Are you starting a new job soon? First of all, congratulations! Second, you’re in the right place. This post has 12 tips for you as your starting your new job so that you can be sure you’re making an impact right from the get-go.
I went through over 30 interviews before landing the job that I have now. Having been at this new job for many months now, I’ve taken note of the most important things I wish someone would’ve told me before starting. With that said, here are some of my best tips for anyone that’s starting a new job and wants to make a great impression.
This post is all about 12 super helpful tips for starting a new job.
1. Communicate with your manager or recruiter prior to your first day
Before your first day, your hiring manager will likely reach out to you via phone or email to ensure that you are both on the same page in regards to your first day.
For instance, your manager may discuss what time you should log on to your computer or arrive to the office on your start date, and may discuss what work attire is appropriate (i.e. what’s the dress code? does the company dress more casually or more professionally?).
If you don’t hear from your new manager or from someone at your new company prior to your first day, don’t hesitate to reach out to them.
You want to make sure you know exactly what you need to do and where you need to be on your first day to avoid seeming ill-prepared and make a good impression!
Be sure to communicate with your new manager or some other person at your new company prior to starting so you know what to expect on your first day at your new job.
2. Get your equipment/workspace set up prior to your first day
If you are going to be working from home, your company will likely send you your laptop and any other equipment necessary for you to perform your job duties before your first day.
In this case, it’s a great idea to get your equipment set up as soon as you can (unless your new company tells you otherwise).
If you’ll be working from home and you don’t receive your equipment prior to your first day (this actually happened to me!), then just be sure to have your work environment prepared.
Whether that means cleaning up your work space/desk or making sure your background doesn’t look cluttered (since you’ll probably be on video!), it’ll help to have all of this sorted before your first day so you aren’t scrambling the morning of.
3. Buy supplies that you need to do your job effectively
What kinds of supplies will you need to do your new job effectively? Will you need a notepad? Planner? Pens? Whatever it is that you need, be sure to stock up!
If you will be working from home, do you have an ergonomic work station? If not, you’ll want to invest in an ergonomic work station and equipment so that you can be sure you are comfortable.
Before you buy any major expenses, though, you should see if your new company will allow you to expense certain items.
Your new company may cover the costs for a new monitor, for example, and you don’t want to pay for this on your own if your company will.
Check out this post on the best work from home equipment if you’ll be working from home!
4. Complete any pre-first day onboarding tasks that are assigned to you
Before your official first day at work, your new employer will likely have some onboarding tasks that you need to complete.
Onboarding tasks may include things like completing a background check, updating your contact and personal information, entering your payment elections (i.e. your bank account information so that you can get paid), and any other required documentation.
By completing any onboarding tasks before they are due, you will show your new company that you are on top of things and ready to jump in at your new job.
5. Research your new company as best you can
You likely did a good amount of research on your new company throughout your interview process, but now is your chance to really dive in and make sure you understand your new role and the company’s mission as best as possible so you can start out on the right foot.
This is also a great opportunity to write down any questions you may have about your new company or new position so you can ask your new boss or team members on your first day/week.
By researching your company, you can feel as prepared as possible for your first week. You’re going to be learning so much in your first few weeks and months, and doing a little research ahead of time will give you a nice head start!
6. Find some new clothes you’ll feel good and comfortable in
Starting a new job always feels like a fresh start, so it might be time to refresh your wardrobe, or at least make sure that the clothes you do have are comfortable and conducive to your new work environment.
For example, if you are starting a new remote job for the first time, you may want to buy pants or tops that are professional but also comfortable.
If you’re going to be going into the office, purchasing a few staple items will make it a lot easier for you to pick out an outfit each morning.
While exciting, new jobs can be a little nerve-wracking and you’ll probably feel out of your comfort zone. You might as well buy some clothes you really love and feel comfortable in so that your work attire is the last thing you have to worry about!
7. Understand what will be expected of you
The best way to make an awesome first impression in your first couple of weeks and months at your new job is to know what’s expected of you in your new role.
This way, you can be sure to work on and deliver exactly what you were hired for.
If you’re unsure what exactly will be expected of you, you can ask your new manager directly. Your new manager may discuss this with you without you even having to ask, but if they don’t, don’t be afraid to ask!
This way, you’ll know exactly how you can make a quick impact and a good first impression at your new company.
8. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
As a new employee, your new colleagues will expect you to have a bunch of questions about the company, the culture, the work that your team does, etc. So don’t hesitate to ask questions as they come up for you!
In fact, asking questions will show your new teammates that you are engaged and excited to get to work and add value to your new company.
Again, first impressions are so important and by asking questions, your new team will see that you truly care about doing a good job.
9. Be prepared to introduce yourself
Ahhh yes, public speaking ; ) Gotta love it haha. When you start a new job, it’s not unlikely that you’ll have to introduce yourself a time or two. So that you’re not blindsided when someone asks you to introduce yourself, you should be prepared just in case!
Oftentimes, telling people a little bit about your background (e.g. what you studied in school, what you did before joining this new company) and expressing your excitement for joining this new company and to get to know everyone will suffice.
Being prepared to introduce yourself will offset some of the nerves you may feel if someone calls on you unexpectedly to do so.
If you could use some help with public speaking, check out this post on 10 calming public speaking tips for anxiety.
10. Join social events to get to know your teammates and team culture
Being the new person at a company (or anywhere!) isn’t always easy. And it’s also not always easy or preferred to put yourself, voluntarily, in uncomfortable social situations.
However, if you want to quickly feel apart of your new company and get to meet as many people as possible, showing up to social events or a happy hour here or there is a great way to do that.
Social events at work aren’t always mandatory, so you may be tempted to skip the interactions altogether. But if you really want a sense of community and connection at your new job, putting yourself out there and talking to your colleagues is a great place to start.
11. Meet 1:1 with your colleagues to get to know them better
One of the best ways to get to know people even better is by having 1 on 1 conversations with them. At my new company, I was encouraged to meet with over 30 people 1 on 1, and I did!
It was a little taxing (having that many first-time conversations what not always easy haha) but I’m so happy I did it because it was a great way to meet so many people.
Once I knew these people, I was far less hesitant to reach out to them if I needed something or had a question, because I’d already met them before.
It’s a little easier to start a conversation with someone you’ve already met versus someone you have never talked to before.
The other thing is, it’s not uncommon for new employees to meet with their colleagues. In fact, being new is a great excuse to throw a little time on someone’s calendar!
If you’re new, it makes sense that you’d want to get to know the people you’re going to work with, so most people won’t think twice about meeting with you.
Just be sure that if you do schedule time on someone’s calendar that you add a little note to the meeting invite such as:
“Hi Susan! I’m the new [role title] on the [team name] team and scheduling some time with everyone to introduce myself. Let me know if another time is better for your schedule!
I look forward to chatting.
Thank you,
[Your name]”
Notes like these go a long way in helping you build a good relationship with your new co-workers.
12. Have a few conversation topics in your back pocket
Since you’ll be meeting a lot of new people, it’s a good idea to have a few conversation topics in your back pocket just in case conversations ever begin to stall. Some questions that I used quite often were:
- What do you like about working at [Company Name]?
- How long have you worked at [Company Name]?
- What did you study in school? (If they went to college/university)
- How would you describe the company culture here at [Company Name]?
By having a few questions in the back of your mind, you’ll always have a backup plan in case the conversation ever gets a little awkward : )
This post was all about 12 super helpful tips for starting a new job.
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