But alas, your first day of work is akin to the first day of school. It's exciting yet nerve-wracking. So, here's how to get through your first day and make a good impression. Best of luck, Nick!
[Source: quintcareers]
Have a Positive Attitude
Nothing works better — in all situations — than having and expressing a positive attitude. Let your enthusiasm for being part of the team and the organization show to everyone you interact with. And always leave non-work problems at home.
Nothing works better — in all situations — than having and expressing a positive attitude. Let your enthusiasm for being part of the team and the organization show to everyone you interact with. And always leave non-work problems at home.
Learn Co-Workers’ Names Quickly
No one expects you to have everyone’s name down pat by the end of the first day or week, but if you are bad with names, now is the time to research some of the neat memory-aid tricks you can try to use. Certainly, as soon as possible, learn the names of every member of your team. And if you are in a situation in which you forget a person’s name, the best solution is simply to apologize and ask the person’s name again.
No one expects you to have everyone’s name down pat by the end of the first day or week, but if you are bad with names, now is the time to research some of the neat memory-aid tricks you can try to use. Certainly, as soon as possible, learn the names of every member of your team. And if you are in a situation in which you forget a person’s name, the best solution is simply to apologize and ask the person’s name again.
Ask Questions/Ask for Help
No one expects you to solve all the organization’s problems on your first days on the job — nor that you know everything — so, relax a bit, and always ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Remember that it’s better to ask before you’ve completed the task the wrong way and wasted all that time. “Be open-minded,” suggests an English language and literature grad. “I think when you are just starting out, it is easy to feel somewhat competitive; you may feel that you have something to prove. In effect, that kind of thinking will probably land you in the unemployment line again. Be co-operative, LISTEN, ask questions — no one expects you to know everything — and communicate openly with colleagues and supervisors.”
No one expects you to solve all the organization’s problems on your first days on the job — nor that you know everything — so, relax a bit, and always ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Remember that it’s better to ask before you’ve completed the task the wrong way and wasted all that time. “Be open-minded,” suggests an English language and literature grad. “I think when you are just starting out, it is easy to feel somewhat competitive; you may feel that you have something to prove. In effect, that kind of thinking will probably land you in the unemployment line again. Be co-operative, LISTEN, ask questions — no one expects you to know everything — and communicate openly with colleagues and supervisors.”
Take Notes/Go to Orientation
Unless you have a photographic memory — and few of us do — consider taking notes on all the various systems and rules of the organization. And no matter how boring they may sound, attend all orientation sessions. Nothing gets old faster than someone repeatedly asking how something works; such behavior shows a lack of attention to detail.
Unless you have a photographic memory — and few of us do — consider taking notes on all the various systems and rules of the organization. And no matter how boring they may sound, attend all orientation sessions. Nothing gets old faster than someone repeatedly asking how something works; such behavior shows a lack of attention to detail.
Be a Self-Starter; Take Initiative
In most situations, in your first days on the job, you will be given small doses of work — to let you get your feet wet. As you finish assignments and are ready to handle a bigger workload, take the initiative and ask for more assignments. Whatever you do, don’t just sit there waiting for your next project. Agrees Ali von Staudach, senior account executive for CNET Networks, “Be proactive. Don’t wait for an assignment. Stick up your hand and ask for something to do,” advises von Staudach, a communication studies grad.
In most situations, in your first days on the job, you will be given small doses of work — to let you get your feet wet. As you finish assignments and are ready to handle a bigger workload, take the initiative and ask for more assignments. Whatever you do, don’t just sit there waiting for your next project. Agrees Ali von Staudach, senior account executive for CNET Networks, “Be proactive. Don’t wait for an assignment. Stick up your hand and ask for something to do,” advises von Staudach, a communication studies grad.
Discover Everything About Your New Employer
In theory, you should have already done your homework during the interviewing process, but there is always more to learn now that you are on the inside. “Get an employee handbook” exhorts a MBA grad with an information-technology concentration. “Don’t act or think you know more about everything than your peers.” In addition, gather all those reports and company literature and read up and become an expert on your organization.
In theory, you should have already done your homework during the interviewing process, but there is always more to learn now that you are on the inside. “Get an employee handbook” exhorts a MBA grad with an information-technology concentration. “Don’t act or think you know more about everything than your peers.” In addition, gather all those reports and company literature and read up and become an expert on your organization.
Work Full Days
“Be on time, come in early, stay a little later,” suggests von Staudach. “Even though I have a 9 to 5 job, it has been expressed to my co-workers and me that our director expects us to be in at 8:30 and stay past 5 p.m. because it looks like we are go-getters and into our jobs.” There’s nothing that can affect your reputation faster than routinely coming into work late or leaving work early. Especially in these first days/weeks on the job, be sure you get to work early and leave no earlier than when the majority of your co-workers leave. An engineering grad adds, “Be dedicated and flexible. Once you have established yourself, you can leave early, go out for lunch, shift your hours, or take work home with you. But in the beginning, be totally dedicated to being there all the time and picking up as much as you can possibly handle.”
“Be on time, come in early, stay a little later,” suggests von Staudach. “Even though I have a 9 to 5 job, it has been expressed to my co-workers and me that our director expects us to be in at 8:30 and stay past 5 p.m. because it looks like we are go-getters and into our jobs.” There’s nothing that can affect your reputation faster than routinely coming into work late or leaving work early. Especially in these first days/weeks on the job, be sure you get to work early and leave no earlier than when the majority of your co-workers leave. An engineering grad adds, “Be dedicated and flexible. Once you have established yourself, you can leave early, go out for lunch, shift your hours, or take work home with you. But in the beginning, be totally dedicated to being there all the time and picking up as much as you can possibly handle.”
