There are more people entering the workforce every day. Wherever you are in the world, and regardless of what job you have, you want to make sure you impress your new boss when you are starting your career afresh. The anticipation and nerves that come with starting a new career can sometimes be overwhelming, and it can be difficult to know exactly how you can squash these feelings, so you can succeed. It’s important to remember that starting your career right is more than impressing new employers. These tips can help ensure you get off to a good start.
Know Your Company
There is a surprising number of people who enter a new role knowing little about the company they are now working for. From how lunch breaks work, to knowing what your employers expect from you on shift, it is wise to brush up on your knowledge of where you work before you start. Not only will this help you to feel better prepared for your new position, but it will show your employers how committed you are to your role and making a positive impact on their company.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
The old saying,”You only get one chance to make a good first impression” is very true not only for the interview but also in the first few weeks getting to know your co-workers. It will take a little time for them to size you up so be on your best behavior for the first few weeks. You don’t want them to get the idea that you are a slacker, or a gossip, so stick to your job and give it your best effort.
Dress Professionally
It is much easier to make a good first impression if you are dressed better than your co-workers than if you are dressed worse. “It’s always OK to be overdressed and never OK to be underdressed”.
Arrive Early
When you are first getting used to the travel route you need to allow extra time to compensate for unforseen traffic and other possible delays. By arriving early you can get to socialize a bit with other early arrivals while not “on the clock” this will not only give you an opportunity to make new friends but also to learn things that you wouldn’t while you were working.
Avoid Social Media, Shopping Websites and Texting
Wasting company time for these personal activities shows that you are not concerned with the company and are more concerned with yourself. It makes you look lazy, unprofessional and selfish.
Don’t Request Time Off
One way to give a bad first impression is to be concerned with time off before you’ve “paid your dues”. If you are just starting you shouldn’t be worried about a vacation for at least 90 -180 days. Yes, I know looking for a job isn’t a vacation but as far as co-workers are concerned it might as well be.
Be Confident
When you are searching for advice from friends and family before starting your career, you will likely hear to fake your confidence until you make it. However, this is sometimes much easier said than done. Confidence is key when you are hoping to enter a role with the aim of progressing far and building on your personal development. Ideally, you should follow some confidence building exercises in the run-up to your first day. You can refer to these throughout your role, and chart how far you have come to make sure you are putting your all into your new path.
Prioritize Your Health and Safety
It is easy to get caught up in trying to impress your new bosses when you are starting your role. Yet, this can sometimes overshadow your own health and safety in the workplace. It is vital that you know your worker’s rights and your options in the small chance you ever find yourself running into a workplace accident that causes damage to your health. Be extra cautious while learning the ropes, so you won’t need a company like The Compensation Experts to handle an accident claim.
Set Yourself a Goal
It is not rare for people to enter a new job without having an idea of the direction they want to grow in. Even if your new career is merely a stepping stone into a new role, or a temporary position while you search for something else, you should always set a goal on where you see yourself ending up. This could be to save money for the future, or to find yourself progressing through the ranks to become the top dog in your industry. In any case, you can set such goals using handy tools.
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