To ask for advice for my first day at my new job

[snowyevening]

I start a new job next week. It's my first job since finishing university. I have in-person training and orientation next week and I'm so nervous.

Does anyone have any advice or words of wisdom?

Thank you

Are you starting in person or virtually?

@Ladymuck

Are you starting in person or virtually?

In person

Ask what their expectations are of you

If you don’t know what to do or understand - ask questions, they will be expecting it and nothing more frustrating than a new joiner who isn’t proactive and sits around waiting

Also try as you get more experience to come with a suggestion - I don’t know the right option but I could do X or Y...

Ask if there is anything you need to bring, dress slightly smarter than you think is the norm, read up on the company, who you are working with and meeting.

The above is all good, but for you, breath, don't let yourself get inside your head and smile.
They know you may feel nervous, don't worry, they'll do what they can to make you feel relaxed and welcome.

And congratulations on the job!

Better to be over dressed than under dressed. Go smart. Make sure it comfortable clothing and your shoes won't hurt you.

Take a water bottle / mug / whatever for drinks.

I always arrive with cake, but that's a leftover from the police where cake was mandatory!

You are starting with training and orientation, so probably at least your first couple of days are timetabled for you. So that should help reduce your nerves - there are people there who will be working to give you info in the right order.

So make the most of that. Take notes. Don't make them tell you twice, make sure you take notes of procedures or logins so you can do it yourself next time. Make notes of the key people and projects they are telling you about.

Usually you'll be given lots of things to read! Really starting a job is usually less interesting than it becomes once you're through the first bits of induction.

Write things down! Especially instructions on how to use things or training.
Don't be afraid to ask questions or to go over things again.

• Take a note pad and a pen
• write down everyone's names/titles as you talk to them. A quick seating plan is helpful. You will forget!
• Ask about lunch, take something just incase it's a bit hectic but be prepared for something social, like a walk to a sandwich shop with colleagues
• occupy yourself a bit at times, especially if your manager is busy. Try to be busy, do any HR stuff catch up on emails/intranet or figure out where things live on the server
• ask who the role needs to work closely with around the business and proactively introduce yourself and book in a time to learn more about them
• not sure if this is currently allowed but normally my #1 would be make a brew round.

You have training next week. They will expect you to be a bit nervous and need some guidance, so don't worry about that. Try and get a handle quickly on what the norms are there for the little things, like is it deemed okay to make a drink anytime or are you only supposed to do this on allocated breaks, what the rules are re: personal mobile phone use, and what the dress standards are. In my experience it's often on these little things where new employees make a 'faux pas' so it's worth taking note what the workplace norms are.

People will expect you to need to learn and ask questions. I would advise for anything more complex though to make notes, as I have no issue with showing new staff how to do things, but when you get asked to show someone how to do the same thing multiple times and that person still doesn't take the initiative to write down how to do it, it does tend to get a bit grating.

Congratulations! This is good news to hear.

Talk to people and ask about their areas of interest. Ask about what plans and changes are in the frame for the first 6 months, if they don't tell you this. Ask about any virtual networks and newsletter lists you can join (where I am, these range from sustainability, to carers, to professional development, but they also go a long way towards the social opportunities and so it's helpful to widen contacts when things are in remote mode).

Be prepared for some of the mandatory training to take a bit of time to get hold of (e.g, we are currently doing it remotely and need to use 3rd party packages for certain things that are linked to the timescale of a new contract being loaded in several systems). If there are parts where external legislation applies as a small bit of an internal process, it may be useful to inform yourself around this a little from websites, webinars etc. One example that looms large for me is the IR35 legislation as it applies to contracting freelancers or small companies for project work, something that has a few thorny issues.

If you can, try to keep some time and perhaps, even templates, for reflecting on your initial months, and evaluating how you think things could be of greater use, or progress differently, which could help with your probation meetings.

Take a notebook and pen to make notes on what you're told, including names, and maybe a map of the place, depending on how big it is; layers of clothing (including a scarf!) in case the office is too warm/cold, your lunch for the first day at least, a water bottle, and maybe even a flask of tea or coffee until you know what the "making tea" routine is. Taking in a packet of cakes or biscuits is always nice in my experience, in the current circumstances maybe wrapped.

I've also often found if you're at a loose end when you start somewhere new reading the company's policies and getting familiar with the Intranet/filing structure online is very, very useful.

And congratulations!

I tend to talk quickly when I'm nervous so I usually tell them that I do it, if you have anything similar let them know.

Thank you so much everyone! Your replies have been really helpful. I will definitely take a notebook along with me to take notes. That was something I was unsure about as when I have taken notes before sometimes I feel rude like I'm not fully listening as I'm not making eye contact so it helps that a lot of you have recommended it. :)

It will be strange but nice to be around people again after having done my university studies from home for the last year and being quite isolated due to lockdown to now suddenly being around lots of people again!

Taking notes will only look like you're respecting the time they're taking to brief you. Honestly as pp said, imagine showing someone round a key bit of system and them NOT taking notes, so you know that they will forget and come and ask you again...

Also when you're introduced to lots of people it's almost impossible to not instantly forget their names. So don't feel too embarrassed to quickly ask them again to remind you what they said their name was, you didn't catch it. (this is where zoom is handy - people have their names under their pictures! But I know you're in person.)