A mixture of excitement, nervousness and apprehensiveness can only mean one thing in your career and that is you are approaching your first week in your new job. At Graduate Career Tips, we know what it’s like when you are the new person and you don’t know how things are done and you just want to settle in and be accepted by your colleagues and new team as quickly as possible. Starting a new job can be very stressful but there are a number of things you can do to help make that first week go smoothly.

Dress Smart

You will never make a bad impression by being over dressed in the workplace but if you wear casual clothing, that could be interpreted badly by employers and appearance does count. Try to find out from you new boss or HR ahead of your first week what the dress code expectations are but if in any doubt, dress smartly.

Make Yourself Known

Most companies will show new employees round and introduce you to everyone in the office. However, in some larger companies or in a remote working environment like hot desks at major FTSE 100 companies, you might not be co-located with your team and colleagues. So make the effort to either introduce yourself in person or pick up the phone and say hello to people you will be working with. Don’t be shy and put this off as it won’t help you in becoming effective in your new job. Get to know everyone and let them know who you are and what you are all about.

Pay Attention

Listen carefully to what your team, new boss and clients are telling you. You need to pick up as much information early on in that first week as you can. Listen closely to what people are telling you and clarify anything you don’t understand. Make notes when you are speaking to people or ask them to drop you an email summarising what you have discussed or vice versa. Use you first week in a new job to learn and soak up as much information as you can.

Ask Lots Of Questions

As a graduate, it is often the case that you are joining an industry where you have no previous experience. Therefore, you won’t be expected to know everything straight away. A graduate is recruited to learn, adapt and challenge the norm. Therefore, you will have loads of questions about your new role, company, colleagues and what is expected of you. Get used to asking questions and don’t think any question is silly and not worth asking while you are a graduate or in a new job. Challenge things if you don’t think they are right and use questions to ensure you know what you need to do in that first week and beyond. Don’t suffer in silence as that will hinder your effectiveness in your new job.

Get Involved in Activities

Most companies will have out of work activities and try to get involved. Find out who organises five a side football or after work drinks on a Friday and try to make the effort to get involved with socialising with your work colleagues early on in a new role.

GC Tip: Use your first week to settle into your new job and get to know people. Ask as many questions as you can and don’t worry about not knowing how things are done, who people are and what is expected of you. You will settle in to your new role in no time by being outgoing, positive and inquisitive.