How to Have a Great First Day at Work

You’re floating on cloud nine after accepting a job offer. Then comes the reality of your first day at work. Whether it’s your first job or a move to a new position, you’re probably excited and perhaps a little nervous.

If this is your first job, you might not know what to expect. If you’ve been around the block with a job move or two, some things may be different than your past jobs. Remote jobs bring an entirely new set of considerations, including for your first day at work.

No matter your situation, you want to make a good impression when you’re starting a new job. Keep in mind that your first day at work is an extension of the interview process (but you thought that was over!) with your co-workers. Strive to make your boss feel they made the right choice in hiring you.

Monster has some tips for what to expect on your first day at a new job and things to remember so that your first day sets the right tone for the rest of your employment.

What to Expect on Day One of a New Job

Most companies have an orientation for new employees during their first day on the job. This may be a formal presentation with a group of other new hires or just a sit-down with an HR representative. You’ll most likely have a walk-around with your boss or a co-worker to show you where to find essential things like the lunchroom and to introduce you to people you’ll work with.

You may go out for lunch with your team, set up your computer, or even have a small assignment on your first day of work. But your work for a smooth first day starts before you set foot in the workplace. Here’s how to prepare for a great first day on the job.

How to Prepare for Your First Day at a New Job

As soon as you accept an offer, you can start preparing for your first day and beyond. Here are some things to get ready that you can do right now.

1. Find Your Team on LinkedIn

You’ll meet many people during your first few days on the job. Knowing a little about them will help you learn names and see where everyone fits by looking up co-workers ahead of time. It might be a put-off if you ask to connect before your first day, so hold off until you meet colleagues in person. Ensure your profile information and photo are updated since they may also be checking you out.

2. Make a Good Entrance

Do a test commute to your new office at regular office hours to time how long it takes to get there and ensure you have the correct directions. Show up early, but walk in on time. Otherwise, you may interrupt your boss while they’re getting ready for your arrival or show up before them.

3. Be Bright-Eyed

If your work hours are different from your current routine, adjust your sleep schedule as soon as possible. It takes your body several days to get used to getting up and going to bed at a different time.

4. Practice Shaking Hands

If you’re not used to greeting people with a handshake, get a friend to help you practice. You don’t want to present a limp dishrag handshake or crush your co-worker’s hand on your first day at a new job.

5. Anticipate Lunch Possibilities

Be prepared to accept a lunch offer from your boss or co-workers. That means you should have enough money to cover your own tab. Also, be ready to lunch by yourself on your first day at work if no offer comes. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, scope out a coffee shop or café where you can grab a bite. Bringing a lunch is optional if it’s something that won’t spoil if uneaten.

6. If You’re a Remote Worker, Prepare Your Office

Get a comfy desk chair. Make sure your laptop is in good shape if the company doesn’t provide one. If you’re going to be on video chat or meetings, clean up your office or find a neutral background scene to use. Make arrangements for children and pets to stay out of the way and quiet when you’re on camera and unmuted.

7. Check Out the Tools the Company Uses

Productivity tools like Asana or Basecamp and contact databases like SalesForce are some examples. If you don’t know what you’ll be using, contact your manager and ask.

8. Buy a Nice Notebook and Pen

New office supplies are a symbolic fresh start, and you’ll need to take notes the first day at work and beyond!

Get a Good Start the Night Before Your First Day

You can lessen some of your anxiety about the first day at work by doing some prep the night before.

• Pick what you’ll wear and lay it out. Include everything from undies to accessories, so everything is in one place.
• Gather what you’ll need for HR. This typically includes your driver’s license, social security card, vehicle information for parking, and bank info for paycheck direct deposit.
• Go to bed with good thoughts about your exciting day. Some people benefit from a motivational moment in front of the mirror or a set of affirmations to jumpstart the morning.

What to Wear on the First Day of Work

Dress codes vary widely depending on your work location and type of job. You can get a clue by looking on the company website or company social media pages. You can always call HR and ask what’s appropriate. Dressing a step more formal is acceptable on your first day at work, but you don’t want to show up looking like you just came from the gym if everyone is business casual. Whatever you wear, pair it with comfy shoes!

If you work at home, don’t be the guy in his boxers that doesn’t pay attention to where his camera is pointing. Again, work-from-home jobs require a certain amount of appropriate dress if you’re in video meetings.

