Understand the Job

You will have gained an insight during the selection process of what your responsibilities will be and the reporting structure within the department in which you are working. However, it is rare that your initial impressions from the interview process are fully accurate or complete. In order to function fully effectively you will need to clarify at an early stage, ideally within the first six weeks:

• your precise responsibilities;
• the expectations of your manager, and any other senior executives whose objectives you are supporting;
• decision making authority;
• budgetary and management responsibilities;
• departmental structure;
• the place of the department within the organisational hierarchy;
• how your function or department is perceived within the organisation, ie. is it held in high regard and, if not, why?
• lateral lines of responsibility and liaison;
• key internal customers and suppliers with whom you will need to establish effective working relationships.