John Dalton - How important is induction

Question: How important is a proper induction?

It’s incredibly important. I came to the University, I hadn’t worked at Cambridge before and when I came to my role in the Department of Pathology my boss was Head of Department and provided me with a very good, incredibly detailed induction package which I found later orientated myself within the role and understanding of what my objectives were, what I needed to know, who I needed to know, who I needed to talk with.

It was incredibly important in really finding myself welcome in the Department but also what I was expected to do in the first few weeks. Also, who I could turn to if I needed some help and so that local induction is part of your role. It’s incredibly important. The second purpose, you know, it is a complex environment. A university is a broad and large institution so I think another purpose of induction is just to expose you to how things work and some of the history and some of the organisational structures and I think that broader kind of induction just makes you feel part of something. Something which has a great history but also, you know, is at the forefront of research and education, nationally and internationally so that fulfils a very important role. And you get to meet other people who have also started at many different levels and many different roles. And that network and those relationships, I think, serve you in good stead as you embed yourself in the University.