After job hunting, preparing for an interview religiously, meticulously navigating the interview, you have finally landed and accepted that coveted job. Now, you are preparing for your first day at work.
Most of us remember our first day at work due to heightened pressure to impress. But you can reduce your anxiety by being as meticulous in planning your first day as you were in securing your new position.
After working for years in corporate; I have come to conclude some things you should do for a great first day at work.
1) Dress Appropriately
Dress up to make a good impression and ensure you’re meeting the company’s dress code. To be on the safe side; you can wear a cotton kurta with leggings and Kolhapuri’s or cotton trousers, button down shirt with flats or 3-inch heels. Observe around and then adapt your dressings according to office culture.
2) Show Up Early
You may not know exactly how long the commute will take. You should leave at least 15 minutes earlier than you normally would. Rush hour traffic could make your commute take longer and showing up for your job early is much better than being late. If you’re more than a few minutes early, wait at a nearby coffee shop until the time your recruiters asked you to arrive.
3) Review Orientation Materials Carefully
On your first day of work, most people need to take care of paperwork such as tax forms. You should read any materials you get carefully to understand your new employer’s health insurance coverage, retirement plans, vacation policy and more.
4) Be Inquisitive
New hires have a lot to learn, and asking questions now will help you avoid mistakes in the future.
Being inquisitive also shows that you want to do well in your new position.
5) Prepare A Brief Summary
Give the people you meet a short explanation of your work history and your new job. Tell them about your last job and your current job profile. You can also be prepared to talk about why you decided to change jobs.
6) Be Friendly
During introductions and first day conversations, smile and be friendly. During breaks, start neutral conversations like asking about which restaurants or coffee shops nearby are best or people’s plans for the weekend.
If your boss or some of your co-workers invite you to lunch, consider taking the offer. Eating lunch is a great way to make friends and find out more about the people you’ll be working with.
A good friend could also help you advance your career.
7) Observe Others
In most work environments, learning from the right co-workers is important. You should listen to people’s conversations carefully and watch their behavior. That way, you can focus on emulating the most successful people and making friends with the people who can help you most.
8) Figure Out The Social Landscape
Two of the more important factors in succeeding at a job or career are to not only get along with your co-workers, but also to associate with the right ones.
It’s also very essential that you begin to determine the office politics on day one. It is vital to understand the articulated positional hierarchy in your organization — who answers to whom.
9) Be Available To Your Supervisor
If your supervisor sends you an email or tells you to come to their office, respond immediately. This demonstrates both respect and enthusiasm to your new manager.
10) Pay Attention To Your Body Language
You’re often communicating with other people through your body language. Sit or stand up straight and avoid signs of nervousness or boredom such as touching your hair or face.
11) Learn the professional rules
On your first day, your employer will have a description of your responsibilities — either written or verbal. This is what is required for you to do to be successful at your job. But mostly, there is usually a gap between what you should do, and what actually happens.
While you shouldn’t neglect any articulated duties, there may be more that are implicitly expected of you. It is usually best to find this out sooner rather than later.
12) Relax
If you start to feel nervous or stressed, take some long, slow, deep breaths and focus on being present.
13) Say Goodbye When You Leave
When you’re ready to leave, wish your supervisor and colleagues a good night and tell them that you look forward to seeing them tomorrow.
Conclusion
While the first day at a new job is very important, you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself if it doesn’t go flawlessly. You should prepare and try to do your best, but remember that if you try to accomplish too much, you may get overwhelmed. Understand that there’s always tomorrow.
How did you navigate your first day at work? Do let us know in the comment section.
Until then
Very interesting, thanks!
Glad you liked it. Thanks for your kind comment.