7 Things to Do on Your First Day at Work

7 Things to Do on Your First Day at Work

by | Job Offers, Office Etiquette, World of Work

This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for and it has finally come your way. After all those weeks of grilling, from the process of perfecting your CV till the final interview, here you are, at your first day of work. The challenge now is to make your time in your new job worthwhile and live up to the expectations. While it is not necessary that the first impression is the last impression, the first impression does matter. You should always begin as you intend to go on. Or to put it simply, your first day at work pretty much sets pace for the time to follow. Here are a few pointers we have put together for you for your first day at work:

  1. A king sized breakfast:

    Make yourself your favorite breakfast. Nothing like pancakes with sausages on the side and fresh coffee to kick-start an awesome day! Eat a good, filling breakfast. We often underestimate the power of a good, happy, first meal of the day!

  2. On time, every time!

    Yes, if you’ve been following our posts, you would know how much stress we lay on the importance of being punctual. It is crucial to show up on time, in fact, before time, on your first day of work. Make sure you have checked and re-checked the address and know exactly how long it takes to get there, and what the best mode of transport is (keeping in mind the traffic at the given time).

  3. Confidence:

    Most people feel extremely pressurized to give it their best on their first day. Remember that you have the job because they like you. Don’t ruin your confidence by going overboard in trying to please everybody.

  4. What you wear matters :

    Give some thought to what you are going to wear for your first day at work and make sure your outfit is ready. It is best to go for a semi-formal pick, in case you are not sure about the dress code and don’t want to over or under-dress.

  5. But most importantly, wear a smile!

    You can get away with almost everything (including excess baggage while checking in) if you know how to smile and it comes naturally to you. If you are positive and cheerful, it comes through and is infectious. So remember to wear your smile the moment you step in!

  6. Remembering Names:

    It’s tough if you aren’t exactly “the socialite” but it’s important. Try extra hard to remember the names of the people you meet, not just your managers, even the cafeteria guys (remember they are your source for food, and extras!). It will take some time, but don’t let it take forever. Nothing more annoying than being asked one’s name over and over again by the same person. Being a fresher won’t help your case either!   

  7. Be your AWESOME self! 🙂

    Here is some recommended reading for you on Business Insider, for more tips on getting your first day right: http://www.businessinsider.in/19-Things-You-Should-Do-On-Your-First-Day-Of-Work/articleshow/31121232.cms

5 Things to Do Before Your First Day at Work

5 Things to Do Before Your First Day at Work

by | Job Offers, Office Etiquette, World of Work

The first day of work is important. You are excited to start this new phase of your career and at the same time anxious to leave a good first impression. A little preparation can help you fight the anxiety and start your first day  with confidence. Here are some tips for the days before your first day at work:

  1. Documents:

    Have all the documents the HR might ask for verification in place. Your birth certificate, bona-fide certificates of past experience, id proof, et al. What would be even more efficient is to send the HR an email beforehand asking them what documents you would be required to produce on your first day. This way you will have a written record and will also be able to organize them well before time.

  2. Prepare well:

    You know what your profile is, which means you know what kind of work you would be expected to do. Research and read up about your role thoroughly.  Go through any material that the company might have sent you. Read up about the organization and its ethics as well, to familiarize yourself with them. This will ensure you settle down sooner than later!

  3. Prepare some Conversation Starters for yourself:

    It being your very first day at your new work place, having some conversation starters handy might prove useful. If you don’t really have the gift of the gab, you would be at the mercy of making awkward small talk. Think about questions you can ask to hold a conversation and answers you would have, to the usual questions of “what was your previous work like?”, “what are your hobbies”, etc.

  4. Get to know the dress code:

    Over-dressing, or being under-dressed can be disastrous for your confidence. You don’t want to be out-of-place on your first day. Talk to someone from your new workplace about the dress code. Get in touch with someone you might know in the organization or you can talk to the HR asking them about any guidelines or rules about what to wear or what do people usually wear. People will  be willing to help you on this. If talking to someone is not possible, just remember what people were wearing during your interview. If all else fails, formals are your safest bet. Prepare your clothes beforehand and be ready for the big day.

  5. Remember why you took the job in the first place:

    Here is something very nice we read on The Muse : “Before you go to bed the night before your first day, take a few minutes to remember why you accepted this new job. Maybe it’s your dream job, and you couldn’t be more excited to get going. Maybe it’s your first job, and you’re doing it for the experience. Whatever the motivation, write it down somewhere you’ll remember. Then, when things get overwhelming, everything isn’t what you expected it to be, or you feel like you’ll never make it up the steep learning curve ahead of you, you can return to that reason and remind yourself why you’re doing this.”

So remember that you are awesome and remember that you have to make most of the opportunity that has come your way. Shine on (you crazy diamond)! 🙂