8 Tips for Having a Fruitful First Day at Work
Whether going through a career change or a change happening much later in your career, the first day at a new job can make you nervous. This nervousness is driven by your need to create a good impression on colleagues and peers. You can plan and take conscious steps to get over the first day’s nerves. Here are some top tips that help you make an impact on the first day of your job:
Dress Formally and Comfortably
You may have received information about the dress code that the office follows. From day one, follow the dress code to dress appropriately. If there is no specific dress code, wear smart casual rather than a t-shirt and jeans.
Arrive Early
Use navigational apps to calculate the time required to commute. Leave your home early so you can reach at least 15 minutes ahead of your reporting time. You can use this time to look around the office and understand the layout and location of the places you may use frequently. Arriving late on your first day is a definite no-no, and it is something that your superiors and colleagues may remember for a long time.
Be Prepared for a Full Working Day
Some companies have onboarding processes before the joining date to enable new employees to start their routine work immediately. Smaller companies may complete the onboarding process on the day of joining, which may take an hour or two. Be ready to start getting to work once the office sets up the workplace. Use the time to introduce yourself to your team members. Once you are set, be prepared to work normally without expecting any relaxation on your first day. The willingness to start working on the first day can reflect your professionalism.
Talk to Your Manager
Once you are at your desk, cubicle, or room, request a meeting with the manager to get instructions on your day-to-day responsibilities and duties. Understand the hierarchy of your team. Make a note of the reporting structure so that you maintain the necessary protocols from day one.
Be Inquisitive
You may be working in a role similar to your previous one, but there will be many differences in the new company’s approach. Talk to the managers and your team members before executing a task so you do not interfere with a set system. If you want to do things differently, inform your superiors and get their go-ahead. Ask questions about processes and systems, do’s and don’ts, so you do not ruffle feathers the first day. Talk to peers or team members, and do not hesitate to ask for help.
Control Your Enthusiasm
Although you want to impress your superiors and team members, over-enthusiastically responding to every query or request may make them uncomfortable. You will be able to get into the new rhythm and until then, be patient.
Be Friendly With Your Team
If you are joining as a new team member or a new manager, be friendly with your team. You can meet them together as a group or individually. Talk about yourself briefly, and focus on learning about them, their duties, and their responsibilities. If you are joining as a manager, avoid making changes to existing systems and processes on the first day. Talk to the team and explain the importance of changes that you have in mind. Most employees resist change, and you can be more hopeful of their cooperation by introducing changes gradually and logically.
Get Familiar With the Office
Understand the software, technologies, and tools used in the company. Spend time working on these tools, and talk to the technical team for help and support so that you can get to work without any delays. Familiarizing yourself with the existing tools and technologies can help you undertake your duties and responsibilities without disruption.