Hi everyone!!
I am so grateful to have just landed a really wonderful gig. The collaborative team is quite a bit larger than I am used to working on.
As I mentally prepare, I am wondering what you value in a good new teammate, particularly in the context of a big team.
Thank you!
-C
Hi Caitlin
I think every new teammate can bring something fresh and out of the box into a team. Especially when people have been working on the same problem for a long time.
Also, something I really like is compliments 
Iām sort of kidding, but sometimes I do things in a way, and when somebody says āoh yeah, we did it like that as wellā itās very reassuring and makes me think āweāre going to get along just fineā
But, be careful when with things like āAt we did it like thisā. Itās might make make people think āthen why didnāt you stay thereā. I think itās really important to keep your eyes and ears open in the early days, observe things and once you get then hang of how things are happening, you can suggest improvements.
Things always happen for a reason, even if they seem bizzare at first 
Good luck! New place to work is always a fascinating experience.
Thank you @jdebari and @rajsca! Helpful practical tips!! Thank you!! I think I sometimes get new-guy-nerves and need a bit of a mantra to fill the silence.
Does anyone else get those sort of āI have to say something to fill the silenceā nerves? What do you do to act as gracefully as possible in those scenarios? Lol - that may just be a life lesson (not ux specific) but Iād love to know your thoughts about that, too.
Great question Caitlin. The thing that usually stands out for me when someone joins is whether or not they have the courage to ask ādumb questionsā. If they donāt I tend to wonder whether they are wasting time not doing things that they are too afraid to ask about.
Oh man yes! I love when people ask all the questions. It helps me feel more comfortable with other questions I have when I see people asking things in a confident way.
I think, the best advice to āfill in the silenceā nerves isā¦ be yourself.
If you donāt feel comfortable in the silence say something. If you donāt feel comfortable speaking with people youāre around, stay quiet.
You are the only person you have to spend the rest of your life with, and thatās the person you want to please most.
And this is easier said than done, and it is ux specific, after all, we are all users of life
Ok, Iām not nuts but seriously, being yourself, not wondering at each step how to behave, what to say is not an easy thing but the truth is, there will be people who will like you and people who will not. So, (look above), be the person you want to be and just let things flow.
similar to others - be enthusiastic and open-minded, be approachable and friendly. Also be positive and donāt moanā¦ nobody likes a moaner! Ask questions when appropriate and read your surroundings e.g. If a colleague has earphones in or looks like they are concentrating hard, they donāt want to talk.
Silence doesnāt have to be a bad thing. Just get on with your own work. If you donāt have any work, however, then make yourself available to help others. Until you gauge your colleagues, you wont know if people prefer to chitchat or not, so ease yourself in.
Going to lunches and coffees with your new colleagues is a great way to get in a bit closer with them, so for the first week at least, make a conscious effort to invest time with them to break down any early barriers.
Good luck!
I love this advice Dorota.
And this. I sometimes find it a bit tiring when people come in guns-a-blazing because they want to make an impression. A better impression is sometimes sitting back and taking in the scenery.
This answer came from Twitter:
@HAWK : I think I will keep this written on the back of my hand!!!
Speak to real users as often as possible
Have a look at old user testing reports
Ask colleagues the reasons why they have designed things in the way they have
Donāt rush in and make changes until you understand why it was designed that way in the first place