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REMEMBER REMEMBERTest the route to work in advance or give yourself plenty of time Dress neutrally Bring in any documentation that has been requested Remember the names of the people who interviewed you Smile at everyone but don’t be overly friendly till you know them better Be prepared to be taken out for lunch Don’t be afraid of asking simple questions Don’t make any negative comment on how colleagues do their work Keep notes to refer back to later Don’t call home or send personal emails Offer to get the coffees in. |
A few nerves when starting a new job are only to be expected. Nathalie Towner runs through some of the dos and don’ts on how to get through that crucial first day
Coping on day one
The first day at school is a significant milestone in most people’s
lives and the first day in a new job is little different. After all it
marks the beginning of a new era and it’s important to not get off
on the wrong foot.
According to a survey by recruitment agency Office Angels three quarters
of office workers rank the first day in a new job as one of the most daunting
experiences of their adult lives – more so than the actual job interview
itself.
But basically the really worry is that you’ll make a stupid mistake
on the first day and never be able to fully recover from it. After all
first impressions do count.
This is why presentation is key. If you are not sure what the dress code
is it is well worth calling up to check but even if it is very casual
it is best to go smart and neutral at least for the first few days.
Of course the impact of good presentation will be somewhat diminished
if you rock up late. It’s hard to anticipate what the traffic will
be like or what is the best route to take so either do a practice run
beforehand or simply leave yourself with plenty of time to spare.
One of the first tasks may be sorting out a swipe card and sorting out
other administrative task. Check beforehand if you need to bring in passport
photos or NI or bank details.
Most companies will offer you a guided tour of the offices and introduce
you to everyone you’ll be working alongside. No one expects you to
remember the names of everyone you meet but you should make an effort
to recall the names of the people who actually interviewed you. In the
Office Angels survey 31% of the respondents failed to even recognise or
remember the name of that person that had interviewed them.
You won’t be expected to do much work on day one as it is really
about meeting people. So don’t shut off any opportunities to get
to know colleagues by arranging to meet friends who work nearby for lunch
or bringing in some homemade sandwiches to eat on your own.
Chatting to people in the right way is important. The key is to pitch
it between professional but not cold and friendly without revealing everything
about all your past failed relationships and what you do when you get
really drunk. It’s better to spend more time listening, as you need
to work out the pecking order and how the team operates generally.
Information overload is all too common when you start a new job. To avoid
people having to repeat themselves to you a few days later it’s a
good idea to take notes of any crucial bits of information that would
otherwise go straight over your head.
A lot of the first day will be spent observing. Not only will you be
learning about the specifics of your new job but what the working environment
is like and how your boss wants things done. Everywhere is slightly different
and in time you’ll doubtless want to make changes but keep those
reflections for when you’re more established in your post.
Friends and family will be dying to know how you’re getting on but
its best to avoid receiving or making any personal emails or phone calls
on your first day. It’s probably best not to ask too many questions
about holidays and going-home time either.
If first day nerves get too much – just remember they chose you
over every other candidate so be yourself. Be interested in what is going
on around you and ask questions as no one expects you to know what is
going on. It’s better to ask questions early on and not six months
into the job.
And most importantly offer to get the coffees in, as this act of friendliness
will make you truly accepted.
Contact the article's author Nathalie Towner
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