Today’s post is by Bethany Ramos. Make sure you check out the other great articles that she has written for Classycareergirl.com like the young professional’s guide to Google+, how to take your earning to a whole new level and how to use LinkedIn to find a job.
Although I work freelance from home and don’t have to face a new office with a new boss on my first day of work, I am still more than familiar with the “first day of school jitters” when working with a new client.
You know – the butterflies in your stomach you get when you’re starting a new job and have to make a great first impression? The pressure can be excruciating. But if you prepare yourself in advance and know what to expect your first day at a new job, it can make the transition much, much smoother.
How to Prepare Yourself for Your First Day at Work
- Test drive your route. It’s important to practice your drive to work well in advance, especially if you are new to the city. As nerdy as it sounds, there’s nothing more stressful than showing up to your first day of work late. And there’s no quicker way to make a bad first impression than being tardy – enough said.
- Research your boss. If you have never met your direct boss before your first day of work, take some time to do some Googling and check out his or her company profile. This doesn’t mean that you need to be a spy or a brownnoser by any means. But researching background information on your new boss will help you to better understand your immediate superior so that you can relate and ask the right questions when necessary. Score!
- Get comfortable with introductions. You’ll likely come off as snooty if you don’t readily introduce yourself to your new coworkers, even if you’re just shy. If introducing yourself to strangers isn’t your cup of tea, it may be time to break out of your shell. Practice introducing yourself to new people at a dinner party or at a friend’s house. This will help you to get comfortable meeting new people so that you can better acclimate yourself at a new office.
- Be prepared for serious paperwork. Although you may have a wonderful anticipation of jumping into work on your first day, it’s not likely to happen. The odds are that you will spend the entire first day at a new job in the HR department filling out paperwork. If you prepare yourself for this red tape in advance, it won’t be as much of a letdown.
- Get comfortable with your surroundings. Although you may feel like the new kid at school, you do need to know where the bathroom, breakroom, supply room, and photocopy room are before you step foot out the door on your first day.
What are your tips for the first day at a new job?
Bethany Ramos is a full-time freelance writer that specializes in Internet marketing and SEO. For the best selection of seminar tables and folding tables, please visit best-folding-tables-and-chairs.com.
Photo Credit: Victor1558
