Meeting the team

If I’m honest, I was nervous to meet a new team at first. After working in my own bubble for so long, the busy studio environment was a bit of a culture shock. But the SANDBOX team has been extremely welcoming and has helped me get to grips with agency life since I stepped through their door on day one. I even attended my first work event with them, which really helped me connect with everyone outside the workplace.

With eight weeks of agency life now under my belt, I have learnt five key lessons on my journey so far.

1. Communication is key

Agency life is incredibly fast-paced! When working with different team members, it’s crucial to share your progress, ask questions, and speak up if you're struggling. While it's natural to want to nail everything on the first try, that’s rarely the reality. Asking questions doesn’t mean you don’t know what you’re doing - it shows you’re dedicated to following business processes and meeting team expectations right from the get-go.

2. All feedback is good feedback

When starting a new job, it's important to understand that all feedback is good feedback. Often, feedback can be mistaken for criticism, but what may seem negative is actually constructive and invaluable for growth. By asking for and learning from feedback, you gain insights that help you make better decisions, enhance your performance, and deliver better work for clients and colleagues

3. Play on your strengths

When joining a new team, everyone brings unique strengths to the table. These can be anything from organisation and note-taking to specialised skills like social media marketing and website design. Don't underestimate the value of your abilities just because you're a newbie. Show off what you already know, and build on that foundation as you gain more experience

4. Your team is your support system

Starting a new job is a great opportunity to connect with industry experts and soak up their knowledge. No two people have the same expertise, so it's important to understand where everyone’s strengths lie. By leveraging your team’s diverse skillset, you can elevate your work by working smarter.

5. Track your progress

Tracking your progress when starting a new role can be incredibly helpful. Whether you use a spreadsheet to log daily tasks or jot down your reflections in a notebook, it can change how you view your job role. Starting a new job can feel a bit daunting to begin with, but spending just 10-15 minutes a day on this can put your progress and achievements into perspective.

So, what next?

Marketing Executive? Project Manager?

Who knows! But what I do know for sure is that I am excited for what my future at SANDBOX has in store for me.