Top Tips for Starting a New Job

Congratulations, you made it through the tricky interview stage; you’ve been hired and are ready and raring to go! Nerves at any stage in a career are completely normal. Starting in a new company can be a daunting prospect for anyone. 

You don’t get a second chance at a first impression, so making the best start in your new job is vital. How you begin in those first few weeks in a job will have a huge impact on the long-term success you have in the role. In many cases, you may even have been hired on a probationary period, so getting off to a good start is of the utmost importance. 

Here is a quick guide on getting started in your new job; some of the things we think will be of benefit to ensure you hit the ground running. 

Before Starting

Do your research

Follow your new company on social media. This will give you a sense of the office culture and help you feel familiar with your new work setting, and it may also help you get up to speed on current projects. Depending on your role, it may be of benefit to research the company’s competitors or connect with your new colleagues on LinkedIn. It may also be a good idea to request a copy of the employee handbook and a first-day checklist, if possible. 

Test Run Everything

Do you know what your commute to work will be like? Do you know the route there and what traffic is like at the time of day when you will be travelling? Before starting, it would be beneficial to practice the route, during the rush hour traffic if possible, so that you know what the journey will be like and how long it takes before you are making it on your first day. 

You may have new software that you are going to be using, and it would be a good move to familiarise yourself with it. If you are going to be using your own device to run the software, test it ahead of day one to be sure it will work. There is also an increase in remote working in this post-pandemic world; if you are going to be working from home, be sure that your broadband is adequate for the programs you may be using. 

Ask the Questions 

Make contact with your new boss or HR team ahead of your first day so that when you arrive, you know what is expected of you. Is there a dress code? What time are you expected to arrive? When do you start and finish? When will your lunch break be, and how long for? Are there any group meetings during the week that you will need to attend? Where is best for you to park? Having answers to all of these questions ahead of your arrival will help you form an idea of how your first day will look and help you feel more confident. 

On Your First Day

Arrive Early

Punctuality is important at any point during your job, but in your first weeks, when you are forming those first impressions, it would be incredibly detrimental to arrive late. You may have your commute planned down to the last second and know it back to front before starting, but you can’t account for everything running smoothly. Plan to arrive half an hour earlier than you are required to, which will give you a good buffer for any travel issues. Then if there are no delays in your journey, you are there early with time to grab yourself a coffee and relax before getting started. This will demonstrate a readiness to your new boss, showing them that you are keen to get stuck in. 

Introduce Yourself

Making a good first impression with your colleagues will put you in good stead for your time in the company. Your new boss or someone from HR should introduce you to your team, but if they do not, take the initiative to break the ice yourself. Depending on your new role, it may even be a good idea to send an email introducing yourself to the whole staff, explaining who you are and what you’ve come on board to do. 

In Your First Week

Take Notes

You are going to be given a lot of information on how the company runs and maybe how different software and programs work. If possible, it would be a good idea to take notes, so take a notebook with you to do just this. Then when you are performing a task by yourself for the first time, you can refer back to your own notes if you are unsure. 

Ask Questions

Remember, everyone was a newbie at one time, so they all understand how overwhelming it may be. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if there is anything you are unsure of or even ask someone to go over something again – it is far better to get them to explain again than to wing it and get it wrong. You have joined a team, and everyone is working towards the same goal, so your colleagues should be more than happy to help you. 

Get to Know People

Join in with the conversation in the office, it can be hard to push yourself out there and integrate yourself into a team that already has established relationships, but the longer you wait to get to know people, the harder it will be. Break the ice as soon as you can. Have lunch with people; that way, you can chat more freely out of the office and also learn from them where it is good to grab some food!

The most important thing to bear in mind is that they already like you – or you wouldn’t have been given the job. You got the job because you are the right person for it; you are able to do it, and in no time at all, you will find your stride. 

We hope you get off to a great start in your new role and wish you all the success!