The first day of a new job can be both a nerve-wracking and exciting time. Making a good impression on your first day on the job is going to be at the forefront of your mind. You can assume that your new colleagues will be paying extra attention to the ‘newbie’ on the scene. However, it’s important not to get hung up on how you present yourself. Not only will you get anxious, but you won’t be representing the ‘real’ you. Contract Accountants offers some advice to help that first day on the job go well.
Get a good night’s sleep
It’s standard advice but good advice. You’re in for an avalanche of information – names, faces, places, processes, protocols and so on. You want to be as alert and awake as possible. A good night’s sleep will really help with that.
Get familiar with your way to work
There is nothing worse than turning up late. For your new boss, it creates a first impression of being unreliable and inefficient. For you, it makes you anxious, stressed and flustered – all before you’ve even set foot in the new office. Make sure you know your route and how long it will take to get there, factoring in that dreaded morning traffic.
Have a decent breakfast
Nothing ruins concentration like a rumbling stomach. Make sure you eat well before you set off.
Re-research the company
You will already have done research about the company when you interviewed for the job, but it doesn’t hurt to brush up on it before you start.
Dress well
It’s pretty straightforward advice. Hopefully, you will have taken note of the way people in the company dress when you visited for your interview. However, if you can’t remember or if your interview took place elsewhere then it’s generally better to go for smarter rather than more casual.
Consider taking notes
On your first day, you’ll have so much information to remember. It might seem a bit odd to take notes but you’ll be grateful you did later on.
Ask questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If the person showing you the ropes is going too fast, or isn’t explaining things clearly enough, stop them and ask for clarification. Don’t allow yourself to get into that awkward situation of not knowing something and kicking yourself for not asking about it weeks back.
The way your first day goes can be pivotal in helping you to settle in quickly and easily into your new place of work. So make the most of it and enjoy the first moments of the new chapter in your career.