By Anne Kerrigan Miller, Vice President
So, you’ve landed a new job – congratulations! Now begins the challenge! With the first day of work approaching, you are likely feeling excited and nervous.
First impressions matter. You need to go into that first day prepared so that you are calm and confident. Set yourself up for success by reviewing the following 8 tips!
1. Get plenty of sleep before your first day!
Aim for 7 or more hours of sleep – being well rested will help you be at your best. A study from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shows that those who reported getting five to six hours of sleep experienced 19% more productivity loss. Those who got less than five hours of sleep experienced 29% more productivity loss.
2. On that first day you are going to receive a lot of information and it can feel like drinking from a fire hose.
Take in as much as you can including company mission, values, and policies; tools, logins and passwords; team member names and roles. Don’t worry though if you can’t recall everything – set yourself up for success by keeping a log of information so that you know who and where to clarify questions.
You might not get access to your computer right away, so be sure to bring a notepad or take notes on your phone.
3. Before your first day, make a list of questions.
You might want to ask:
- Is there an organizational chart that I can review?
- What is the reporting structure?
- Who are my key stakeholders?
- What cross-functional teams do we work with most often?”
You may not get all your questions answered but keep a running list that you can add to as the week progresses.
4. Familiarize yourself with your new company’s tools.
- Communication (Outlook, Gmail, MS Teams, Zoom, etc.)
- Customer relationship management (Salesforce, NetSuite, Zoho, etc.)
- Cloud backup (DropBox, Jira Cloud, etc.)
- Data analysis and documentation (Microsoft Excel, Databox, etc.)
The more you about your new company’s tools and processes before entering the office the less you’ll have to learn on the job.
5. Practice your elevator pitch before your first day.
You may have secured a position with your new employer, but it’s equally important to give this pitch when you meet your team so you can leave a good first impression. Consider these questions:
- Who am I?
- What experience am I bringing to the team?
- What do I want to help the team accomplish?
6. Think about how you want to show up in this role.
Reflect on your personal brand and how you will bring positive energy to the team in a way that feels authentic to you. This includes being aware of body language! Showcase your interest and excitement with:
- Eye contact
- Active listening
- Asking questions
7. Build connections and make friends!
It may seem like a no-brainer, but just like the first day of school, having people you feel comfortable with and can go to (besides your manager) will help make the transition into the organization easier. Put yourself out there and aim to introduce yourself to at least 5 people on your first day.
8. Do what you need to do to feel confident!
For some that can mean selecting or purchasing an outfit that makes you feel good about yourself, listening to your favourite music on the way, calling a friend or family member who inspires you, getting a workout in the morning or a day before, mapping out your route if you’re going into the office etc.
There isn’t one recipe for success but knowing what will help you feel confident will help ensure you feel great about your first day.
You can’t predict what will happen on your first day of work but with a little preparation and a healthy dose of confidence, you can leave a good first impression with your new team members.
Remember this day comprises only eight hours of the career you have in front of you. In the coming weeks, you’ll have many opportunities to prove yourself and get to know your team on a deeper level.
When you start your job with the right foot forward, you can set the tone for what’s ahead.
Good luck and be prepared!