Starting a new job can be overwhelming, but making a strong first impression is crucial. Learn how to navigate your initial weeks with confidence and set yourself up for long-term success.
Understanding how to stand out from the beginning can greatly impact your career trajectory. We’ve compiled essential tips to help you transition smoothly, avoid common pitfalls, and establish yourself as a valuable team member.
Our focus is on practical advice that goes beyond just the basics. These tips are designed to help you make a lasting positive impact and excel in your new role from day one.
1. Not Asking Questions
By asking thoughtful and interesting questions at your first job, you’ll exhibit the qualities of a productive worker showing genuine interest in their new occupation. After all, one of the best ways to become more proficient in your work is by finding the answers to your questions about the assigned tasks. Remember, asking the right questions is always a good thing!
There is no such thing as a stupid question, only an inappropriate question.
2. Being Tardy
When embarking on your first job, take advantage of the fact that nearly nothing will be expected of you except for one thing: you must show up on time. I’m not saying show up early (oh God, no); all I suggest is showing up to work when you are scheduled. It’s not rocket science!
Being habitually tardy puts an unneeded target on your back, and you will most likely open yourself up to increased scrutiny from your bosses and colleagues. (Spoiler: you don’t want that!)
3. Failing to Communicate Effectively
Good communication is key in any job. Make sure you understand your tasks and ask for clarification if needed. Keep your manager updated on your progress and any issues that arise. Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and mistakes, making you appear unreliable.
4. Being a “Tryhard”
Nobody likes a showoff. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first day being a bartender, an accountant, or a runway model. Exhibit a little bit of grace so you don’t incur the wrath of your new coworkers.
Don’t waltz into McDonald’s and announce that the best fast-food worker has finally arrived; the rest of your crew will ostracize you. Let your burger-preparing skills do the talking for you.
5. Not Fostering Relationships
I can’t overstate how important it is to foster relationships with everybody you encounter in your first job. I’m not saying you should attempt to become best friends with every coworker you encounter, but having some semblance of a friendship is better than no relationship.
Always say hello to your colleagues and always be as inviting as possible. If you keep to yourself and display rude behavior, you’ll find yourself out of that job sooner than you thought was possible.
6. Not Taking Initiative
It’s important to show eagerness and willingness to take on new tasks. Waiting to be told what to do can make you seem unmotivated. Offer to help with projects, ask for additional responsibilities, and show you are proactive. Taking the initiative can set you apart from your peers and demonstrate your value to the team.
7. Being Rude
Your general attitude will say more about you than you know; if you’re not the most pleasant person, unleashing your sarcasm in an unsuspecting work environment is a recipe for disaster. Not everybody is blessed with a natural ability to be kind and cordial, but keeping your rude side under wraps is critical.
On the other hand, however, if you’re looking to be the least-liked person at work, being rude is the quickest way to accomplish that goal!
8. Being Unprepared
Remember how terrifying it was in high school to walk into a classroom and realize you were horribly unprepared to take a scheduled exam you forgot was happening that day? That feeling is magnified by approximately one million percent at your first job. I can’t stress enough the importance of being prepared.
Always know what’s on your schedule that day, and never let curve balls ruin a productive day. Leave your unpreparedness in your past; it’s time to be responsible and ready to tackle whatever the day brings!
9. Ignoring Company Culture
Every workplace has its own culture, and fitting in can be crucial to your success. Pay attention to how your colleagues interact, dress, and behave. Adapting to the company culture shows that you are observant and willing to be a team player. Ignoring these norms can make you stand out in a negative way.
10. Taking Too Many Days Off
I’ve seen this happen far too many times in modern, tech-centric jobs that allow their employees to take an infinite amount of time off. Don’t be “that person” who abuses this system.
There’s a thin line between taking a mental health day and taking multiple month-long vacations annually! Don’t take too many days off, or your colleagues or boss will think you don’t want to be there.
