Congratulations, you got the job! Well done! Now let’s think about the first day in the new job. The first day at work is a tense affair as you walk into completely unfamiliar surroundings. Much of the anxiety surrounding the first day at work stems from the fact that employees have a heightened need to impress their new company. The first step is to relax! Although organizations expect new hires to hit the ground running, you will receive a certain amount of leeway at the start.
However, you don’t want to rely on your employer’s generosity! The best way to beat those nerves is to plan your first day as carefully as the job search that led you to the role. Whether you like it or not, the first day in a job sets the tone for your entire career at that firm so keep reading to learn a few quick survival tips.
How do I prepare for my first day at work?
The big day has arrived so make sure you are up early and try to eat a hearty breakfast; it could be difficult with jangling nerves! Remember to shower, use deodorant, brush your teeth and floss. It seems like ridiculous advice as it is Personal Hygiene 101, but you would be amazed at the number of people that ‘forget.’
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Learn about your new employer, company information, culture, rules.
Learn everything you can about your new employer including its corporate culture, its range of products & services and its philosophy. If possible, delve into your network to see if it is possible to arrange a meeting with one of the company’s staff prior to your opening day.
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Project a positive aura
This is as simple as displaying a ‘can-do’ attitude and greeting colleagues with a smile and firm handshake. Show your enthusiasm and friendly demeanor from the get-go, and you’ll find it easier to make friends and get your feet under the table in your new role.
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Arrive on time
Unless your interview was at the same time as you typically begin work, you’ve no way of knowing how long it will take to get to the building from your home. While a trial run is a good idea, it is best to overestimate the length of your journey on your first few days. Aim to arrive between 10 and 20 minutes early on your first day at work, calculate your route in case you will be working in a location unfamiliar to you.
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Accept social invitations.
The cardinal rule of your first day is to always accept invites to lunch or drinks after work. Say ‘yes,’ and you’ll have the chance to become part of the group in double quick time. Say ‘no,’ and you’ll be the subject of gossip; not a good way to start.
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Socialize
At the office you will be working with many different people, it is critical to determine who answers to who straight away to avoid any embarrassment. In the meantime, for the first day If you’re lucky, one of your new co-workers will invite you to lunch. Do not turn down the invitation! Forget about your packed lunch and mingle with your new associates. The same advice goes for post-work drinks invites. Just remember not to get drunk and say something you’ll regret; not to mention the hangover!
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Learn the names of your colleagues
You’re unlikely to work in a team so large that remembering everyone’s names is impossible. Do your utmost to know everyone’s name by the end of the first week. On Day 1, when you ask for help but forget the colleague’s name, just apologize and take note of their name, so it doesn’t happen again!
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Understand the workplace rules and what is it expected from you.
Your employer will have a written or verbal description of what’s expected of you in the role. Of course, there will be a difference between this and the reality. In most cases, it is likely to be a few things expected of you that were not in the job description; ‘unwritten’ professional rules. If you’re joining a front line position such as sales, call center representative, customer service position you need to be aware of the company culture, KPI’s, and Long-term goals of the company. Some of them might not be written in the paper so you must learn them as soon as possible.
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Ask questions and prepare answers
Write down general and practical questions about what you’ll need to do to be successful in your role and ask these questions when you get the chance. However, Day 1 is more about listening than talking so soak up the knowledge you gain and learn everything you can about how your department work. Prepare a 30-second answer for when your new colleagues ask about who you are and where you used to work. Remember Your 30-Second Monologue. Also known as an ‘elevator pitch,’ this monolog is your way of quickly and concisely explaining who you are, what you are doing at the new company and what you did at your last job.
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Ask for help if needed
There is never a better time to ask for assistance than on your first day in a new job. It is always better to ask for help than to stubbornly carry on and get the task completely wrong. Listen to your co-workers and inform them, or management, of any issues that arise. Your first day is not the time to try and protect your pride.
How should I dress for the first day of work
First impressions really do last a lifetime in the workplace so if you want to be considered as an up and comer, don’t arrive to work on your first day wearing a creased and crumpled shirt and trousers combo or worse yet, a novelty t-shirt that is supposed to be funny.
