The first day at a new job can be both stressful and thrilling. After impressing your new employers with your interview and resume, it is time to live up to their high expectations of you. "Reduce your anxiety by being as meticulous in planning your first day as you were in securing your new position," says Lynn Taylor, national workplace expert. Use the following helpful tips to make your first day productive and successful.
Plan to dress for success. The first day is not the time to display your fashion prowess or showcase the latest trends. Find out your new company's dress code ahead of time, advises Teri Hockett, chief executive of a women's career site, "What's For Work?" Your goal as a new employee is to blend in with your colleagues, so err on the conservative side. Think of your first day as another interview; dress and speak as professionally as you did on your interview day.
Come to work fully prepared to ask questions and take notes. Most companies cram quite a bit of information into the first day, and between filling out the human resources paperwork, meeting all your new colleagues and taking a tour of the building, it can be a little overwhelming. Bring a notepad and pen to jot down important names or details, and feel free to speak up or ask a question about something you need to clarify. Your questions and curiosity reflect favorably on you as a new employee, so this is the time to ask them. To take it one step further, formulate questions about how you can be successful in your new position, advises Taylor.
Do not be afraid to just relax and be yourself. The first day is your opportunity to make a good impression, and you do not want to misrepresent yourself or pretend to be someone or something you are not, even if it is just to impress your new boss or colleagues. It sets you up for misery in the future when you have to keep up the act. Let your real personality be the star of the show. If you are nervous, remember that everyone in the office was once a newbie, so they understand the kind of pressure you may be feeling. These are people you will see every day and work with closely, so be as friendly and open as possible.
By coming to work on the first day prepared to ask questions, learning about company policies and procedures and letting your true self shine through, you set the stage for a happy future with your new employer. An effective and thorough first-day strategy leads to many more successful days in your new position.
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