Starting a new job is stressful and intimidating; you don’t know anyone and you’ll be the new kid for at least a few weeks. In addition to being new and not knowing anyone, you also want to make a good first impression. Sometimes you can get a sense of the culture of the office from the interview, but in most cases, you won’t really know until you spend a few days or weeks there.
This can be the most difficult part of making a good first impression because you have no idea what is going to be seen as inappropriate or wrong. For example, when I started working at a new job I was unaware of the no-phone policy. On my first day, I sat down for lunch and went on my phone, and when my boss told me I wasn’t allowed to do that I was embarrassed and stressed that I had made a terrible first impression.
While your office’s rules might not be nearly as strict, you won’t know this right away so it is better to be cautious when you begin going to work. If you are starting a job soon and want to have a great first day, here are some helpful tips.
Be Early
Nothing is worse than being late on your first day, and it is better to be 10 minutes early than 1 minute late. Even if your boss doesn’t really care about punctuality, there is no way for you to know this on the first day, so better safe than sorry is always the way to go. If you have a long commute or live in a congested area, you’ll want to account for this in your planning. For example, you may be driving to an area you don’t go to often, so you don’t know exactly what the morning rush hour traffic will be like.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time as a cushion in case something unexpected happens. While there may have truly been an accident right in front of you on your way, being late still doesn’t make a great first impression.
Do a Test Run
If you have the time, to be extra safe it can be a good idea to do a test run before your first day. Just wake up like you normally would for work, and leave at a time that you think will give you enough wiggle room. If you arrive way too early, you’ll know that this is a good time and you could even leave a few minutes later. However, if you arrive even a minute late, you’ll want to adjust the time you leave for the actual day to make sure you aren’t late that day.
Introduce Yourself
Your boss or an HR person in the office may introduce you to the other employees, but if they don’t you should make sure to introduce yourself on your own. If you are in the office, introduce yourself to the people you are going to work with, but try your best not to interrupt them. You don’t have to make a general announcement to the entire office, but going up to each person to briefly tell them your name and ask theirs is a good way to make a good impression.
If you have trouble remembering names, a good trick is to say the name out loud when they tell you. For example, saying “Nice to meet you John” will help you remember it better than you would be omitting the name.
If you are working remotely and there is a group chat on Slack or Zoom, send a brief message with your name and your position. Be sure to include something about being excited to work with everyone or that you are glad to be part of the team. If you’re in need of an attorney, call a worker’s compensation lawyer
