1a. How important is it to be proactive during your first 8 months in a new job? How often should you meet with your new boss?

1b. Develop some examples of how you can ask for more challenging work assignments. Draft an outline of talking points for how you would present these requests to your boss (or future boss).

How can you proactively adapt to a new organization? Research by Susan Ashford and Stewart Black identified the following proactive socialization tactics for organizational newcomers: Seek information. Regularly ask for information regarding the formal and informal organizational system, policies and procedures, politics, and organizational culture: How do things really get done in the organization? Seek feedback. Ask for honest feedback about your performance during and after assignments from your boss(es) and others. Don't wait for your annual performance appraisal to learn how you are doing on the job. Manage your boss. Learn as much as you can about him or her. Ask them to lunch to discuss your plans (i.e., develop an effective working relationship). Negotiate more job challenge. Ask for changes to your job, and craft it so you can be most effective, playing to your strengths but at the same time meeting organizational goals. Be positive. View every problem as an opportunity, and try to see others in your group and organization in positive ways. Be optimistic unless someone proves you wrong