Congratulations – you got the job! You’ll be starting your first job soon so it’s time to get prepared. Your first week can be a whirlwind of new places, introductions and new tasks.
Feeling anxious is natural but we’re here to help you feel confident. Our 8 tips will support you through starting your new job and help you make a great first impression.
Consider the things you’ll need to know before your first day:
Most of what you need to know will depend on the job you’re going into. Try to get as much information as you can about your role before you start — it will help you to feel more confident.
Pack for your first day the night before. Make sure you have the things you need — like your job contract, bank details and tax code. You might also need to bring a form of ID, such as your driving license, provisional or passport. It might also be helpful to prepare what you’ll be wearing on your first day.
Find out what time you need to be there and who you should ask for before your first day. When you plan your journey, consider things that might delay you such as rush-hour traffic, roadworks and parking.
It might be difficult but the best thing you can do is to stay calm. Be confident in yourself and your abilities. Remember they picked you, so you deserve to be there. Take a deep breath and try our confidence building tips to give yourself a boost.
The more you ask when you start, the more you’ll know later when you need it. If you’re not sure about something or you just want to know more, ask. Listen to the answer and take notes if you can. They’ll appreciate any questions you have — it shows you’re eager to learn and interested in the job.
Meet the people you’ll be working with and find out what they do. Remembering everyone’s name can be a struggle when you meet lots of people at once. Make a note of who they are and their role if you can.
Getting to grips with the atmosphere and management style of any job can be tricky. You may find it quite daunting at first but keep an open mind to new people and experiences.
Do not be afraid to ask for help, it’s important to recognise when you’re struggling or need support. Your manager is there to help you feel confident and comfortable in your role. Speak to them if you’re finding things difficult. They might:
Every job has its fair share of dull tasks. Stocking shelves or answering phones might not be what you want to be doing but it’s still worth doing your best. As the ‘new person' you’ll be expected to take on your fair share. You may want to hurry through these tasks to get to more exciting things but take your time. Learning to do these tasks well will help you to build confidence in your role. This will show that you’re a hard worker, capable of more interesting tasks. You’ll also learn a lot about your new company and how it works.