A lawyer or therapist should present a professional image with a suit or upscale business casual outfit. You can go casual if you’re answering customer service calls with no video. Your mood and productivity may not be as high if you wear pajamas or sweats since those are considered “off-hours” clothes, but you can decide if super-casual dress works for you.

What to Bring on Your First Day of Work

You’ll need a few essential items on your first day. You might even want to find a new tote, work backpack, or laptop bag to hold everything:

• Your new notebook and pen
• A water bottle and snacks
• Items for HR, including your driver’s license, social security card, vehicle information, and bank info
• Your orientation schedule, if you’ve received one
• Money or credit/debit card for lunch, if you’re not bringing your own

What to Say on Your First Day of Work

Be ready to talk on your first day at work. You’ll meet lots of people, whether in an office or working from home. It’s the perfect time to ask some general questions to get the lay of the land. You’ll also want to connect with your new co-workers.

Create an Elevator Pitch

Write a quick answer to “tell me about yourself” and memorize it. You’ll use this each time you meet someone new. It’s called an elevator pitch because it should be brief enough to get your message across in the time it takes to ride from one floor to another in an elevator.

A standard elevator pitch contains:

• a brief introduction
• a summary of your work experience
• your new position’s responsibilities
• your goals for the job
• a friendly outreach

Here’s a sample self-introduction for a first day at work: “Hi, I’m Sue Brown, the new inventory analyst. I graduated from Texas University and will be helping design the new warehouse system. I’m excited to work on such a significant project and learn more about this industry. I’m looking forward to working with you on the budget projections.”

The Two Most Important Questions to Ask on the First Day of Work

It’s good to know who you’ll be working with the most so you can start to form a relationship from day one. Ask your manager for a list of the top three people you’ll interact with regularly. You can mention this during your introduction. Then, you can send an email introducing yourself to your new team if they’re in another office or remote.

When you’re being shown office tools or processes, it’s a good time to ask who the go-to person is in case you need help. That way, you’ll have one more contact to connect with, and you won’t have to interrupt your manager to show you how to use the meeting room schedule again.

Co-Worker Ice Breakers

Your co-workers will be interested in knowing more about you. They’ll also appreciate you wanting to learn about them. Have some icebreakers in mind as you’re being introduced or have your first interaction with someone. This will make your conversation flow, and it may help you remember their name or who they are.

Here are some sample ice breakers to use with new co-workers:

• What is your job function?
• What will we be working on together?
• How long have you worked here?

What Not to Do or Say on Your First Day at a New Job

You want your colleagues to feel comfortable with you. And you want to have their support as you settle in. With that in mind, here are a few things to avoid on your first day at work:

1. Keep Your Opinions to Yourself

Your first day is not the time to spout off or cause controversy. Your biggest job on the first day is to listen and learn. There will be plenty of time for you to give your input later. Saying “we did it this way at XYZ company…” can worry co-workers that you may try to make sweeping changes without first learning how they do things. Coming off as a know-it-all will not help you have good relationships in the office.

2. Don’t Say Anything Negative About Your Last Job or Manager

It’s uncomfortable for everyone, and you never know who might know the person you are speaking about negatively.

3. Keep Smiling and Stay Busy

People like high-energy people. Don’t let yourself look bored on your first day at work. That can be difficult if you don’t have any assignments yet. Use this downtime to seek out and introduce yourself to people you’ll be working with. Or ask for information you can read to learn more about the company or your department’s recent projects.

4. Turn Off Your Phone

Let your contacts know you’ll be busy on your first day, and ask them not to call. Don’t look like a slouch by playing video games or chit-chatting with people outside the office. Ignore or put your phone away, even if you work at home, to ensure you’re not distracted.

5. Don’t Decorate Your Office Space Just Yet

Wait until you see what the norm is before you post 8” x 10” framed portraits of your pets or sprinkle your collection of clown figurines all over your workspace. It’s a nice idea to put a tray of cookies or a basket of candy on your desk. People will stop by to say hello as they grab a treat.

Have a Great First Day When You Get a Great Job From Monster

Are you ready to have a good first day at work? Monster can get you moving in the right direction by making your job search easy. Complete a Monster profile to get started. It’s the best way to get in front of recruiters and hiring managers looking for candidates. Your profile preferences also let us know what job postings to email you, along with timely and relevant career advice to help in your search.