6 Tips for Your First Day at a New Job

Your first day in a new position is what sets the tone for the rest of your time with a client or employer. While overstating the importance of first impressions might just make you more nervous, it’s vital to understand that your initial experience will have lasting repercussions. Your first shift is when you’ll meet your new colleagues, learn the basics of the job, and lay the groundwork for a workable routine. Ace that initial test and you’ll be firmly on the path toward a successful period in your career.

Having a great first day isn’t that difficult as long as you enter with the right mindset. These simple tips can help in any profession, whether you’re entering the cubicled interior of an office building or setting off for your first run as a delivery driver. Just remember that you’re a hardworking, competent individual and that the power to start well lies in your own hands.

Leave Plenty of Time for the Commute

There’s no worse way to start your first day than by arriving late. Even if your bosses and colleagues forgive your tardiness, your own embarrassment will leave you flustered. Luckily, this particular problem is easily avoided. On the night before, map out your commute and estimate how long it will take you to arrive. Then, make sure you’re up in plenty of time to pack up and head out in an orderly manner. It’s better to arrive so early that you have to kill some time than to rush in after the workday has already started.

Be Friendly With Your New Colleagues

No matter what your job entails, you’ll almost certainly be working with other people. These individuals, whether colleagues at an office, cooks at a restaurant, or clients for a freelance writing gig, will determine the general contours of your experience. That’s why it’s so important to be friendly and remain on good terms with your coworkers. Even if you’re naturally introverted, do what you can to reach out. Be polite, ask questions, and smile whenever you make eye contact. These simple gestures will make it much easier for others to accept you as a new member of their working ecosystem.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Nobody arrives at a new job with all the information they need to succeed. Every workplace has its own quirks, and your job as a new recruit is to get up to speed as quickly as possible. The only way to do this is by asking plenty of questions. Don’t worry about pestering your bosses or colleagues. They’d much rather you ask a million questions than make a silly mistake out of shyness. Your constant curiosity will also show people that you’re serious about doing the job to the best of your ability, something that will earn you respect around the workplace.

Be Observant

Settling into a new environment requires absorbing a lot of information. While some details can only be understood by reading onboarding documents or asking questions, you can learn others just by paying careful attention to what’s happening around you. Look for experienced colleagues who seem to know the ropes, then observe how they handle themselves. Identify common patterns of behavior, and try to mimic them as best you can. This habit helps with simple procedural problems like where to find the stapler, and it can also make it easier to adapt to the nuanced politics and social norms of an unfamiliar workplace.

Don’t Try Too Hard to Impress

While it’s important to make a good impression, going overboard to wow your new colleagues can end up backfiring. Nobody likes a showoff, especially one who’s ignorant of how little they really know. You should act competent and confident, but don’t check your humility at the door. You’re the new one at the workplace, and you should acknowledge that you still have a lot to learn.

Try To Stay Relaxed

The first day at a new job can be stressful, but it’s always best to stay relaxed. Don’t be afraid to dash off to the bathroom for some alone time when you need to reflect and regroup. Also, be sure to forgive yourself when you make mistakes. Your new colleagues want you to work hard and try your best, but they don’t expect you to be perfect. Laugh off any silly errors, and you’ll probably find everyone else laughing with you.

Ultimately, you know you’re capable of doing the job well. That’s why you applied for it in the first place. No matter how things are going on that first day, remember to take a deep breath, force a smile, and tell yourself that you’ve got this.

About the Author: Ben Clabault is a freelance writer from Sandwich, Massachusetts. He has spent much of his adult life traveling through Latin America. He currently lives with his fiance in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. His areas of expertise include travel, marketing, SaaS, and global cultures. You can find his work on Copyfolio and reach out to him on LinkedIn.