Three Things to Remember on the First Day at a New Job

As many have pointed out, you only get one chance to make a first impression. When you start a new job, you want people to like you, you want to avoid making mistakes, and you want to show yourself off at your best. Here are three things to remember to help you get off to a great start when you begin a new job.

Dress the Part

When you're walking in to a new job, overdress very slightly. What this means varies from one workplace to another, of course, but you probably got an idea of how people dress for work when you interviewed for your new position. Find an outfit that fits in well with the company's culture but is also conservative enough to show a sense of respect. While it's tempting to rush out and buy something new for the occasion, don't wear a new outfit on your first day at the new job. The risk of feeling uncomfortable or experiencing an unexpected wardrobe malfunction is not worth the pleasure of wearing something new.

Ask Questions

Prepare smart and targeted questions for your introduction to your new job. Don't try to show off how much you know, and don't pepper your bosses or co-workers with constant questions or requests for help; instead, strike a careful balance that shows you're not afraid to ask for help, but that you are up to the requirements of the job. Just as important as asking the questions is listening to the answers. Get the lay of the land, learn people's names, understand how vital office procedures work, and learn who to contact for various problems that might arise. Take notes on everything people tell you; you can sort them out later to make sense of everything you've learned.

Map the Social Landscape

One of the crucial aspects about starting a new job is figuring out the office politics. Listening to what people say about one another and about how the office runs should give you valuable clues to understand your own place in the office hierarchy. Start figuring out on day one who you want to hang out with at lunch or after work, and get a sense of how things really work. Each office comes with its own set of unwritten rules that any newcomer must learn quickly to be successful. Figure out who makes decisions and what individuals' goals are within the workplace to understand what you will have to do to fit in and thrive.

Starting a new job is always fraught with unknowns, and it's not surprising that many people feel nervous on their first day. If you prepare ahead of time by choosing an appropriate outfit and thinking through questions you need to know, you should be able to start your new job on the right foot.

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