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How to make a perfect start to your new job

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So the hard part of securing a job is over! You have passed the job interview and are starting a new job. 

The next step is often daunting – your first day. 

Even though you have experience, things will be different from your old role. 

Work cultures differ as you move to different companies. 

Some people feel nervous at first and struggle to adjust to the new work environment. 

Even with your experience, it’s very new. 

You might not know the work systems and little things like where the toilets and meeting rooms are will take some learning. 

You’ll need to fit into your new workplace and get to know your new colleagues. 

In this article, we look at why the early days after starting a new job are so important and offer tips to help you succeed in your new position.

Why is the first day at a new job important?

The day you start your new job sets the tone for the rest of the journey. 

You will be taught the essential details and training sessions for working properly on your first day. 

You’ll observe the new workplace, learn about daily routines and workflow, do a human resources tour, meet many new colleagues, become acquainted with other sections of your office or building, and much more.

You probably won’t be given specific responsibilities matching your real position on the same day as starting your new job. 

Your first day sets the stage for your future work encounters, and you never get another chance to build an impression.

READ MORE: Things To Avoid When Starting A New Job

Things to avoid on your first day

Don’t bad-mouth your old employer

Talking negatively about a previous job experience might detract from the beginning of your new job.

Instead, concentrate on how happy you are about this prime opportunity and put your previous career in the past. 

This might demonstrate to your new employees that you have a good, optimistic mentality.

Don’t complain about being tired

Displaying your enthusiasm for your new employee to others might assist in conveying a good attitude and passion for the new work. 

Yawning or looking tired might give the wrong message, even if you’re fascinated. 

Don’t criticize the work equipment

On the first day of your new job, remember to be courteous and express gratitude rather than being judgmental. 

But in some situations, like if your keyboard is not working, you must respectfully request a replacement. 

You can talk to human resources about health-related adjustments, such as a supporting chair.

Do not request a raise

Surprise, surprise, asking for a pay rise on your first day is not a good move. Don’t do it. 

Instead, after a few months, when you’ve established the new role, completed specific goals, and are ready for a performance review, you may bring this up.

Don’t complain

You may see unproductive and out-of-date systems shortly after starting a new job. 

But this is certainly not the moment to condemn them. 

Instead, make a genuine attempt to carry out your work obligations as instructed. 

This can provide insight into the systems that are not fit for purpose. 

It can also teach you to recommend changes in suitable contexts, such as a performance evaluation.

Avoid gossiping

For the first few weeks on the job, make sure to talk pleasantly and professionally. 

Even during events like business mixers, you can crack jokes but don’t start spreading jokes.

You will be relaxed more in your career as time passes, but abstaining from gossip can help you establish respect in the company after starting your new job.

Don’t pass up lunch

You may feel obligated to stay at work to catch everything, but accept if a new coworker invites you to have lunch with them. 

This is an excellent way to make a good first impression since it demonstrates your eagerness to socialize with your new colleagues. 

This is the best time to get to know each other and share real-life experiences with workmates. 

So say goodbye to your packed lunch and have a good time. 

Try to closely bond with at least one colleague in the initial weeks after starting a new job .

If the timing for their lunch invitation clashes with a meeting or other top time-sensitive projects, respectfully turn down the offer and ask if they’re available for lunch the following day to convey that you’re interested in getting to know them.

Stop trying too hard, and don’t boast

Most of us recall our after starting a new job because of the pressure to create an impression. 

We realize you’re ready to start your desired career and establish a name for yourself. 

But it’s only your first day on the job! 

It’s fine to be enthusiastic. 

There’s no need to charm your coworkers straight away.

If you pitch how amazing you are at this role or boast about your prior achievements, you may wind up making a bad impression and turn people away. 

How to feel confident on day one

Beginning a new job is thrilling, but you may be anxious about the first day. 

Nervousness is perfectly natural and something that almost everyone goes through. 

However, trying to concentrate on your new job while feeling nervous might be difficult.

Here are a few actions you may take to soothe your nerves when starting a new job, as well as recommendations for getting started with as little tension as possible.

Keep your expectations in check

It’s critical to remember beginning a new job entails learning new skills, the company culture, and how the department operates. 

You may require more than a day to learn the job and become acquainted with your coworkers. 

Maintain reasonable goals and expectations by noting that you are new to the position. 

Approach the new role with a positive attitude

Your new employment is a great experience that will allow you to learn and progress professionally. 

If you mess up, figure out how to rectify it and how to stop it happening again. 

Recognizing the prospect of making errors may lift your spirits and put you in a more efficient frame of mind as you begin your new career.

READ MORE: How To Start A New Job Without Suffering From Stress

How to prepare for the first day

Do your research on the company

It’s essential to have enough background knowledge about the place where you are about to start working. 

Use social media to know the corporate ethos and the standards of dressing. Keep a printout of the employee handbook; you can analyze and plan for in-depth questions beforehand. 

Having a list of practical and general questions handy would be helpful.

Get a good night’s sleep

You’ve definitely read this tip before! 

If you don’t get a decent night’s sleep the night before, it could mean you struggle to focus and understand some of the avalanche of new information. 

Getting an early night is a shrewd move.

The ideal amount of sleep is between seven and eight hours every night. Anything less can substantially limit productivity. 