11. Gossiping
Spreading rumors is best left in high school. I know the latest work gossip can be too good to pass up, but save the drama for your second or third job. Focus on making the best impression possible in your first job. Find ways to keep your communications positive and relevant to the work at hand.
Gossip is like putting too much chocolate syrup on an ice cream sundae; it seems like a good idea at the time, but when you’re done, all you’re left with is a stomachache and a heavy dose of regret!
12. Oversharing
Gossiping is frowned upon in most workplaces, but nothing is more off-putting than a coworker needlessly oversharing every tiny detail of their life with unsuspecting colleagues! Nobody wants (or needs) to hear about your lack of romantic success, your latest doctor’s visit gone awry or waxing poetic about how cool your car is.
Oversharing is rarely welcomed in the workplace, especially in your first job. Don’t bombard your colleagues with needless information they never asked for in the first place.
13. Lying About Your Skills
It’s one thing to embellish your resume, but overtly lying about your job skills is one of the worst mistakes you can make in your first job. Lying about your skills is an easy way to get assigned tasks or work that you are woefully underqualified for, ultimately leading to you letting down your team.
Before you know it, your “culinary school degree” will earn you a one-way ticket out the door once the rest of the kitchen staff realizes you can’t cook at all. I’ve seen it happen!
14. Being Clingy to Specific Coworkers
If you’re being clingy in any relationship (outside of work or inter-office-style), you’re doing it all wrong. Nobody likes a clingy person, especially coworkers. Let people have their space, and your first job will go much smoother than you could imagine.
You don’t want to be known as the new employee who latched on to one or more tenured workers; it’s not a good look. Use your coworkers as valuable resources, but don’t lean on them too much to the point where it makes them uncomfortable.
15. Not Being Professional
Read the room, people! Professional, corporate jobs require a certain attitude. If you don’t fit in culturally in your first job, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb. I distinctly remember my first day of work in a (somewhat) corporate office and being taken aback by a foul-mouthed coworker who let curses slip into every work-related conversation.
He was the worst. Don’t be like that guy; that guy does not get invited to many company happy hours!
16. Neglecting Professional Development
Your first job is a great opportunity to learn and grow. Take advantage of any training programs, workshops, or professional development opportunities your employer offers. Neglecting to improve your skills and knowledge can limit your career growth and make you less valuable to your employer.
17. Not Asking Appropriate Questions
Avoid asking inappropriate questions in every aspect of your life, especially at your first job. In the spirit of The Office, I suggest using the strategy of “If an idiot would say it, do not say that thing.” It’s a tried-and-true strategy for not being labeled a weirdo (or worse).
18. Being Overly Critical of Yourself
It’s natural to make mistakes when you’re starting a new job. Being overly critical of yourself can lead to unnecessary stress and decreased performance. Instead, view mistakes as learning opportunities. Reflect on what went wrong, and think about how you can improve in the future.
Use first-date etiquette as your gauge of whether or not a question is appropriate or not.
14 Pieces of Outdated Money Advice That Can Derail Your FIRE Plan
FIRE – Financial Independence, Retire Early. That’s the dream, right? Quit the rat race and live life on our own terms. It’s totally doable. Plenty of people join the FIRE movement and manage to retire pretty quickly. And there’s a LOT of advice out there on how to do it. Sadly, much of the advice is outdated or just plain bad.
12 Money Mistakes That Can Leave You Vulnerable in a Crisis
In times of uncertainty, financial stability is more crucial than ever. While prepping for physical emergencies is vital, don’t overlook financial prepping. Avoiding these common money mistakes can help make sure you’re in a stronger position to weather any storm.
States With The Most Deadly Road-Rage Incidents
Simrin Law Group studied National Highway Traffic Safety Administration automotive crashes between 2017 and 2021 to find out how many fatal incidents were caused by road rage. They also looked at which states are prone to road rage incidents. Where does your state fall on the scale of the likeliness of road rage-related fatalities?
