Goosebumps, excitement, nervousness and a promising future ahead. First day of your new job, can put a lot of pressure, to present yourself as an efficient professional. These 14 tips will help you overcome hesitation and mark your first day at office, memorable not only for you but others as well.
1. Positive attitude
“A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success.” - Joyce Brothers
The above quote sums it up for us. Be confident about your choices and believe in yourself. A positive attitude will enhance your personality. Don’t let your nervousness take over your senses and ruin your big day.
2. Get acquainted with the surroundings
Take the initiative to know your surroundings. Make yourself comfortable in your new office. Interacting with everyone, from up in the hierarchy to the bottom. It will help you in breaking the ice and bonding with people in a new office set-up.
3. Befriend a colleague
Try befriending at least a single colleague on your first day. Remaining aloof with the ones you’ll be working together, is most possibly detrimental to your professional growth.
4. Show team spirit
Displaying team spirit will go a long way in building your goodwill. Teamwork gets the job done, thus share recognition of any job’s success with your team. This will also help in building your image as a teamplayer.
5. Get and stay organised
Organize your calendar, so you’re in know-how of your schedule at prior basis. This will also help in tackling your tasks on a day-to-day basis. Use your Outlook or Apple calendar, with reminders set for important deadlines. Make an Excel spreadsheet or just write a simple to-do list at the beginning and end of every day. Everyone has a system that works best for them. Try different organization techniques until you find the perfect one; you certainly don’t want to miss an early key deadline or meeting in the early days of a new job. Once you’ve designed your schedule, keep tweaking it accordingly, and follow it religiously.
6. Set goals
Set short term goals, so that you’re able to track your growth. It will be easy to According to one study, it takes 66 days to form a habit. So, keep at it and, develop the habit of setting and accomplishing your goals.
7. Don’t squander your time
Wasting time is not advisable when starting out in your new office. Time is of valuable essence and, pawning it off by indulging in trash talk, and office gossip will hamper your image. You don’t need that sort of spotlight over you in the beginning.
8. Be inquisitive
First day and you probably want to absorb everything that is going around you. But, stay alert and keep questioning anything that doesn’t make sense. The sooner you understand the workings of an organization, the better you will perform.
9. Introduce yourself formally
Keep it simple, short and interesting. Your colleagues are interested in knowing, who’s the new kid in the block. But don’t open up with your life history. Your previous job, experience and current work expectations are their concerns, nothing else. So keep it professional.
10. Don’t skip training sessions
Show interest in training workshops, because that is where you could start networking. You don’t want to portray a laidback image, and these workshops will help in building your image of a sincere worker. Also these workshops are helpful in apprising you with the organization’s vision.
11. Put your phone in silent
In this age of constant updation, putting aside your phone is not advisable. But, put aside your phone to gather your focus and completing a particular task. The virtual world should not wreak havoc in your real world, especially the one, where you have just started out.
12. Don’t try too hard. Be Yourself
Yep, in your zealous endeavour don’t oversell yourself and, don’t try to be someone else. Your originality will take you places. The world has everyone else, they need the original you. Don’t try to fit in. Be yourself and see people recognizing you for your true self.
13. Share meals or don’t turn down a lunch opportunity
Share your lunch or don’t turn down a lunch invitation, by your new colleagues. Bonding happens best over food. So use this to your advantage. A relaxed meal is an excellent stimulant for the most amazing conversations. You never know, whom you might end up befriending, in this process.
14. End your day by expressing gratitude
End your day on a humble note. Thank your boss and colleagues, who welcomed you with open arms, and made you feel comfortable. Don’t hold back from saying a simple thank you.
Walk in with your head held high, confidence in your walk and humility in your behaviour. These tips will ensure that your first day passes smooth and memorable in your new office.