It’s a tough economy for recent grads, so congratulations on finding your first job out of college! In the first few weeks, you may feel overwhelmed as you transition into your new position. Simply Hired has put together some tips for making a great first impression at your job.
Know Your Company
You probably know a good deal about your company from preparation for your interviews and speaking with the employees. However, it’s helpful to continue to do your research to immerse yourself fully in your new employer. To do this, follow the company on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter to receive updates from them. You can also set up an alert (such as with Google Alerts) so you can receive any news about your new employer (or their competitors or industry) directly by email or through a feed to your RSS reader.
Don’t Be Late!
When your first day finally comes, plan to arrive at your new place of work on time or even a little early. Coming in late can send the message that you don’t care about the job or the company, or that they will not be able to count on you.
Dress Appropriately
Gone are the days when you could roll out of bed, pull on some sweatpants and head out the door for class. Although typical workplace attire can range from suit and tie to jeans and a t-shirt, dressing too casually or too revealing can leave others with a bad impression. Look clean and professional for the first few days; by the end of the first week you will see whether or not more casual attire is accepted.
Ask Questions & Take Notes
Despite being a graduate, you can still benefit from all of the Back-to-School sales that are already starting to pop up in stores. Until you know the ins and outs of your new position, ask plenty of questions and bring a notebook with you everywhere to write everything down. This way, you won’t have to ask your manager a question about how something is done more than once, and you won’t forget about any of your assignments.
Take Initiative
Your employer hired you because they believe that you will be an important contributor to their team. So don’t be afraid to speak up in meetings and offer your opinion in a respectful way. Ask what you can do to help the team and volunteer to complete or contribute to projects. Go above and beyond your initial position’s requirements to stand out and take initiative. This is a chance for you to learn and grow as a young professional and shows your manager that you’re not afraid to take on challenging projects.
Starting a new job can be overwhelming and even a little intimidating. But with these tips, you’ll start your new position off right! Good luck!
