Seven Ways to Make a Good First Impression on Your First Day of Work

Kick-start your budding career by creating a positive impression on your first day at work.

You’ve sent out multiple job applications, braved through several job interviews, successfully secured a couple of job offers and finally, made the decision on which job offer to accept. Since that’s all over, it’s time for you to prep for another big day — your first day on the job! Going to work for the first day of your first job can be nervewracking. You wanttocreate a good impression atthe office among your co-workers and, most importantly, you want your boss to like you. Here are seven things you can do that will make your colleagues remember you on your first day — and all for the right reasons!

Get the first thing right by getting to your workplace on time. Showing up late on your first day is one of the worst things you can do. After all, latecomers are often perceived as unreliable.

Make sure you are well-rested the night before your big day and of course, set your alarm early so you will have ample time to get to your workplace. An elevator pitch is not reserved for job interviews or networking events only. It will also come in handy when you have to introduce yourself on your first day of work. Prepare a concise, 30-second introduction of who you are, when and where you graduated as well as what you majored in. Your new co-workers who are unaware about your employment will most likely ask you about the position you are filling in for as well so you may want to include that in your introduction, too.

An important factor in succeeding at a job is gettingalongwith yourco-workers. As such, itis never too early to lay the groundwork for good working relationships with your co-workers. Utilise your lunch break and get to know people at the office. Ask about what they do and how long they’ve been working at the company. However, remember to keep the questions courteous or you’ll risk making the wrong kind of first impressions.

Show that you are a proactive person byasking your co-workers or boss if there’s anything you can help them with. Typically, your first few days on the job would consist of very few tasks as employers would want newcomers to get a hang of the office dynamics first and also, understand the overall business of the company better. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t extend a helping hand to a co-worker who is swamped with work. If you feel that you are ready for more tasks, you could also speak to your immediate boss to ask for more responsibilities.

Expressing curiosity by asking questions related to your position and the company demonstrates that you are truly interested in understanding your job expectations. Embrace your curiosity. Be open about what is on your mind by suggesting new ideas and methods — in a respectful manner, of course. Make sure to think things through before saying or asking anything.

This might be tricky, especiallyon yourfirst day, but getting your co-workers’ names right will show your effort to know them better. They’ll be pleasantly surprised that you've learned their names so quickly and will instantly be impressed.

You should thank anyone who helped you get acclimated at the office throughout the day. Before going home, you can also thank your new boss again for giving you the opportunity to join the team.