Brits admit to dropping their A game six weeks into new job

Brits admit to dropping their A game six weeks into new job by Michael Cheary Brits admit that best behaviours slip six weeks into starting a new jobWomen bake cakes while men buy pints in a bid to impress new colleaguesAverage UK worker wastes 33 minutes every day on ‘me-related tasks’ costing employers an average of £2149 per worker  Brits are on their best behaviour for an average of just six weeks when starting a new role, according to our latest research.However, once settled in, the temptation to kill time is too much for many of us, as UK workers admit they dedicate time to ‘me-related’ tasks on the job, costing employers an average of £2149 per person per annum.*Baking, beverages and briberyIn an attempt to make a good first impression, new jobbers go all out.The research reveals almost two thirds of women (61 per cent) channel their inner Mary Berry and treat team members to homemade cakes, whereas men (67 per cent) prefer to buy workmates lunch or an after-hours pint.Almost a quarter of workers (22 per cent) arrive at work early to try and impress their boss, whilst one in six (16 per cent) check their phone only during breaks to avoid distractions.The ‘six week rule’Despite our best intentions, the desire to impress our new employer begins to slip around six weeks after starting a new job with the average worker admitting to spending 33 minutes indulging in ‘me-time’ at work.Checking personal emails was named as the top ‘desktop distraction’ for nearly a third of workers (30 per cent), closely followed by checking social media and replying to text and Whatsapp messages.Once in the swing of things, one in five (19 per cent) admit they will even take an extra-long lunch for the chance to catch up with friends.No accountability in accountancy?Interestingly, the desire to keep up appearances and make a good impression does differ dramatically depending on the industry.Engineering employers can rest assured that employees will not surrender to ‘desktop distractions’, as over half (58 per cent) claim they keep up the good impressions for at least a year.Accountancy staff settle in much quicker, with over a fifth of those (23 per cent) in the industry admitting to succumbing to ‘me-related tasks’ after just 22 to 30 days.Top five ways to make a good first impressionEasily distracted? Here are five ways you can make sure you’re giving off a good first impression:Arrive early in the mornings to get a head startLeave phone in bag/pocketDon’t open any personal emails or searching the internetGo the extra mile and do additional work to get aheadStay late to look eager*Survey of 2,592 jobseekers from reed.co.uk databaseGetting bored of your day job? Find your perfect position now.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used i n accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features Work-life balance

[Wo]men stumble over pebbles, but never over mountains. Emily Cady

[Wo]men stumble over pebbles, but never over mountains. â€"Emily Cady The following is a guest post by Hannah Payne.  Her bio follows. “Three, two, one, take a breath. I may stumble over pebbles but never over mountains.” These eight little words popped up onto my phone a few days ago and I have not read a truer statement in a very long time. My journey in this industry is not one of overnight success, but of little victories and challenges as I climb this mountain that is Luba By Hannah Payne. The following 5 statements are my guiding force. 1.   Trust yourself more than anyone else.  I’ve been dreaming about this my entire life. I know that this passion is part of my soul and at the end of the day, I need to trust myself. This advice was shared with me in one of my last classes at Parsons School of Design. A guest speaker from LVMH told us that at the end of the day, you know what is best for the brand. Listen to others and think about their advice, but never compromise your own thoughts or ideas to please someone else. It is easy to have self- ­-doubt when things are going south, but when you allow the doubt to rule your choices, you lose yourself in the end. 2.   Never give up your dream.  This sounds cliché but this phrase drives me. ‘Never give up. NEVER give up.’ Focus on your dream, figure out what your end goal is, and make a plan to achieve it. I have found as an emerging designer, you are faced with a lot of rejection, criticism, and “free advice.” This is where you grow thick skin and keep your mental space focused only on the end goal. It doesn’t matter how talented you are or how much money you can put into the brand. What matters most is having the mental staying power to keep climbing. 3.   Work your absolute hardest.  I remember being at a cocktail party when I first launched Luba and a woman asked me what I did. When I told her, she laughed at me and asked, “so how do you actually start a brand?” To her, I seemed like another head- ­-in- ­- the- ­-clouds ‘fashion girl.’ So I told her: “You first need to have investors, then you create a business plan, find a patternmaker, then you create samples, and the list goes on,” plus a thousand more things in between. When I actually thought about everything that goes into starting a brand, I was very amazed by everyone that does it. This conversation lit a fire in me - ­- although I will probably never see her again, I wanted to prove her wrong. To do this, I need to be the biggest advocate for the brand, which means going to factories, fittings, tradeshows, stores, and any networking opportunities that come along. It’s hard work but rewarding. 4.   Take time to form relationships and surround yourself with people that know more than you. One of the hardest challenges I had when it came to starting the brand was finding factories. It came down to my connections that I had from internships and blindly hoping factory owners would answer my calls. Now, after years of working together, our relationship are strong and they are more willing to rush orders for me, pick up zippers if needed, and go above and beyond. This is just one of a hundred examples. In this business and frankly, any business, personal relationships and connections are everything. Spend the time to create and nurture them. 5.   Stumble over pebbles, never over mountains.  It is very easy to get distracted by all the little speed bumps - ­- whether it’s a store not wanting to sell your clothes, a fabric manufacturer that’s delayed on a shipment, or zippers being too short for a jacket. In the moment, it takes a toll. Doubt comes in, you begin to second- ­-guess yourself, and you lose sight of your mountain. Do not let all the small problems distract you and crush your spirit. One day, you will look back and laugh at these pebbles because you will have reached the top of your mountain. Keep climbing, girls! About Hannah Payne Made with love in NYC,  Luba  is a ready-to-wear brand with exquisitely constructed pieces that creates a utopia of style for the modern day woman. The clothes are  instantly recognizable through their intricate details, unique fabrics, and classic shapes. In her junior year of college, Hannah secretly “studied abroad” in Florence little did her parents know, she was taking drawing, sewing, and fashion classes to further her passion into a tangible business. She volunteered at a domestic violence shelter and realized that she wanted to create a business that not only supports women, but also gives back to them. To this day, a portion of every sale from Luba goes back to support local women’s shelters. .