New job etiquette

[mononoaware1907]

I am posting in AIBU for traffic, but please be kind, this is my first post ever here, so trying to do it right

I am starting a new job tomorrow, after I had a job that I hated, I have been pretty much bullied, and now, admittedly, my confidence is a bit shattered

So how do you act on your first day? How do you blend in, how friendly do you need to be?

Any tips for a successful first day? Also, what do you wear? I know this is not style and beauty but it would help. It's an office job, non facing customers (my first ever without customer contact yay!)

Thanks everyone

I would be calm, fairly reserved, smile when introduced to people and really try hard to remember names.

I try to aim for a medium level of smart dress for the first day. I'm in a suits environment but on day 1, I would wear a non-matching jacket and dress so as not to be the smartest person there. But try to wear something you feel both great and comfortable in, so you're not worrying about that too.

One thing I really remember was putting all my effort into a day 1 outfit and being REALLY stuck on day 2!

And try to lay outfit out the night before.

Good luck!

Try to relax and enjoy it. Don't get too chatty just be polite.

I would wear a suit if you have one, then see what your peers are wearing and adjust accordingly.

For your first few days you want to be polite, so people usually want to know things like relationship status, do you have any children, what do you like doing. I would wait to be prompted, so if you're asked. Never bad mouth a job you've left, as tempting as it might be. If people ask why you left, a simple, this job looked so interesting and exciting, plus the company is in a field of interest.

You'll be fine after the first few hours or so, once you've spoke to a few people.

Try not to worry too much, it's daunting, but you'll be fine.

Agree, don't bad mouth ex-company or ex-colleagues. Be polite and friendly. Reciprocate questions - i.e. if someone asks if you have kids, it's fine to say "and how about you?" but maintain a polite distance until you've sussed out the politics.

I probably wouldnt wear a suit as so few people do these days, especially in non customer facing roles (I work in asset management and people in risk/ compliance/IT etc wear jeans). It's fine to ask HR in advance what people typically wear (i.e. how the dress code is interpreted).

Don’t reveal too much. Sometimes it is tempting to latch onto a friendly person who might not necessarily be a person you would choose to be friendly to if you were not new. I did that. The person who turned out to be the office stirrer and gossip was v friendly on first few days and was gathering info on me for spreading and gossip. She did not say anything bad but gossip was her currency and her friendliness was her route in.

Congratulations!!

Regardless of how very experienced you are in the actual job, remember you don't know the organisational culture and their everyday procedures so show interest. A woman at my work came in on such a high horse she pissed off everyone who was tasked to train her

Take in a packet of biscuits. Always breaks the ice.

How did your interviewers dress? If one was your line manager that might be a clue. Good luck!

Wow, thanks so much for all the support! I am so anxious! Will update tomorrow!