Dress Sensibly 

Dress well to build a good first impression and comply with the company’s guidelines. 

Don’t be reluctant to call and ask the HR department if you are unsure of the dress code. 

Maintain the same level of professionalism that you displayed throughout the interview process. 

Try adjusting your work outfit after observing your new colleagues. 

Make necessary adjustments to the outfit choices later, depending on your office culture.

Make a travel plan

On your first day of work, you may not know how long driving or catching public transport would take. 

You don’t want to arrive stressed out from a tense drive or a public transport route that was much longer than you thought. 

And you definitely want to arrive on time on your first day. 

You should leave at least 15 minutes before your regular departure time. You can’t predict rush hour traffic or unexpected roadworks. 

Arriving early for work is preferable to arriving late. 

You can utilize the extra time to prepare for the day if you arrive more than a few minutes early.

Pointers to keep in mind for a successful start to your new job

As today’s workplace is swiftly moving towards working remotely or in a hybrid system, workplace rules are changing.  

However, following the pandemic, many employers now require their employees to return to work for at least a few days a week.

This means there are certain things you should and shouldn’t do when working alongside your new colleagues.

READ MORE: Relocating For Your New Job

Ask questions when needed

New hires have to learn many new things. 

So, asking intelligent questions early at work, especially during orientation meetings, will help you prevent mistakes later. 

For instance, if you want to inquire about the tasks you may need to prioritize or how frequently your supervisor wants to get reports. Inquisitiveness also demonstrates a desire to succeed in your new role. Ensure you maintain a link with HR to clarify your basic inquiries by asking follow-up questions at any time.

Be friendly and approachable

Smile, be upbeat, and give a self-introduction to your new team. 

Join in chats and enjoy building relationships during breaks by employing casual conversation starters. 

You can ask about weekend plans, the best places for outings, and comfy cafes to dine out. 

Remember not to ask personal questions while at the same time being open-minded. 

Keep it light to start with; your new colleagues probably need more time to be ready for your political views! 

Cultivating friendships is the right foot to put forward as the coworkers see you as a fellow team member, and they will feel good about you. 

Making friends means people will also be more willing to help you succeed in your career. 

If you present yourself as warm and approachable early, you will be well on the best way to establish trust. 

Lend a helping hand when needed and create a little goodwill among the team.

Little things like making drinks and bringing in the odd treat will also help build bridges. 

Study the onboarding and orientation materials

You may devote an entire day or a week to the onboarding process. 

Make time during the first day to review the rules and policies of your company.

You will generally handle paperwork on the first day, such as your tax forms. 

You should carefully study all documents to understand the health insurance coverage, retirement programs, vacation policies, and other benefits. 

Part of this material may be sent to you after your first day, and you may be required to read the rest in your own time.

Save this documentation so you may refer to it later if necessary.

Be positive 

Delivering positive energy to work on the first day is the most invaluable insight to making an important first impression. 

Your enthusiasm and team spirit will set the tone for the remainder of your career. 

Projecting high energy promotes healthy relationships and greater opportunities, whereas negative energy promotes bad relationships and difficulty in coping.

Observe people closely

Attempting to learn from the right people is essential in most jobs. 

You should consider what your colleagues say to get the big picture. 

That way, you can focus on following the most successful people and forming relationships with those you can best benefit from.

That’s not to say ignore the rest of your colleagues, or look like a sycophant, but there is nothing wrong with learning from the best. 

Those people will also help you get a handle on the inevitable office politics. 

Know the rules

Your employer will provide you with a written or verbal summary of your obligations on your first day. 

Take it seriously, as it is an important factor in your career growth. 

Make yourself available to your new boss

This may appear apparent at face value, but you will likely be tugged in a thousand directions. 

When it comes to onboarding staff, companies are not always organized. You might quickly become preoccupied with HR, different supervisors or coworkers, or a special assignment that prevents you from being present with the one person you have to work closely with.

Despite all the administrative distractions, you want to ensure you’re available to your new manager first and be prepared to take notes as and when required.

Body language speaks louder than words

Even if you’re not saying anything, your body language is continuously communicating with people. 

Your body posture and impressions matter. 

So sit or stand up straight and prevent anxious or bored mannerisms like caressing your hair or face, stroking your foot, or yawning. 

When you’re talking with someone, lean a little forward to show interest. Nodding while conversing when they make a solid point or provide important information shows them you’re paying attention to what they’re saying.

Relax when things do not go as planned

Generally speaking, every boss will forgive you if you commit a few minor errors on your first day. 

Making a good impression might be difficult, but focus on how to do your job correctly. 

If you make a mistake, realize you’ll have another great opportunity the next day. 

However, don’t take the job as a no-brainer and go into auto-pilot.

Mute your phone

This may sound obvious, but with a lot of meetings, a ringing cell phone is quite annoying. 

Employers note the commitment people put towards work, so constantly checking phones and texting will probably not go down well. 

Respond to personal messages and incoming calls on your break. 

Final thoughts on starting a new job

The first day of work feels the same, whether it’s your first job or the tenth.

It’s time to put your natural dynamic attitude and work ethic on display. People prefer to be around upbeat and lively people, so show them what you’re capable of. 

Also, be spontaneous, as corporate culture demands this attribute. In every visible milestone, keep setting new goals and move towards them. 

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