How do I fit in on a new crew without trying too hard?

Don't worry about fitting in right away. You weren't hired to fit in. You were hired to do a job.

Do your job and do it well. Be on time. Be dependable. Pay attention. Ask questions when you don't understand something. You don't have to like the same music, eat the same food, or have anything in common with the people you're working with. I've worked extremely well with people I probably wouldn't have chosen as friends. That's fine. We're there to work.

There's also a difference between questioning an instruction and trying to understand it.

If your foreman tells you to do something, immediately responding with, "Why?" can sound like you're challenging the instruction. Do the task if it's safe and you understand what's expected. If it doesn't make sense afterward, ask about it.

"Hey, I did what you told me, but I don't understand why we do it that way. Can you explain it?"

That's different. You're trying to learn.

Sometimes you won't have a foreman who explains much. You may have to ask someone else later, watch how the next task connects to what you just did, or figure some of it out through experience.

If you've been there for a while, you're doing good work, you're dependable, and you still don't feel like part of the crew, then some responsibility starts moving toward leadership. A good foreman or superintendent should notice that. If I see somebody doing their part and I think they're a keeper, I'll tell the foreman, "The guy's doing all right. Start getting him more involved."

But it works both ways.

If you're the new guy constantly telling experienced people how your old company did everything, trying to direct people who don't report to you, or trying too hard to impress everybody, somebody may need to pull you aside.

Nobody cares how your old company did everything. Learn this crew. Respect the chain of command. Keep doing good work. Calm down and give people time to get to know you.

You don't earn your place by trying to be cool.

You earn it by becoming somebody the crew can depend on.