5 Tips for Rocking Your First Day at Your New Job

By Lorena Roberts on June 4, 2018

Starting a new job is pretty intimidating. It’s hard to know what to expect. What if your coworkers are mean? What if you didn’t bring enough to eat for lunch? What if it’s the most boring job you’ve ever had? In the grand scheme of things, you’re probably worrying way too much about the little things. But it can still feel pretty daunting – walking into an environment where everyone is new to you, without being sure of what’s expected can be the scariest thing about your new job. But you should be excited and thankful that you’re moving on to bigger and better things. Know that if you’ve been offered a job, you are capable, well-liked, and accepted. Here are seven tips you should follow if you want to rock the first day of your new job:

via Pexels.com

1. Show up prepared.

This doesn’t just mean show up on time in an outfit that fits the dress code. Being prepared for your new job means you have everything with you that’s required: photo IDs, a nice pen, and a packed lunch. Depending on how long you’ll be working that day, maybe you need a phone charger. Do they expect you to have your own laptop or will they provide one? Make sure you know exactly what you need to bring with you… otherwise, you’re out of luck.

2. Plan ahead.

It’s probably not wise to wait until the morning of your first day to pick out your outfit. In fact, making sure you have something to wear that fits nicely and is in line with the dress code is something you work on a few days before you show up for your first day. Showing up presentable, well-dressed, and clean is very important. Remember: this is the first impression your coworkers will have of who you are, and no matter how much we deny it, the first impression is the most important one. They’ll base how hard you work, how reliable you are, and whether or not you were a “good hire” on how you show up looking the first day.

3. Exude confidence.

Especially when introducing yourself, make sure you’re giving off confident vibes. You’ve been offered a job, you’ve accepted, and now here you are. You’re worthy of being there, and your supervisors think you’ll do a great job. No one is rooting for you to fail. So make sure when you show up for the first day of your new job, you can confidently (but not arrogantly) introduce and talk about yourself. Your new coworkers will want to know what kind of person you are, if you’re married or have kids, and what you like to do in your free time. The smartest way to show up on the first day is with your confident shoes on!

Arrogance, however, is a huge turnoff to many in the workplace. You’re new — so you don’t, in fact, know everything. Keep your head on straight. Otherwise, your first day is going to be making a whole lot of enemies.

via Pexels.com

4. Listen closely.

More than likely, your first day will be full of giving you new information. Hopefully, you’re good at keeping up with verbal directions and information. The way this information is given to you will likely rely on who is in charge of training you. Some of the better trainers will explain things in detail, giving you purpose and step-by-step instructions. Others will assume you know what you’re doing and leave you to figure it out on your own. Regardless of the type of person you have training you, show up ready to listen to every detail. You’ll want to get things right the first time.

* Pro tip: when you get home after your first day, write down all the questions you have about daily procedures. You won’t want to overwhelm someone with them all at once, but you also don’t want to forget them. It’ll be handy to have a list of questions when the person who’s training you says, “Any questions?”

5. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

It’s your first day for crying out loud! Don’t be too tough on yourself, and realize that everyone makes mistakes. No one is expecting you to be perfect on the first day (or even on the second or third). Take your time learning the processes, and ask questions when you don’t understand. The best kind of employee is one who is self-aware. Having the ability to ask the right questions will save your supervisors a lot of time in your evaluation.

Congratulations on snagging a new job! You’re likely very excited about what’s in store for you. Your coworkers will be rooting for you as you walk in on the first day. So remember, stay confident, ask questions, and show up looking sharp. You’ll get through your first day without much complication.

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