Employee Survival Techniques 101 (for newbees)

Information seeking methods in new job scenarios

We've all had that fantasy dream job as a child. Perhaps to be a doctor, firefighter, cop, astronaut, teacher, or perhaps to follow the footsteps of our parents. It's because we are conditioned by our surroundings. We see these positions glamorized in children's books. Children hear all about their parents day at work. Children are so sensitive to how they are socialized that they even sometimes aspire to be a princess, knight, or (as my brother wanted to be) a scrubbing bubble.

OK so becoming a scrubbing bubble isn't the most realistic job, but as kids we have idealistic fantasies of the average work-life. We gradually discover the reality of it. Jobs have pros, cons, surprises, and uncertainties we are not yet prepared for. For example, the stereotypical hesitation of internships--it generally starts with excitement, then turns to despair as you realize you're just the coffee boy.

Going into a job, you never truly know what it's going to be like. The culture, environment, employees, and projects are not always the same from company to company. And when you want to make a good impressive survival is key.

The Dilemma: How to survive in a work environment as the new-be?

No matter how experienced you are there are general uncertainties you have and information you need to be successful. There is uncertainty in the relationships to be built, uncertainty in the task, and uncertainty in the one's own ability to do the task.

Best way to survive: gather information!

How--

• Ask Overt Questions
• Directly asking what information you need like "How do I turn on my computer?"
• ›Ask Indirect Questions
• Ask a question related to the information you need like "Have you had issues with your computer turning on? Would you mind taking a look at mine?"
• Talk with Third Parties
• Talk with related people, but not the specific person (e.g. ask your employees what are the things that annoy the boss the most) 
• ›Test the Limits
• Test the boundaries of corporate policies and people (e.g. testing how late you can come in, in the mornings--8 am, 8:30 am, 9 am, 11.....)
• ›Use Disguising Conversations



A similar example of disguising conversation. 

• Often used in the form of disclosure, disguising conversations tries to extract or prompt information to be exposed. For example if one was wanting to know about why employee A is continually showing up later and later to work, one might say to employee A "Corporate asks us to be here at 8, so I don't understand why so many people come at 9 or 10 or even later!" 

• ›Observe
• Watching behaviors in an unnoticeable/non-intrusive way (e.g. watching over a co-workers shoulders as they make a copy to learn how the copy machine works)
• ›Do Surveillance
• Reflecting on the observed behavior (e.g. spending the first day, absorbing and observing everything, and then reflecting on it all at home after work) 

Word of caution: 

*These techniques are not suitable for all conditions* 

Just like wilderness setting, how you survive in the desert will be different from that of the forest. 

Things to consider:

›-- Context

Sometimes overt questions make people think
less of you, but they also get information fast.

       What is the situation you are in? Are you addressing 
        relation uncertainty, referent, or ability? 
›--Need for information
       How fast do you need the information? The more
       quickly the more 
--›Individual characteristics
       Consider people's personality type and emotional 
       stability. Do they mind being bothered with 
       questions? Do they angry easily? 

›--Social Costs & Face Threat
       How will you be perceived? Will people see you less 
       competent if you ask overtly vs. indirectly?  


Used properly, these tips can help you survive your job get you closer to your dream job.