| So months and months after your layoff, you've finally found a new job. You're thrilled, relieved - and worried about whether you'll fit in and can handle the work. One of the first hurdles you'll face is explaining where you've been. "Be honest, say 'I was let go,'" says recruiter David N. Schwartz of D N Schwartz & Co., in New York. "If someone doesn't understand that some of the best bankers in the world were let go over the last year, they're not worth working for."
Don't try to cover yourself by making up a story about how you were traveling or volunteering. "People get into trouble when they try to make up some lame excuse for what happened," Schwartz says. "Just say, 'My entire division blew up and they kept two out of 15 people in leveraged finance, and I wasn't one of them.'"
Of course, that kind of casual confidence can be tough to pull off. "For your own well being, you have to think you haven't done anything wrong," observes David Couper, a career coach in Los Angeles. "There will be people who will think What's wrong with that guy?, and the more you talk about it, the more you'll sound unsure of yourself. Don't focus on it, and other people won't care."
Unspoken Trial Period
In the current economic environment, the first 90 days on the job are critical. So be ready to excel the minute you walk in the door. "Companies don't have time to keep someone on board if they make the wrong hiring decision," says Jim Langan, partner and manager of the investment and financial services division at recruiter Winter, Wyman & Co. in Boston. "Companies are moving people out of their positions if they're not the right fit or they don't work hard."
How do you convey that you're right for the job in your first 90 days? Some things are obvious - like physically being in the office as much as possible. Arrive early, stay late, and don't take long lunches or personal time off. Watch your body language, especially if you're working in a cube. "You may have a lot of time on your hands in the first few months. Don't spend it reading the paper and leaning back in your chair surfing the Web," Langan says.
The mental side of returning to work can be trickier. "One of the things you have to get over is the head trash that goes on in your mind where you see yourself on the defensive going in," says Mary Lee Gannon, author of Starting Over: 25 Rules When You've Bottomed Out.
Fitting In
Any new job is a difficult adjustment, particularly if you were at your previous company for a long time. "Have realistic expectations. Firms do things differently. Don't be discouraged if this isn't the job you dreamed of," says Langan. "Give it time.”
On the other hand, you don't want to appear over-eager. "Don't try to impress too many people too quickly," says Schwartz. "If it's a high-quality place, they'll give you time to get to know the people and the place. Underpromise and overdeliver."
Concentrate on figuring out who the players are. "Who's having the meeting? Who's respected?" asks Couper. "It may not be your boss. It may be someone in a different group. Get to know them and find out what they’re talking about to get the culture of the firm quickly."
Finally, make sure you're up to speed on the latest skills, regulations and even the latest fads. Says Allison O'Kelley, chief executive of Mom Corps, an Atlanta staffing firm: "It can quickly make you look dated if you don't know things that are second nature to folks who haven't taken a break."
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