Congratulations! You’ve got your apprenticeship, now it’s your next chance to impress! Your first day at work is going to set itself with a unique set of challenges which can make your first day seem very daunting – especially when you want to make a good impression. We’ve put some tips together to make your first day smooth and make you feel more confident in yourself.
Be on Time – Do a Practice Journey
It’s important that you make a good impression on your first day. Turn up 10 minutes early to show your new employer that you’re excited to start. It’s a good idea to do a practice the journey before your first day, not just during the week but at the time you will normally commute – so you get an idea of how busy it can get. You can also show your employer your eagerness for the job by not being the first to leave the office at the end of the day. By waiting until your team go or your 5 minutes after you’re meant to finish, it will show you want to get stuck in and enjoyed your day.
Dress Appropriately
When you went to your interview, you probably saw what other people were wearing, this will give you an idea of what to wear on your first day. If you’re not too sure, there’s no harm in emailing your employer to double check what the Dress Code is. It’s important to remember that being overdressed is better than being underdressed. If you’ve got Uniform to wear it is best to go on your first day wearing it and bring a spare change of smart clothes if you are unsure. Make sure everything is ironed and you're looking top notch!
Read the Company News
Although you should have done some research on the company for your interview, it would be worth finding out recent company news by following them on social media and visiting their websites. This will show that you’ve taken an interest in what is going on within the business and also means that you’ll have a better idea if people start talking about recent events with you around.
Listen, ask questions, take notes and be proactive
You’re going to be taking in a lot of information on your first day. Listen to what everybody says and ask them questions if you’re unsure what to do – it’s better to ask another question than doing something wrong or panic about something! It can often help if you take notes on your first day so you can look back on them if you get stuck, but also because you’ll take in so much! If you’re unsure of what to do, just ask your manager or your mentor. They’ll find something for you to do rather than you not doing anything, and it shows your eagerness to get involved.
Make connections
It’s always good to make connections as soon as you start your new job. A great way to do this is to get yourself a profile on LinkedIn. After you’ve been introduced to everyone, connect with them on LinkedIn. Through their profile, you can read a bit into their role and they can see what you have done in the past too. Even if you go to make your colleagues a tea it’s always a good idea to make conversation with people who are in the kitchen, you never know, they could end up being a good friend!
Set Personal Goals
Where do you see yourself in three year’s time? Success will be different for different people but this is a good idea to set yourself targets while you’re at work. Start with small time increments to set yourself targets, 1 week, 1 month, 4 months. Track your progress and refer to your goals so you know if you’re where you want to be.
Be Yourself
The people you meet on the first day you’ll be seeing regularly, so there is no point in trying to be someone that you’re not. Although it’s important to impress, don’t try to guess the company culture, you’ll find out what t’s like after spending time with your colleagues. Obviously, be professional but don’t make something up to impress your colleagues, as they will find out!
Have a great first day!
