Author: maxim

7 things to think about starting a new job

Posted on by maxim

With workforce adjustment measures, many will be starting a new job against their will. Where should you begin, and where should you focus your attention?

This article offers a strategic checklist inspired by the book The First 90 Days in Government, written by Peter H. Daly and Michael Watkins and published by Harvard Business Review Press, to help you integrate quickly, set priorities, and make a strong first impression.

1. Conducting a professional assessment: an exemplary practice for building self-confidence

Before turning the page, take a moment to document your accomplishments and update your résumé. Write down the contact details of key people you want to stay in touch with.

2. Network smartly to attract employers’ attention

Share your good news with those who supported you. A short LinkedIn post or a personalized email is enough to express your gratitude and maintain your professional relationships.

3. Understanding internal culture and vocabulary: dos and don’ts

Read the organization’s annual report, internal communications, and publications. Take note of acronyms, the mission, values, and tone used. This immersion will help you speak the same language as your team and integrate more easily into the organizational culture.

To learn more, watch this short video on managing your professional image.

4. Take care of your workspace to inspire confidence

On your first day, take a few minutes to set up your desk. Clean, organize, and arrange your materials to reflect your personality. This space will become your anchor of calm and productivity.

5. Plan logistics and avoid missteps from day one

Test your commute, prepare your passwords, and check your professional attire. These small logistical details will prevent unnecessary stress and help you arrive confident and ready on your first day.

6. Cultivating the right mindset: the key to professional development

Reread your job description and visualize yourself succeeding. This proactive attitude shapes how others perceive you and demonstrate professional maturity. You’ll project the image of someone motivated, stable, and eager to learn.

7. Make good resolutions for inspiring leadership

New jobs, new energy! Take advantage of this transition to establish a positive habit: go for a walk at lunch, improve your English, or meditate for a few minutes a day. These small gestures will support your personal and professional balance.

In conclusion, the first 90 days often determine the quality of your integration. Prepare yourself, observe, learn, and most importantly, move forward with confidence.

To go further, explore the Leader in Development program—ideal for starting a new professional challenge with confidence and purpose.

And you? What’s the best tip you’ve applied when starting your current job?

Layoffs in the federal public service

Posted on by maxim

Have you ever received an email that turned your day upside down?

When a decision to cut jobs is made in the Canadian federal public service

Maryse received one after 18 years of service. Her position was eliminated. “I feel like I’m falling into a big black hole,” she told me. Like many of you, she went through shock, anger, and fear in an unpredictable order. And at some point, everything started to change instead of stubbornly trying to understand why this was happening to her, she asked herself how she wanted to respond.

In the federal public service, workforce adjustments may seem trivial, but behind these words lie human realities: loss, uncertainty, feelings of worthlessness. These decisions are beyond our control, but our reaction remains the internal safety net we can rely on.

Why do workforce restructuring decisions upset us so much?

I have often wondered why some people bounce back faster than others. Observing Maryse, I understood it all starts with your inner attitude.

In my article 5 regular practices to create a WOW effect (in French) I explain how simple habits can transform the way we experience change.

Maryse applied them, and here’s how:

  1. Take stock of your values. With my coaching, she became aware of what she was losing, but also what she was keeping and what really defined her. The experience and skills she had acquired would survive the break.
  2. Clarify your goals. Where did she want to go now? For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to dream of a job that would nourish her, not just financially.
  3. Reinvent yourself. Looking ahead, Maryse saw the break as a form of freedom. Following her heart, she chose a new direction, aligned with her values.

Little by little, Maryse realized that this break was not an end, but an opportunity to realign herself internally. She wasn’t just going to change jobs, she was going to move toward what truly defined her.

Turning a layoff or workforce reduction into a career springboard

What decision was imposed on you that allowed you to rediscover your inner compass?

Share your story in the comments. Your testimony could inspire others to find ways to bounce back in difficult situations.

Sign up for the free conference To Each His Own Story, where I will share some of the decisions that allowed me to grow and take back control of my life because I understood that every change hides a realignment.