new job?

How to start your first day

Tomorrow is the first day of a new week. If you’re starting a new job you’ll probably be starting on a Monday too. Walking around an extra block with shaky knees because you’re fifteen minutes early, terrified of forgetting all the new names, no idea how the copier works or even where to find it; bite down and if you keep this in mind you won’t miss the mark.

Keep your head down

I think it’s strange to act as one of the guys on your first day at work. Be nice, listen to your colleague’s stories but don’t join in. Not even if you have a great anecdote to tell. You’ll come to that. Of course you can ask questions and hand out some nice answers when asked but don’t behave like one of them. It took time for them to build up the atmosphere you can’t just step in at the same level.

Introduce yourself

Shake everyone’s hand, look others in the eye and try to come up with a reminder for someone’s name. This will get you brownie points. You’re allowed to cheat by making notes. Fleur is the lady with the red curls. A little tip; make sure you make positive reminders if someone does happen to read them phrases like ‘a gorgeous head of curls’ have the edge over ‘ hideous Birckenstocks’.

It’s very polite to shakes hands with those you don’t directly work with. We, for example, have lunch with the guys from the TV studio next door. One of my interns stole my heart by introducing herself to the entire table, dead scary but very brave.

Dress in line with the company

I always go shopping before starting a new job. Just like your first day at school your first day at work asks for a catchy outfit. In the end I always seem to have made the wrong choice my look never fitting the dress of the company. It’s better to play it safe with your always-right-outfit like jeans, a blazer and a cool but not exaggerated pair of heels. Once you’ve caught on to the taste and culture of the company, shopping is a good idea. If you work in the editorial department of Marie Claire you dress businesslike if it’s Elle go for a more understated normcore outfit. Every company has it’s own style signature. Of course there’s no need to give up your personal taste but it is sensible to fold into the customary norm.

Don’t talk about your last job

Just like you don’t mention you ex on a first date it’s wise to keep information about your last job to yourself. If you’re too positive you send out the signal you wanted to stay and if you’re too negative your new colleagues might have trouble with your integrity. You live in the now. This is your world.

Ask questions

I find it annoying when someone comes to work for me and doesn’t ask questions and then fails to deliver what I want done. There are people who start nodding halfway through a sentence saying they understand what you mean but show you the opposite. So listen carefully and ask questions that show you understand what is asked of you.

Show dedication

Ask for reading material to help you nestle into the organization. Take it home so that you can learn more about the company without it interfering with your work.

Be on time

No question here but missing the train in the first week or being late because of a flat tire is a definite no-no. Don’t keep showing up early that will just look strange. As for going home: don’t shut your laptop at exactly 6 o’clock to catch the train. This gets in the way of your work ethics. Ask others if you can help out in any way, chat with colleagues and just feel when it’s the right time to leave.

Good luck and remember: after two weeks it will seem it’s been like this forever.

photo credit: imdb.com