Tuesday, 26 May 2015
So you’ve just landed a fantastic new job! It doesn’t matter how old you are or how much experience you’ve got. The first day at a new job can be incredibly nerve-racking. It’s a bit like the first day of school again. You’re anxious about meeting new people, wondering if you’ll be able to find your way around, and hoping people will like you and that you’ll fit in. By 6pm you’ll have learned (and promptly forgotten) a load of names, been bombarded with a tonne of information, and you’ll probably have a sore hand from all the ‘meeting and greeting’. Exhausting!
It is true that you only get one chance to make a first impression. People form opinions in a matter of seconds and it is important that on your first day in a new job you should be ready to show your best at all times.
Here are Biscuit Recruitment's top 7 tips for a successful first day on a new job.
1. Look and dress the part
Whether you like it or not, people will judge you on how you look. You should never underestimate the importance of dressing professionally in your new job, although this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wear a suit. You want to look like you're familiar with the company's vibe i.e. if you show up in a suit and your colleagues are all wearing jeans and tees (or vice versa). During your interviews you probably noticed their dress code, so make sure you dress accordingly. If you’re not sure what to wear, it’s always better to dress smartly than be under dressed. If you had chance to look around the office, what was the general dress culture? And check it wasn’t dress down Friday!
2. Be proactive about your onboarding/induction
One day of orientation and a meet and greet with your team may be the extent of your company’s induction. If so, be proactive with your bosses about their training plan and what you need to accomplish in your first week/month or three months on the job.
3. Be super organised
A lot of companies have their own unique rhythms. Develop your own system to keep track of meetings, projects and deadlines. Missing an important deadline or failing to show up to an important meeting will label you unreliable and inefficient.
4. Introduce yourself to everyone
You may feel shy or overwhelmed by meeting so many new people, but you only get one chance to make a first impression. Go out of your way to introduce yourself and show interest in them. Warm up these relationships with your new colleagues!
5. Get to know the company
Just because you’ve landed the job, doesn’t mean your homework is done. Don't stop researching your new company. Read all possible literature provided by the company, keep up with what's happening in the news with the company and their competitors, and keep track of their social media efforts through sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.
6. Get fully involved
Quite often on the first day of your new job you are unlikely to have much work to do. Show some initiative and generate tasks; even something as simple as answering a few phone calls. This is a great way to get to know names, what everyone does and a good way to familiarise yourself with the company’s day-to-day business.
7. Don’t doubt yourself!
Even if you are a very experienced PA / Receptionist or Office Manager, sometimes a new role can be daunting. Allow yourself time to understand the new processes – and remember no one can know everything by the end of the first day!
That's all for now! Always happy to advise more. Just call us!
Frances
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