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Starting a new job? How to prepare for your first day

So, you’ve aced that interview and landed a new role, which means your first day must be looming. 

Are you feeling excited? Nervous? Usually our job finders report a little bit of both. So to help get you off to the best possible start, in today’s blog we’re offering plenty of tips to help you make the perfect first impression and get you settled in quickly. 

Before you arrive

You may have done a little research during the interview process, but don’t stop there. Learn what you can about your new company through their website and internet searches. And why not follow them on social media too? This can often be a great way to get to know them a little more personally and start to understand a bit about how formal they are and how they like to come across to customers. 

If your new employer has sent you paperwork and policies to read through before you start, make sure you’ve actually read them, highlighted any important points and have any questions ready to ask. Similarly, if you’re asked to bring along papers or documents with you, make sure you remember them. Where possible carry them in a folder to keep them looking clean and tidy. It’s all about first impressions and hunting through your bag for a tattered, coffee-stained piece of paper doesn’t really sell you as a professional who has turned up ready for the job at hand.

Make sure you’re prepared. Even if you’re usually a ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ type, now is the time to get organised. The night before your first day, lay out or pack up everything you might need to take. From pens and paper to glasses, masks, lunch and tools. Not sure if you need it? Take it anyway. There’s no harm in appearing super organised. And make sure you choose your outfit carefully. It doesn’t matter which job you’re doing, the old adage: ‘dress for the role you want, not the one you’ve got’ is a good one to abide by. Far better to be overdressed on your first day while you figure out the dress code, than underdressed and self-conscious all day.

Make sure you spend some time planning your journey and leave plenty of time to arrive. If you interviewed via Zoom or for some reason haven’t yet visited the building, check you know exactly how to find it and where you need to report to. And use Google maps, or similar, to investigate the length of journey times at the time you’ll need to commute. 

Those first few weeks

It can take a surprisingly long time before you feel truly confident in a new role so don’t expect to immediately feel at home. Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions at the beginning. Your new colleagues won’t mind and would much rather you got things right by asking questions than you struggle on alone. 

Try not to jump to conclusions about others you’re working with or get involved in office ‘gossip’, and make sure you’re not rushing out the door at the end of the day. Racing to be last in and first out won’t give a good impression of your level of commitment.

Don’t expect too much from your first day, or even week! It takes time to get used to new surroundings and the first days in a new workplace can feel like an overwhelming blur of new faces, names and information to remember. Go easy on yourself and allow time to get used to everything. 

It’s natural to feel a little uncertain as you start a new job. But remember, employers are used to new starters and understand that you will make mistakes to begin with. You can’t possibly know everything from the moment you walk through the door. 

Even better, if you’ve found your new job through Nu Staff, we’ll always check in with you after a short time to see how it’s going, so if there is anything worrying you we’ll be more than happy to help resolve it. 

Good luck on your first day!

If you’re looking for your next role, why not send us an email on info@nustaff.co.uk. Or alternatively give us for free a call on 03442 645 456, we’ll be happy to help.