Starting a new job is very difficult. This is especially true for TPMs because the role can be ambiguous and the value is unclear. The purpose of this section is to provide some advice for starting a new TPM job. I’ve switched job positions a few times, and these are the common lessons I’ve learned and tried to keep in mind through these transitions.

Listen, ask, and then speak

The meetings can be hard to attend when you’re new. There is great uncertainty surrounding and when and if to speak and how much value you can add to the discussion. Here is what I try to do in meetings when I am new:

Listen well and take notes

Listen to what everyone says and pay close attention. It can give you clues on what is important to everyone. It can also reveal individuals’ operating styles and communication habits. Picking up these skills will greatly benefit you in building relationships with your key stakeholders.

One of the best things to do in every meeting is to take notes, even if it is just for yourself. Being the new employee means learning a lot of new internal jargon, acronyms, and technologies. Write things down, and it will help you retain the information. It also serves as a useful reference of things to research later. In addition, it also helps with making you a better listener in the meeting.

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