Do you remember your first day at school? You were anxious about fitting in, making new friends and doing well in your classes. Fast-forward 10-15 years, where your first day at work isn’t much different.
This time, however, you’re not in the same boat with everyone else, as you’re walking into an environment where relationships have already been formed and you are the outsider trying to conform.
You never know what to expect on the first day of a new job, but what you do know is that you need to set a great first impression.
To push the nerves aside and jumpstart your first day with ease, follow these top tips!
1. Get an early night
Don’t rock up on your first day of work with just a few hours of sleep; there’s nothing worse than yawning through your first eight hours and struggling to keep your eyes open past 2pm – there is no amount of coffee that’s going to save you. The trick is to start setting yourself an appropriate bedtime at least a few nights before so your body gets used to some kind of routine.
2. Don’t be shy
Being shy will get you nowhere on your first day. Reach out and introduce yourself to people if your manager or trainer hasn’t already done this. Try to remember names while doing this as it’ll help you form relationships with your new colleagues.
3. Be confident
When I say confident, I don’t mean ‘sit there and chat with your colleagues all day’. Rather, have an open body language, smile and be welcoming. Being fair and truthful will impress your new team members instead of being an attention-grabber (that will soon put them off).
4. Don’t throw demands around
There’s nothing worse than throwing demands around on your first day that you didn’t already discuss during the interview process. You can’t turn up on your first day and say something like, ‘By the way, I have to leave early on Fridays to pick up my daughter from school!’ ‘If you hadn’t talked about that prior to joining, landing in the new job and suddenly dropping these kinds of bombs on them really shows a lack of communication and respect on your part.’
5. Make your own judgements
The office gossip has already streamlined you and is getting you up-to-speed on office politics. Be polite but don’t engage in any bashing. You need to make your own judgements on the workplace and the people there. Listen and observe how people act before you dig yourself into a hole.
6. Put your phone on silent
You need to be present and focused at work, especially on your first day. Keep your phone on silent and tucked away in your bag or coat pocket to resist temptation. Figure out the ropes and settle in before you place your phone on your desk.
7. Have high energy
The start of a new job is when most employees are enthusiastic. The process of securing the job might have been long, hard and exhausting, but embrace the fact that you’ve actually bagged yourself a job and begin with high spirits!
8. Learn how people communicate
It’s important to figure out how employees communicate with each other in the workplace as it can differ between companies and environments. Some might prefer in-person discussions, while others might use an internal message device or email.
9. Dress appropriately
Choosing the right outfit and following the correct dress code is important. If you’re unsure of what to wear, don’t be afraid to call the HR department and find out. There’s nothing worse than rocking up on your first day in denim jeans only to discover everyone else is in business wear – all because you happened to interview on a casual Friday.
