According to reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 559,000 new jobs were added to the economy in May of this year. The unemployment rate also continues to decrease falling to 5.8% in May as well.
Are you one of the millions of people starting a new job? You might be wondering what you should do during your first day at work.
This guide will provide some tips so you can have a successful first day. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Fill Out Your Paperwork Ahead of Time
If you’ve started more than a few new jobs over the years, then you know that the first day is typically filled with orientations, meetings, and paperwork. The onboarding process can drag on and take up most of your day preventing you from getting settled into your new office and starting work-related tasks.
You can bypass part of this process by having your paperwork completed before coming into your first day at work. This will make the process easier for you as the new employee and for the HR team at your new company.
Filling out your paperwork online will save valuable time and paper. Check out https://WorkBright.com/employee-onboarding-software/ to learn more.
2. It’s Important to Ask Questions
Next on the first day at work tips list is asking questions. It’s important to prepare some questions ahead of time and have a place to jot down new ones as you go through the orientation process.
Asking questions is a great way to show your curiosity about your new place of work. Your list of questions should include ones that ask practical ways for you to succeed in your new position.
3. You Need to Prepare an Elevator Pitch
Since you’re the new person in the office you might get a lot of questions yourself. Make sure you’ve practiced a bit before your first day so you can give a good first impression.
It’s good to prepare an elevator pitch-type summary of yourself and the kind of work you did before coming to this company. Make sure you’ve prepared a description of your new role as well. Some of your coworkers might be interested in knowing what kind of role you’ll be taking in the company.
4. Be Early on Your First Day
One of the most important things to do on your first day of work is to arrive early. You don’t want to start on the wrong foot by being late on your first day so it’s best to leave your house a little earlier than needed.
Take some time the week before to practice your commute. This should give you an idea of what kind of traffic to expect.
Try to arrive at least 15 minutes early and wait nearby so you can walk through the door at the exact time you were told to be there.
5. Learn the Office Politics
You should try to decipher the atmosphere within the office on your first day too. This will help you determine the kind of people your coworkers are and how to get along with them best.
If you’re interested in rising within the company, you should start to learn the hierarchy within the office right away. While job titles should tell you who’s in charge, learning about how things get done will help you succeed more.
6. Make Sure You’re Well Rested
Next on the list of the first day of work tips is getting enough rest. You don’t want to lag in productivity when you’re starting with a company, you want to show them how skillful you are.
You can only accomplish this by taking care of yourself first. This means getting enough rest and making all the necessary preparations the night before. This will help you feel relaxed and ready for your first day.
7. Have a Friendly Demeanor
In the nervousness of starting a new job, you might forget to enjoy yourself and celebrate your accomplishment. Your nerves might make you appear less confident and this isn’t the best first impression to give.
Enjoy your first day by showing how happy you are to have this new job. It’s important to show how excited you are to join this new work family.
8. Be Professional
While being friendly leaves a good first impression another piece of the first day at work advice you should follow is being as professional as possible. The professional nature you showed in your interview should be used for your first day of work too.
Make sure you understand the dress code ahead of time so you can fit in at the office. Talk to HR if you’re unsure of what’s appropriate to wear. If needed, take a day before your first week to shop for some new work clothes.
9. Interact With Your Colleagues
If you have a quiet personality, now is the time to go out of your comfort zone. Make sure you introduce yourself to as many people as you can during the first day.
Engage with your coworkers and strike up a few conversations. This will help you learn about the office environment from a few different perspectives.
10. Listen and Learn
If you’re still wondering what to do during your first day at work, the most important thing is to listen to and learn everything you can. This is the time to learn the types of goals the company and your department have.
This gives you a chance to learn the best ways to approach your work as well.
First Day at Work Tips for Success
If you follow the tips in this guide for your first day at work, you should have a successful day. Make sure to have your paperwork completed early on, ask questions, and listen.
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