I’ve been working for the same hospital system for just over 2½ years. Yesterday, the powers of HR blessed my transfer to a new department where my skills will be much more taken advantage of.
I want to make the best impression possible. I was thinking of bringing a couple of boxes of Dunkin’ Donuts in on my first day. Good idea or bad?
Also, when you start a new job, the unwritten rule is that you wait about 6 months before asking for time off. What if it’s a transfer within the same organization, though? My vacation, sick days, etc., will all carry over. I’d really like the day off after Thanksgiving, but I don’t want to wait until the last minute to ask for it.
Is it a bad idea to wear a suit the first day? The dress code is a little more relaxed in the new department than my old one. I don’t want to overdress, but I want to look sharp, too.
Donuts are a great idea. Bring them with a sense of humor “I heard the new guy bringing donuts was a policy in this department…”
Don’t wear a suit unless other people wear a suit. Wear a suit if you want to sometime in week two. (I sit here in a suit, probably one of four people in a building of 3000 wearing a suit - the guy in the cube next to me has a Harley Davidson tshirt on. I don’t have a problem with a suit, but I don’t think you want to give the “stick up your butt” impression on day one.)
Ask for the day after Thanksgiving. Don’t ask for two weeks to tour Nepal in September. A day here or there - especially over the holidays, no big. However, being a hospital, if you have that sort of “people have to be here job” ask in the sort of “I know I’m low man on the totem pole for time off, but I was wondering if…” way. Not in the “and I need the day after Thanksgiving off” sort of way.
A lot would depend on how many people can be off at one time while still providing coverage. I’d say ask if there’s a vacation calendar for the department and see if anyone else has already requested the day after Thanksgiving off. You don’t want to come in and be the guy who tries to take vacation time around all the holidays, making others work. If no one (or only one or two, depending on department size) has scheduled it, then take it. We once had a person who had just started and announced she expected to take a week off at Christmas to visit her family in Mexico. She was quickly told that senority rules in the case of vacation time.
Doughnuts are fine, suit is a little over the top, in my opinion.
I wouldn’t over-dress – just aim for the same level as the others working around you.
Ask your new supervisor about taking the day after Thanksgiving off, but do so on the understanding that if it’s against formal or informal policy you won’t insist on it.
I disagree about the donuts. It’s gonna make you look like a suck up who is trying too hard. There’s plenty of time to bring goodies, but not the first day. Especially if you’re a boss, you’re underlings will think, “Oh this jerk is trying to get me on side already.”
As for time off, ask for it. If you’re in the same company time off should go by the number of years spent with the company.
But beware if there is a system of seniority.
I worked one place where someone with 15 years seniority transferred in. She immediately claimed all the holidays and Fridays for her own.
Since she had been their longer she bumped out everyone. And the other five people in the department had been their at least 5 years and had a system of time off worked out. But she came in and just bumped everyone aside, with vacation and early leave request and got them as the company went by seniority only
I agree with this. Doughnuts on the first day seems overeager, and forces people to have to make small talk with you right off the bat. It’s socially kind of awkward. Maybe on your first Friday (if you start your new job on a Monday or Tuesday or whatever), bring some food, throw out a general “Thanks to everyone for being so welcoming in my first week”, that sort of thing. Feels more organic and natural. Plus that gives you time to find out if everyone in your new department is allergic to wheat/ training for a triathlon / religiously forbidden to consume grape jelly filling / whatever.
Thirded. Doughnuts on the first day would be weird, but doughnuts on the first Friday (or Saturday if you have a non-standard schedule) would be appreciated.
I would see the doughnuts on the first day as kiss-ass. Also, you work in healthcare. I’d be careful about bringing treats until you see what the norm in your new dept is.
I’ve never heard of waiting 6 months to ask for time off if you’ve got it banked. Three months, maybe, but not 6, and not for something as common as the day after T’giving. They may say no if that’s a popular day to take off and the dept has to be covered, but doesn’t hurt to ask. I would wait a few weeks, though, before bringing it up.
I like this. I work with a fairly crunchy crowd, with many vegans among them. Doughnuts don’t go very quickly around here. Get a feel for what the new department’s like before offering food! And skip the suit if you already know it’s not the norm in that area. Something of a jacket nature, sure, aim for something “in-between” a full suit and chinos with a polo.
I’m always weary of newcomers bearing gifts. You also don’t want people to take the wrong way. It could look like you’re showing off if your pay went up. Also, it might be exspected of you to bring things in. Now, you have the money to buy donuts for all. You should wear a jacket. Six month rule still applies unless it’s an emergency.
Don’t bring donuts until you’ve met everyone, like after a month.
Don’t wear a suit unless you know it’s a suit kind of dress code amongst everyone who already works there. If they all wear suits, wear a suit. If they all wear khakis and polo shirts wear khakis and a polo. Besides… it is summer.
Always always ask to have Columbus Day off. Haha… kidding! (But not kidding about the donuts or the suit.)
I think you should wait for after week 2 for goodies. And I second bagels, with a regular and a low-fat cream cheese. I work at a hospital, too, though, and people bring doughnuts, chips, and all sorts of crap. Don’t get me started on the garbage in the cafeteria.
I disagree with the 6 month rule.
When to ask for time off, it depends.
I would not walk in the door and the first day ask for time off. But if I had plans I would not wait for the last minute. After you have gotten to know your boss an opertunity should come up to ask if it is going to be a problem getting a day off.
I have had plans in the works for over a year when a job offer came to me. in several cases I ask if it was going to be a problem most have said it could be arranged, 1 case the chief told me no time off until vacation time has been earned (6 months).
I have also brought it up in a interview that I had plans and hotel reservations for a week in August. I need to know if they offered the job would I need to cancel the reservation. when I was offered the job I asked if it was going to be a problem. I was told that as I brought it up in the interview they were expecting me to take the time off and it would be OK.
I got an email from the boss this morning asking me to come to the team’s weekly “huddle” today so I can be introduced. I start the job July 20th. Are bagels or donuts still a bad idea if I’ve already met everyone?