Ask WYE – Issue 39 – What’s the best advice for a lateral being the new guy?

Listener PJ reached out recently with a question about changing agencies.

I am coming from a state agency (where i did work in a large city, but relatively small department) and going to a city agency of similar size, officer wise. It sounds like you have worked for the same agency your entire career, but maybe you have had people lateral into your agency from other agencies? What problems did they have? How were they successful, or unsuccessful?

While MC has been at the same agency, HM has bounced around a bit and both share advice on being the new guy when you’re not really all that new. This week the guys discuss:

• How to handle being experienced but not able to use your experience.
• When to hold your tongue and when to interject.
• What are some of the common mistakes when changing agencies.
• Is it unfair for the new hires with experience to test for promotion?

The guys are still sheltered in place but that doesn’t change the fact that, sometimes, you’re the senior man with an FTO who just learned to shave.