How To Impress On Your First Day of Work

Your first day on the job will be both exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measures. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just gotten your first internship or you’ve taken the first step in your career, that first day can really set the tone for the future.

We all want to appear as though we know what we’re doing and that we belong at this job. Here are a few tips on how to impress on your first day of work to help you get started on the right track with your coworkers.

Dress for Success

The old saying of “look good, feel good” still rings true. If you want to lose some of those nerves, make sure you dress up for the occasion. Your confidence will get a serious boost if you look the part of the job. Keep a few things in mind when considering how you want to look, such as:

• Dressing slightly more professional than the dress code requires, showing initiative and drive
• Cleaning or tying up your hair, making you look more ready for work
• Wearing comfortable clothing to reduce anxiety
• Wearing comfortable shoes for jobs with prolonged standing

Prepare Your Introduction

You’re going to introduce yourself plenty of times, and to many people, when you start your new job. If you want to know how to impress on your first day of work, don’t get caught unawares when someone asks you to introduce yourself. Know what you’re going to say ahead of time for tougher questions, such as:

• How much do you know about our work?
• What made you interested in this position?
• How do you think you can help out the most?

Show Real Enthusiasm

Few people can’t tell when someone is disingenuous. Your first job out of school—even your second or third—won’t always be exactly what you wanted. However, you need to find a way to show real enthusiasm for your position.

This will be much easier for some people than others. If the job isn’t exactly what you wanted, find positivity in the fact that this is simply the first step on your career journey. Enthusiasm can be the difference between moving forward or stagnating where you are.

Initiate and Ask Questions

Nothing is worse than a new employee that doesn’t seem interested in doing any real work. You may not have your full responsibilities on the first day, but don’t be afraid to ask for more work if you find yourself drifting.

Employees who really impress managers are the ones who take initiative rather than wait for the easy way out of work. If you’re unsure of how to do something, just ask! Most people will be glad you want to help at all and will gladly teach you something you don’t know yet.

image credit: envato.com