#GRADUANTOP10: Things You Should Do On Your First Day of Work

From your new boss to your new colleagues to a new environment and a new workspace – no wonder your first day at work can be quite a blur! But it will also be your most memorable. So here are 10 things you need to do to make it less stressful and more eventful.

#1 Prepare a short intro of yourself
Your new colleagues will want to know more about you – where you were before, what you were doing, who you are. You can mentally prepare a short intro about yourself or how you want to answer those questions so you don’t end up saying too much, too little, too wrong.

#2 Check in with your boss
Naturally, this is what you should do the minute you arrive at work. Check in with your new boss who will introduce you to the other team members. Ask if there is anything immediate you need to do or who you should shadow to learn the ropes.

#3 Look and play the part
If you dress the part, you’ll also play the part. So make sure you are dressed according to the office dress code so you don’t feel awkward and out of place on your first day. Ideally, you want to blend in, not stand out.

#4 Figure out the hierachy among your colleagues
Whenever you are in a social setting, it helps to suss out who everyone is. In the office, you’ll want to quickly identify the different personalities and determine who answers to whom. It always works in your advantage to associate with the right crowd as well. Plus, you don’t want to ask the second in command things like where the toilet is or if the coffee is free for all to drink.

#5 Talk to as many people as possible
When you do this, you not only establish rapport with your new colleagues but you also get invaluable insight on how the department operates. Plus, if you establish you’re friendly and approachable right at the beginning, you’re off to a good start.

#6 But don’t try too hard
As a newbie, you want to impress, right? But there is such a thing as trying to hard. You don’t need to wow your new colleagues with how “brilliant” you are. Tone down the try hard – if you’re good, everyone will soon realise it.

#7 Go for lunch
Good thing about being a newbie is that you’ll always be asked out for lunch as a courtesy. Make sure you accept the invitation. What you learn about the company outside of the office walls can one day come in handy. Plus, it shows you’re ready to mingle with the team.

#8 Listen and observe
The best thing you can do in the first few days as a newbie is to listen, listen, listen. Hear what your boss has to say about your job scope and take notes. Observe how others behave in the office and take cue. Hold off on your opinions first; get to know how things are done before you offer any suggestions.

#9 Put your cellphone on silent
You don’t want your cheesy ringtone to go off when your boss is trying to tell you what your task is for the next few days. So put your phone on silent to avoid embarrassing moments.

#10 Relax!
It’s your first day, go easy on yourself! Everything may seem ultra-daunting and scary but don’t worry – it gets easier. Just do what you’re asked to, be aware of your office culture, and ask as many questions as possible to get a good feel. Most importantly, enjoy yourself and whatever you can’t get done today, there’s always tomorrow.

Photo by Heath Vester on Unsplash