Establish a Good Attendance Record
Just as with working full days, it’s important to show up to work every day and establish a good attendance record. Yes, there will be emergencies, and yes, you may get sick, but as best you can, try to make it to work every day during those first weeks/months on the job.
Just as with working full days, it’s important to show up to work every day and establish a good attendance record. Yes, there will be emergencies, and yes, you may get sick, but as best you can, try to make it to work every day during those first weeks/months on the job.
Avoid Office Politics and Gossip
As with any social organization, the workplace is full of rumors and gossip. Your mission is to keep your nose clean of all of it — and be sure not to associate too often with the office gossips or risk having your image associated with them. “DO NOT get involved in any trash talking around the office,” says an English education grad. “Don’t — repeat — don’t solicit gossip.”
As with any social organization, the workplace is full of rumors and gossip. Your mission is to keep your nose clean of all of it — and be sure not to associate too often with the office gossips or risk having your image associated with them. “DO NOT get involved in any trash talking around the office,” says an English education grad. “Don’t — repeat — don’t solicit gossip.”
Take Advantage of After-Hours Activities
Many organizations have formal or informal after-hour activities, such as sports leagues. Get involved — even if only as a cheerleader — because these types of activities are great ways to bond with your co-workers. Do be on your best behavior during these outside-work activities, though. “If attending happy hours with co-workers, never drink more than one drink,” suggests Anne Johnson, senior corporate relations coordinator for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Johnson, an economics grad from the University of Dallas, goes on to recall, “A co-worker that started about four months after me came to a happy hour with us and had too much to drink. Now, no one will invite her again. You don’t want to make a stupid mistake like that.”
Many organizations have formal or informal after-hour activities, such as sports leagues. Get involved — even if only as a cheerleader — because these types of activities are great ways to bond with your co-workers. Do be on your best behavior during these outside-work activities, though. “If attending happy hours with co-workers, never drink more than one drink,” suggests Anne Johnson, senior corporate relations coordinator for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Johnson, an economics grad from the University of Dallas, goes on to recall, “A co-worker that started about four months after me came to a happy hour with us and had too much to drink. Now, no one will invite her again. You don’t want to make a stupid mistake like that.”
Listen More than Talk
“Listen, Listen, Listen … don’t act like a know-it-all right off the bat,” cautions one entry-level worker. “The idea is to communicate that you have some very marketable skills and you are here to learn and apply your skills to help the organization achieve success.” One of the hardest skills to learn for some of us — especially extraverts — is that, when we are new to the organization, it’s better to listen then talk. You don’t want to get the reputation as the office know-it-all — or worse, someone who always has to have the limelight. If you have a legitimate contribution, make it, but if not, do more listening and absorbing those first days on the job.
“Listen, Listen, Listen … don’t act like a know-it-all right off the bat,” cautions one entry-level worker. “The idea is to communicate that you have some very marketable skills and you are here to learn and apply your skills to help the organization achieve success.” One of the hardest skills to learn for some of us — especially extraverts — is that, when we are new to the organization, it’s better to listen then talk. You don’t want to get the reputation as the office know-it-all — or worse, someone who always has to have the limelight. If you have a legitimate contribution, make it, but if not, do more listening and absorbing those first days on the job.
Track Accomplishments
As we say repeatedly throughout Quintessential Careers, it’s up to you to track your accomplishments; no one else will do it for you. Tracking your accomplishments is great for any number of reasons — for your personal satisfaction, for raise and promotion meetings, and for future job-hunting. To ensure that you stay on top of tracking your accomplishments, read our article, For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments and use our Accomplishments Worksheet.
As we say repeatedly throughout Quintessential Careers, it’s up to you to track your accomplishments; no one else will do it for you. Tracking your accomplishments is great for any number of reasons — for your personal satisfaction, for raise and promotion meetings, and for future job-hunting. To ensure that you stay on top of tracking your accomplishments, read our article, For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments and use our Accomplishments Worksheet.
Show Appreciation
Nothing works like kindness and genuine appreciation. So, show your appreciation to everyone who helps you learn the ropes during your first days on the job — from your co-workers to receptionists to the human resources folks.
Nothing works like kindness and genuine appreciation. So, show your appreciation to everyone who helps you learn the ropes during your first days on the job — from your co-workers to receptionists to the human resources folks.
Get and Stay Organized/Set Goals
If you’re one of those super-organized people, this tip will be easy for you. The rest of us, however, need to develop a system for keeping track of meetings, appointments, assignments, and projects. Get an organizer or planner and keep on top of all your work. You certainly don’t want to miss an early key deadline or meeting. And as you look ahead, set goals for yourself — and then strive to achieve them. “I set goals for myself,” notes a 2001 education grad. “I wanted to appear professional in my dress, posture, and speech. I wrote that goal on index cards and put them everywhere.”
If you’re one of those super-organized people, this tip will be easy for you. The rest of us, however, need to develop a system for keeping track of meetings, appointments, assignments, and projects. Get an organizer or planner and keep on top of all your work. You certainly don’t want to miss an early key deadline or meeting. And as you look ahead, set goals for yourself — and then strive to achieve them. “I set goals for myself,” notes a 2001 education grad. “I wanted to appear professional in my dress, posture, and speech. I wrote that goal on index cards and put them everywhere.”