You should even dress smartly on ‘casual’ days because at the start; you never know when you’ll meet a major player within the organization or a big client. Unkempt equates to disorganized which means you have no chance of landing a big project. Quick tips:
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Go for the right fit and look fresh.
It is important to choose an outfit that’s properly tailored. A good example of this is a fitted pair of dark jeans and a nice shirt o blazer with good dress pants. Don’t borrow a button-up shirt from friends who are a size larger or smaller than you, if you need to borrow something make sure that it is the right fit for you. Go shopping if you don’t have the right clothes.
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Iron and starch
It will really help you pull off a polished, professional look keep in mind that you’re going for the first impression with colleagues, managers, support staff. Experts say that managers were 43% less likely to promote an employee who wore wrinkled clothes. Starch works best on natural fabrics like cotton and makes it extremely easy and fast to get wrinkles out.
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Be colorful
Now that you’re hired, you don’t need to dress in neutral colors as you did during your interview. Guys, it’s okay to add some color with your shirt, tie, chinos, or socks. Ladies, go ahead and wear a colorful pair of close-toed shoes or a printed blouse according to your style.
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Chose the right accessories.
You probably have already a favorite watch or a bracelet, but if you don’t then think of buying a leather watch, neutral handbags or briefcases, and simple jewelry. Neutral accessories with a timeless style can really tie various types of look together and make you look and feel more professional providing a great appearance at the workplace since the very beginning of your career wherever you decide to work at. Also buying neutral or versatile accessories is good for your budget as the cost could be less than what you pay for something that you can use with specific clothes than another one that you can use it in different occasions.
Always choose your most conservative outfits during the first day and the week one and try to have them clean, ironed and ready to wear. Make sure that your dress code aligns to the organization and also that it matches what is okay socially in the company. The last thing you want is to try and iron a shirt five minutes before you leave while a piece of toast is still in your mouth.
What you should do on your first 30, 60, 90 days of a new job?
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Keep your energy levels
It is relatively easy to stay alert in the early hours of the morning on your first day as adrenaline helps you get through. It isn’t as easy after lunch, however. It is crucial to show your work ethic and energy levels in your first couple of weeks because that’s what external observers will judge you on initially. This is because your work skills and competency for the role will not be apparent yet.
Although it is tempting to begin month one as a whirlwind of activity, can you keep up the Human Dynamo impression for a week? A month? A year? Probably not; so why set an impossibly high standard? Do your best to impress but be mindful that your work rate on Day One should be the same on Day 51.
Realistically, your first day will not be a flawless success so if you do something wrong, don’t be too harsh on yourself. Always prepare and strive to have a successful and productive first day but if you overdo it, the job may immediately seem too difficult. Bear in mind that no matter what job you have in Trinidad and Tobago, it gets easier with practice, you might want to be sure to remain calm but efficient and productive over the time.
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Communication
It is important to have a good communication within the workplace relations, and in your day to day job performance. An honest, direct, and concise communication allow companies, teams, and areas to work properly according to the common objectives that are relevant to the business. It also provides a peace of mind knowing that your counterpart (Boss, colleagues, team members, support staff) understands your idea or concern about a topic. It is important to self-assess how good your communication skills, Are they Excellent? Good? Regular? Bad? Need to improve?
Landing in a new job opportunity gives you the chance to improve your communication skills are regular or bad. It is important to understand the context of every conversation and provide opinions according to that context. Also, if there’s feedback about an area or specific team member it is important to follow the communication channels that the company has arranged. Keep in mind your goal is to make a good impression in the first days at work just as you did in the interview so think about the impression you will create before you say a comment or thought.
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Review your performance
You got the job position you looked for. But your days of having to prove your value to the company are just beginning. Some companies do have structured processes, so they can assess your performance properly and determine if you keep the position or if you will be let go. It is important to understand your job position in the very first days, so you can do well your job and therefore stay in the company. Even if they don’t have a structured process it is important to do some self-criticism to be aware of what you’re doing well and what you can improve.
Wrap up
Although your first day at work in Trinidad and Tobago is extremely important, don’t be upset if it doesn’t go spectacularly well. It is normal to reflect on your first day and lament the choices you made, but it is a learning process. Just be relaxed, personable, polite and energetic and soon, you’ll make friends and settle into the role.
