First Day on the Job - Get a Head Start!

You have landed the job, woo hoo! Pat yourself on the back, go out for a celebratory dinner and enjoy a glass of bubbly because now is when the real work starts, adapting to the new company’s culture and team. 

First day gives everyone jitters -- what do you wear…when will you take lunch…do your coworkers chit chat around the water cooler…are you allowed to listen to music…can you receive personal calls…what if someone isn’t nice -- all of this is going through your head before you open that front door. 

The best way to lessen this anxiety is being mentally prepped and following these simple steps: 

• Lay out your outfit the night before. 

• Prep your lunch the night before. 

• Go to sleep 1 hour earlier than you actually want to be asleep to receive an adequate amount since you might be tossing and turning a bit. 

• Eat a bit of breakfast to calm those 9am stomach grumbles. 

• Leave 15 minutes prior to when you think is diligent to ensure an early arrival. 

• Say hello to EVERYONE…………….when you enter the building. 

• Have a smile on your face, be alert and shake coworkers' hands. 

• Listen to everyone before you add a comment “We used to do it this way………..” You want to seem adaptable and not defensive – if the current company has a certain procedure, there is a reason. Adapt to the new procedure. 

• Ask your direct supervisor about lunch -- what time do you go? Does the team go together? Having a conversation about this upfront will lessen the anxiety when it is lunch time.

• BE OPEN - there are going to be times you feel uncomfortable, out of your comfort zone. Be open to this and learn and grow from it.
  

Ready, steady, go. Make this job a career that you will become an asset and in turn, grow into the employee you know you can be.