledge based on past experience will help you to be viewed as a valuable member of the team.

Be Accountable for Your Mistakes
Mistakes happen. The important thing is to be accountable for your mistakes and work hard to resolve them. This will help you to earn the respect of those you work with and even strengthen your credibility.