Top 10 tips for a successful first day of work

The first day of work at a new job can be stressful no matter your age or level of experience.

Making sure you make a good impression, learning new ways of doing things, and meeting a bunch of new people is a lot to take in in one day.

It can be overwhelming but there are little things you can do to make the first day of work go smoothly and make the transition to your new job easier.

Read on to find out our top 10 tips for a successful first day of work.

1.    Be prepared

Being ready for the day will look different to different people. You may want to have your work clothes laid out and get to bed earlier than normal, or double check that you have completed and provided all the documents and forms that might have been requested. 

Others might focus on minimising anxiety by making sure to take a run or a walk or even do some yoga to get in the right frame of mind.

Whatever makes you calm and at ease for the day ahead!

2.    Be ready to ask questions

There will be a lot of information thrown at you but whoever is helping you may not cover things that are important to you and relevant to your role.

It may be worthwhile to have a list of questions written down and check them off as you go through your day.

It doesn’t matter whether you want to know more about workplace systems or team culture, asking questions shows you are engaged, and you will have a better chance of retaining the information you are receiving. 

3.    Get there on time

While it is never a good look to be late to work, life can throw obstacles at you that you can’t avoid. 

Making sure you have the commute planned out (and even had a practice run if you need it), will minimise the chance of any unforeseen traffic chaos.

Getting there a little early is great to show you are keen but don’t get there too early.

If you do, you could grab a coffee or become more familiar with the new surroundings.

4.    Dress the part

To make sure you don’t turn up in the wrong kit find out in advance what the dress code is.

This will give you time to make sure you have the right business attire to fit in at your new job.

If you aren’t sure, then taking a more conservative approach to how you dress might be a good idea for the first day at work. At least until you have a better understanding of what you should wear to work. Wearing what you wore at your interview might be a good place to start.

5.    Try and be sociable

There is likely to be lots happening on your first day at a new job but if you can strike up some conversation with your new colleagues it will benefit you in the long run.

Everyone likes to feel comfortable at work and a big part of that can be who we work with.

Starting those relationships on the right foot and getting familiar with your new colleagues will go a long way in speeding up your transition to the new job.

Just be wary to have the conversations at appropriate times and keep them light while you are getting to know everyone and your new workplace.

6.    Be positive

When you start a new job, no one will be judging your work output as you are still learning.

What they will notice from the moment you start is your attitude.

If you convey an enthusiastic and positive attitude, you may find your new colleagues naturally wanting to get to know you better.

7.    Mind your body language 

You may not get much of a chance to interact with all your new colleagues or other people on your first day at work.

That’s why it’s important to be aware of your body language.

Body language can communicate just as much as talking, so be sure to maintain a good posture and avoid fidgeting, yawning, or other signs of boredom.

One of the best ways to do this is to observe what your co-workers do and imitate them.

8.    Listen and watch carefully

Your first day at a new job is all about taking in the new environment and how things are done.

When you are being shown around, pay attention to what is going on in the background and use this time to ask some of your more thoughtful, big-picture questions.

You will be able to better understand the priorities of the business, and this would be a good time to take some notes too.

9.    Be yourself

Pretending to be someone you’re not (or skills you don’t have) can be exhausting and you will eventually get caught out.

You got hired for the combination of who you are and the skills on your resume. Be that person.

10.    Relax

It is your first day, your new workplace isn’t expecting miracles - they want you to be settled.

You may make some mistakes; you may slip up with an answer to a question or forget someone’s name.

Everyone gets nervous and these sorts of things are to be expected.

Again, it is your first day at a new job! Don’t dwell on any mistake you may make and just be open to familiarising yourself with your new surroundings.

Nervous about your first day? Need some more tips for a successful first day of work? Your Job Coach can help get you prepared.