Soundview Executive Book Summaries. - Sink or swim: new job, new boss, 12 weeks to get it right

Congratulations! You worked hard to find the right company, did all the right things to make your resume rise to the top of the pile, and aced the interviews. Now you've got the job. They chose you.

You are embarking on an adventure that requires swimming in uncharted waters. Your destination is clear: success in your new job! However, getting to your destination will require that you stay on course, make savvy decisions, and stay afloat.

In your hands is your new-employee life vest: a week-by-week guide to achieving great things during the first twelve weeks on the job. Whether you are starting your job next week or have already begun, today is the day you jump in and start swimming.

Maximum success in your new job requires that you be your own champion. What does being your own champion mean? You have the power to control the choices you make. Specifically, that you:

Always look for opportunities in every situation.

Know your strengths and where you contribute value.

Know when and how to ask for help.

This book provides you with the 5 Sink or Swim skills you need to master in order to be your own champion and succeed!

Why Does It Matter?

Over the past forty years, the implied social agreement between employers and employees has changed. Employers, under the old contract, acted as parental figures and provided employees with a lifetime of structure and support in exchange for hard work and loyalty.

Today, the concept of lifetime employment is unimaginable and probably undesirable. The fact is that over time most people get bored and benefit from a change. Even worse, if you are reporting to a boss who does not treat you particularly well, years of employment in the same situation can be profoundly demoralizing.

What's important for you to understand is that you own your career. You are responsible for setting professional goals, identifying and developing the right skills, and building your resume. Every time you develop new skills, you become even more valuable in the job market.

Companies also understand that the contract has changed: Employees aren't married to the company anymore. To retain their employees, companies must offer a range of benefits. Smart companies understand that it not only takes a competitive salary to attract and retain good employees, but it also takes programs that support the employees' needs and interests.

Smart companies, however, also know that all of these benefits are not enough to keep the best employees from going to the competition. Therefore, they strive to provide opportunities for employees to learn new skills or change jobs within the company in order to keep people engaged and motivated.

However smart companies may be, you as an employee must also be smart and make the most out of your job. You have two responsibilities.

A responsibility to your company to do what you were hired to do.

A responsibility to yourself to develop your skills, create and identify opportunities, and manage your career.

Your company should be clear about what it expects of you; however, you must also take charge and be clear about your expectations of your employer. What do you want in exchange for contributing your skills, abilities, and expertise? Besides your salary and health insurance benefits, what else do you want? What about learning opportunities so you can have more skills and be more marketable? What about career advancement? What about a positive work environment? You won't get what you want if you don't know what you want. When you have both sets of expectations clearly defined (i.e., for your company and yourself), you will be able to provide the maximum value to your company and in return have your own needs met. Sink or Swim will give you the skills and tools to strengthen your relationship with your employer and be your own champion.

How to Use This Book

We know what it is like to start a new job. It is both exciting and nerve-racking. Most of all, it is an opportunity. In your hands is a resource that we would have loved to have had as new employees. It is a compilation of our knowledge, experience, and best practices assembled into a user-friendly format.

Read the 5 Sink or Swim skills areas in this section before you start your job. Like anything else, it is important to understand what you need to do and why before you actually go do it. Each chapter will provide you with weekly detailed information about how to apply the 5 Sink or Swim skills