Are you about to have your first day at a new job and you’re looking for ways to prepare yourself?
First off – Congratulations!! 🎉
This is such an exciting time!
It can also be very stressful as you try to navigate the do’s and don’ts. Keeping yourself organized is the key to success.
Let me help give guidance on what you can do to prepare before the first day. I’ll give tips on a few different aspects and conclude with a pre-first day checklist.
Finally, we’ll touch briefly on things to remember as you walk through the doors on your first day.
Preparing for your first day at a new job will give you a tremendous amount of much needed confidence.
Research Your New Company
Find out everything you can about your new employer.
Your first click should be the company’s website. Check out each page carefully and see if you can gather any information on what the company culture is like. They should have links to their social media accounts on their home page. Visit those as well.
Know where the other locations are. If there are many locations, at least know where the locations are that are close to the office you’ll be working at.
See if you can write down the names of higher level executives so you aren’t lost in any conversations.
Read the reviews of your new employer on Glassdoor.
How much time you spend on this depends on how comfortable you’d like to be and how much information is online.
For a large organization, you could spend hours. For a small one, you may only find thirty minutes worth of reading material.
Don’t feel like you need to spend hours researching. I think an hour prior to your first day of work is plenty. Be sure to make notes that you can refer back to before and after your first day.
Checklist for the company page:
- Visit their social media links
- Know where all locations are (unless there are hundreds, obviously – in that case, know the local ones)
- Write down any key players’ names
- Read other employee reviews
- Take down some notes when you find anything that interests you
Plan Your Outfit Well In Advance Of Your First Day
The last thing you want to be doing on your first day is worrying about what you will be wearing.
Make sure you have the outfit (including accessories) completely ready to go prior to the night before.
Try on the outfit days before that so you are positive it gives the vibe you want to on your first day.
I can’t count the times I’ve had a big event and I just knew that dress in my closet was perfect for it. Then, on the day of the event, I tried it on and it fit completely differently than it had in my brain.
Try to stay away from any loud colors. Wear something that makes you feel confident about yourself.
When I’m in a t-shirt, I feel out of place if we suddenly schedule a Manager’s meeting. I no longer wear t-shirts to work because of how it makes me feel, not because I can’t.
If you are purchasing new shoes, wear them for a few days prior to the big first day. You definitely do not want a blister that appears an hour after you arrive.
They could offer to give you a tour and you may be walking more than you expected.
Also check out the company dress code and make sure you’re following it. Make a good first impression.
Have your outfit wrinkle-free and neatly prepared before your big day.
I sleep so much better at night knowing everything is already in place for me when I wake up.
Study
Have you written down the names of the people that interviewed you?
Look back on any communication that you’ve had with your new employer. Do you remember all of the names you wrote down?
Write them down again. Quiz yourself. It may be a lot of people.
When you’re overloaded with a ton of new faces, it will be easier on you if the key people have already been memorized.
If anyone was on copy on any emails you received, make sure you write down those names and memorize them as well. You may not have a face yet to go with the name. That’s ok.
For some people, remembering names is easy. I’m not one of those people, so I personally take a little extra time repeating the name.
Transportation Arrangements
Not only should you know the route you’re going to drive on your first day of your new job, you should drive it prior to that day. What’s the commute like during the time you’ll be heading in?
You probably already made the drive during the job interview process. However, remember that this was most likely not during the same time of day.
If you haven’t been to the facility yet because you had phone interviews or Zoom interviews, or perhaps interviewed at a different location, make the drive prior to your first day. You’ll want to check out anything that may require you to allow more time than you originally thought.
Depending on traffic, plan a comfortable departure time for day one.
Also, do not walk through the door more than ten minutes early on day one. I would suggest five minutes, but if that creates anxiety for you, opt for ten.
People are going to drop everything they are doing in order to take care of you and show you around on your first day. Be respectful of their time and arrive no more than ten minutes early so they can concentrate on knocking out some of their daily tasks.
Things To Bring With You On Your First Day
If they gave you any paperwork to fill out, make sure you have it ready to go.
Have all of your valid forms of identification placed in your purse or wallet prior to the big day.
Have a couple of pens and a simple notepad in your car. Yes, they will most likely have these items in their supply closet.
However, you don’t want to ask anyone to go and get anything for you on your first day. Besides, a supply closet stop is probably not on your team members agenda.
I would pack a lunch for the first day even if you’ve never packed a lunch before.
If you go out to eat with a group and don’t eat the lunch, so be it. You packed a cheap lunch anyway and maybe you can eat it for dinner.
If no one goes out to eat and everyone brings a lunch, you’ll be prepared for that as well.
Have at least three water bottles in your car. Take one in with you and leave the rest so you aren’t walking in with your hands full. You’ll be able to come out to your car later if needed for additional water.
Get Your Home Life Straight
Make sure your family and friends are aware that you’re starting a new job on whatever date and you’ll be unavailable to them during business hours for a bit while you’re getting settled in.
You want to be able to give your new job your full attention.
If you have children, make sure they are aware that you’re making a change for the better and you appreciate their support and understanding if some things aren’t taken care of as quickly as they usually are.
Check out my article on How To Successfully Juggle Work And Mom Life if you’re concerned about succeeding at both.
Make sure all your bills are caught up and you don’t have to think about finances when you get home from work during the first few days.
Have all your meals pre-planned for the week. Do your grocery shopping early the weekend prior.
Have a prepared list so you are not forgetting anything. If you have a partner, let them help more this week than they regularly do.
Accept help from everyone during this time. The more you can get off your plate, the more focused you can be at succeeding in your new position.
Let’s sum all this up with a home checklist:
- Everyone should be well aware of when your first day is (if you have a family calendar, write it in big letters)
- Make sure your bills are all paid
- Pre-plan the meals for at least the entire week
- Let your partner help with the household chores a little more than usual – Give them a heads up that you need their support this week
- Be vocal about your need for an easy going week at home since you may be a little mentally exhausted after hours
First Day Prep Checklist
You guys know that I love to-do lists and being able to check items off as I complete them.
I’ve created one that sums everything up for preparing for your first day at a new job! Work towards filling this out the week prior.
Check it out:
Final Thoughts for Your First Day
If you prepare everything, but you fail to grab something, I promise it’s not the end of the world.
Your new boss and new colleagues had their own first days. They’ve had other new hires besides you. First days aren’t always easy and it feels like there’s a million things to remember.
Have someone check out your outfit completely (360°) before you walk out the door. If no one is available, set up your phone and video yourself as you spin and then take a look.
Make sure you have everything next to you in the car so that you can grab and go.
Before you step foot out of your car, turn your cell phone on silent.
Remember that smiles are contagious and so are frowns so keep your smile going! You want to radiate a positive attitude.
This is the time for good impression and starting off on the right foot. Head over to my article on How To Hold Yourself Accountable At Work And Accomplish More if you want to freshen up on time management.
The first day is always the hardest. As time passes, you’ll find your groove and less planning and preparation will need to take place.
Best of luck with your new role!
0 Comments