Any first time can be stressful. On the first day at your new work, you may be thrown into the unknown and find yourself underwhelmed by all the things you are yet to understand. Indeed, many occurrences can easily ruin your plans for a productive day.
Nonetheless, some people deal with the first day's stress better than others. They manage to exceed all the expectations and deal with tricky problems. You might ask yourself what their secret is.
Today, we will take a closer look at some easy-to-follow tips that you can use to have a successful first day at work. If you wish to surprise your new colleagues and create an excellent first impression, read on.
#1 Prepare for the First Day
Before you start planning your first day at work, you need to take some specific steps beforehand. To ensure that the day goes well, everything must be organized, prepared, and ready.
First of all, make a list of the topics you wish to cover during your first day at work. You can use a planner or simply write down some bullet points on a piece of paper. If you have prepared well for your first day at work with these steps beforehand, you will have a much easier time adjusting and adapting to the new environment.
Ask yourself this: What exactly do you want to achieve on your first day in your new job? Do you want to meet as many people as possible? Or perhaps you want to ensure that you know how to use all devices, like coffee or fax machines, that can be found in the office? You might not have to worry about the latter, as more and more companies use online faxing services like Faxburner these days. Bear in mind that it is important to focus on only one thing at a time not to get overwhelmed.
#2 Dress Properly for the Event and Match Your Look to the Company Culture
When it comes to dressing appropriately for the first day of work, there are several things that you should think about. First of all, you must consider the dress code of your workplace. Is the company casual or business-like? It is your responsibility to find out beforehand so that you can show up dressed appropriately for your first day at work.
If you look clean and tidy, you’ll l make a great impression on your boss, colleagues, and clients.
This also "boosts" your confidence before starting any new work activity, which will help you achieve more than expected during the course of the day. Note; business casual means dressing like someone going out on an early-evening date; not like someone doing yard work or working out in the gym. If you feel uncomfortable because of your clothing, chances are that you need to be more business-like.
#3 Make a Good First Impression
Once you have entered the building, you must proceed to the right office (most companies have maps at the front desk where you can find out where your new office is located) and introduce yourself to the people you will be working with.
The most important thing here is not to be nervous about starting a new job. You want to be treated as a respected team member from the get-go, and you can easily accomplish this by being confident. Stay true to yourself, and don't be too formal or stiff; they'll get to know you better as time progresses. You just need to make sure that your coworkers see you as someone they can work with without being on edge.
In addition, another way of making a good first impression is by asking questions about your new colleagues, workplace, and projects. Try to be direct and ask, "How long have you been working here?", "How did you start off in this job?" or any other questions that are appropriate in a particular situation. Your coworkers will appreciate your interest in what they do on a daily basis, thus creating an even better working relationship along the way.
#4 Do Not Sit Down Immediately – Walk Around and Get Familiar with the Environment
Most of us tend to sit down immediately after we arrive at our workplace for the first day of work, but doing so is not always the best option for multiple reasons. It is often better to walk around a bit and see how our new colleagues are getting on with their workflow and responsibilities.
The Bottom Line
First days, whether at school or work, are always stressful. If you have a tendency to overthink things, they may be downright excruciating. You might want to prepare accordingly for the first day if you don’t want anxiety and self-doubt to consume you for the first few weeks at the office. The tips outlined above will help you get ready for the first day, and maybe even make a few friends as you start exploring your new work environment!
Although the tips may seem long and convoluted, the actual process of adjusting to your new workspace is quite straightforward. Once you’re done preparing and step into the office, try not to concern yourself with what you’ve read here too much (of course, still keep our tips in mind). Instead, be yourself and open yourself up to your new colleagues. Good luck!