First day at work - preparation is everything

Everything's worked out! Your application was convincing and you were able to impress your interviewers. Now your first day in your new job is just around the corner. Are you nervous? No need to worry! 

With our tips for preparing for the working day and for the low-down on a classic first day, you will be well-prepared to start your new job! 

12 tips for the first day at your new job - What's the best way to prepare as an employee?

The following 12 tips to prepare for your first day at work will help you make a good first impression in your new job. 

1. Tip: Take a test trip to work!

To ensure that as little as possible can go wrong when you get to your new job, it's good to travel the route once before your first day at work using the appropriate transport. 

If you're going by train, research your connections beforehand, and if you're going by car, check the route on your navigation system. 

Tip: Travel to work once at the same time and on the same day of the week as your first day at work. This is great to get an idea of any possible issues, such as heavy traffic on the road during rush hour or train delays.

2. Tip: Look into the dress code and get your clothes sorted!

Find out about the dress code at your new workplace before starting a new job. You can do this, e.g., by looking at pictures of employees on the company website or by researching what dress code is common in your industry and position. 

Check your wardrobe in advance to see if you have the right clothes for your new job. If not, you will need to buy appropriate clothing. Allow enough time, just in case! 

We also recommend preparing your clothes for your first day at work the night before. This might involve putting together your outfit, ironing it and laying it out so it is ready to go. This will help spare your nerves and save you time on the morning of your first day at work. 

3. Tip: Be on time!

It's vital to be on time on your first day to make a good first impression. Our advice is to leave home on time and allow extra time of at least 30 minutes. This means you'll be on time for your first day at work even if any issues arise. 

Being on time is also really important for other things during your first day at work. This means finishing your lunch break on time and showing up to meetings on time. 

4. Tip: Get ready to be introduced to your colleagues!

In most cases, there will be a round of introductions to your new colleagues on your first day at work. You might want to prepare a few things to say about yourself.

These could include your name, (age), jobs you have done so far and what you're going to do in the new company (job title and department).

5. Tip: Get to know your employer

Usually, you will have already found out about your new employer before your interview. However, there might be some time between the interview and your actual first day. 

We recommend doing some research on the most relevant information about your employer before your first day at work and key data such as, e.g., the company vision, the type of company, the corporate philosophy, additional company locations and names of founders, managing directors, senior colleagues and similar. 

6. Tip: Learn the names of your contacts

Along with the names of the founders and managing directors, make sure you know the names of your senior colleagues and contacts. These will mostly be given to you in advance. However, if your HR associate forgets to tell you these, don't hesitate to ask. 

Many companies also have a place on their website where individual employees are introduced and shown with a photo. Being able to put a name to a friendly face from one of these photos might help alleviate some of your first-day nerves. 

7. Tip: Have another read of the job posting

If you can still find the job posting for your job or have saved it, it is definitely a good idea to read it again before your first day at work. This will help you to remember exactly what the position involves and will mean fewer surprises once you start your new job.

8. Tip: Have a read through your application documents

We also recommend re-reading the application documents that you sent to the company before your first day to remind yourself of the hard and soft skills and experience that will be expected of you. 

9. Tip: Get a notebook!

A notebook is worth its weight in gold - especially at the start! At the start of your new job, and especially on your first day, you will be bombarded with new information. 

You will definitely receive some onboarding and introductory training from your colleagues and managers. No one is able to memorise this amount of information at once. It's therefore helpful to get a notebook for your first day at work so that you can note down all the important things and refer to them later as needed. 

10. Tip: Show interest

We definitely advise showing interest in everything to make the best impression on your first day. You might want to pay attention to your new colleagues, superiors, workplace, the building, new activities and everything that happens on your first day. 

There's nothing worse than a new starter who seems bored! Usually, your new employer has also prepared for your first day at work and has thought about making things pleasant for you, so that you have a good start at the new job. 

11. Tip: There's nothing wrong with making mistakes!

There's no shame in getting things wrong, especially not on your first day at work. Small mistakes happen easily, especially at the start. You might be nervous or unfamiliar with the right processes or routines.

The important thing is how you deal with them - we definitely don't advise covering up any mistakes you've made. If you've made a mistake, the best thing to do is discuss it with your colleagues and managers. And if you think you know the way to solve the issue, let them know. Together you'll be able to sort it! 

12. Tip: Don't forget your contract!

If you haven't signed your employment contract and sent it to your new employer yet, make sure you bring the signed contract to your first day at work. 

We've made a handy list of things to take with you on your first day in our article "What should I bring to my first day at a new job?".

What happens on a standard first day at work?

It goes without saying that every first day at work varies depending on the company. However, there are a few standard motions that everyone most likely has to go through on their first day at a new job. We've listed these below:

1. Arrival at the new job on the first day at work

Your first day at work will be your first introduction to everything. This will seem like a lot of information at first, but allow time for it to sink in and step by step you'll be able to work things out. 

You'll normally be greeted by your contact person on your first day at work, shown around the company, introduced and given training. You'll get to know your new colleagues, your new workplace and your future tasks. At the same time, you'll be given the necessary working tools to help you settle in. 

Often the first day at work starts a little later than future working days, giving your colleagues and managers the opportunity to prepare in the morning. 

The main point of your first day at work is to make sure that you find your feet in your new job and new working environment. Everything else will take a bit more time! 

2. Tour of the building & introductions to new colleagues 

In most cases, you'll be shown around the building and introduced to your new colleagues in the morning, normally both of these things happen simultaneously. This is a great way to get to know both your new environment and your surroundings. 

If you are open and friendly with your new colleagues, introduce yourself and show interest in their activities we are sure you'll make a great first impression.

Along with all the new job-related information, you'll also hear a lot of different names on your first day at work that you will need to learn over time. No need to panic! No one will be expecting you to remember everything and all the names straight away. However, it will be good if you can remember a few nameson your first day at work.

We suggest looking at the names and the photos of your colleagues on the company's website before your first day at work so you have already seen them. This will make name-learning so much easier! You might even want to take a second look at the website after your first day at work. 

3. Induction in your new job

In most cases, the actual onboarding process is next. This usually involves an introduction to the company and your future area of responsibility. This is normally the point that your work station is set up too, and might include creating your employee profile, setting up your desktop and logging in to the programs you need with your new access data. You'll normally be given your first tasks as well at this point. If not, it's definitely a good idea to ask for things to do and offer support. Employers love seeing a proactive approach! 

4. Lunch break on the first day at work

The lunch break on your first day at work is the perfect opportunity for a chat with your colleagues. It's a great time for you to get to know each other on a more personal level! This is generally viewed as very important for future team work and for the working atmosphere. Our advice is to be open, ask questions and tell your new colleagues about yourself. Your lunch break can be used to build up a network in your new job, making work in general much easier. This doesn't just apply to your first day at work.

Most of the time, your the person who introduced you to the office will ask you to join them for lunch.

5. Familiarising yourself with new areas of responsibility

The second half of your working day might include completing more new tasks. If you haven't been given anything to do yet, now might be a good time to familiarise yourself with the subject matter of your new role. We suggest gaining a general overview of your future tasks and how they will affect you and your field of work.

At the end of your first day, you might feel a little overwhelmed by all the input, but there's no need to worry - your colleagues will be aware of this and take it into account. After work you might want to spend some time processing everything that has gone on and recharging ready for the next day ahead. As mentioned, it's always useful to make notes in a notebook in your new job (not just on the first day at work) so that you can read through the most important information at a later date and remember it better.