You need to ensure your own first-week success. The first week on the job is crucial for long-term success. Research shows that the majority of employees quit their job within the first month for various reasons and the most obvious ones noted were poor management, inconsistency between how a job was projected during an interview and how it turned out in real life, inability to adjust in the company culture, and a poor onboarding experience.

How you start a job has a huge impact on how things go long-term. Let’s see some of the handy tips to ensure you start on the right foot on the first day of your work in a new organisation.

1. Do your research

A week ahead of joining should be well planned. Do thorough research about the company, its culture, dress code, employees, and even their competitors. LinkedIn is a very useful social media tool and can give enough clues about the company and the direction their business is moving. Check the kind of posts the company does on LinkedIn and social media, and check a few LinkedIn profiles of the company’s employees for the department you have been selected. This initial research will familiarize you with the organisation in the first go.

2. Test run everything

Whether you are working remote or on-site ensure you test run everything to avoid any chaos on the first day of joining. If you will be working from the office test your commute time and modes of commute and if from home then test your internet connection and computers. This will ensure everything works smoothly to have that first-day great experience.

3. Establish contact with your manager

It is alright to connect with your manager prior to joining and ask what is expected of you in your first week. Demonstrating a desire to be proactive and prepared will make a great impression on your manager that you want to be effective from day one.

4. Arrive early

To show up late at work, especially during your first week, is never a good signal. Plan your commute to account for traffic jams, getting lost, and parking. Arrive 20-30 minutes early, this will give you ample time to settle yourself and even establish a connection with the people before starting your work.

5. Introduce yourself to the team on your first day

HR or your boss will usually introduce you to the team before you start. But if they don’t, take the lead to do so yourself. A smile and a handshake work wonders so, go make the first move and set yourself right.

6. Locate a buddy

Your LinkedIn research will come in handy to help you identify potential work friends and their interests to help you start a conversation. Introducing yourself and showing you that you are looking forward to building a great working relationship with everyone helps build a good rapport with your colleagues.

7. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Asking sensible questions helps to strike up a conversation with your manager and even your colleagues. So don’t shy away to ask questions. A follow-up question is even better, as it makes people like you more. A follow-up question is one in which you touch on a topic that your conversation partner already mentioned, typically immediately preceding your question.

To conclude, feeling nervous before joining a company is completely normal. Just remember, the company hired you because they liked you, “It was not just your talent and experience that they liked, but it was something more than that.” Armed with the above-mentioned tips, you can prove to your employer that their decision to hire you was right.

Marex Media