The long search for a suitable job and job interview is finally over. It would seem that, having acquired the coveted position, you can forget about the experiences. Nevertheless, you are constantly worried about how the first day at work will go. This excitement is understandable, but do not be too afraid. Careful preparation, self-control and the advice of psychologists will help you make a good impression on new colleagues.
Start preparing in advance
If at the end of the interview you were hired, you should not immediately run away, scattering in thanks, and rush to celebrate your victory with friends and relatives. Take a deep breath, pull yourself together and ask some important questions to the leader. To make your first working day as easy as possible, specify the following information:
- with whom you will meet, who will oversee your work and whom you can turn to for help and advice;
- specify the work schedule;
- Be sure to ask if the organization has a dress code;
- make a list of documents that you need to have with you for registration;
- Find out what software products you have to work with so that you can study them properly at home;
- Be sure to write down all the information in a notebook so you don’t forget anything.
It never hurts to additionally draw the official website of the organization in which you are going to work. There you can find additional information, as well as fix in memory the information already received.
What to do on the eve
The first day at a new job is, of course, a lot of stress. To minimize experiences, it is worth preparing carefully the day before. It is best to spend this day for your pleasure - go to a movie with friends or go to nature with your family. You should get maximum positive emotions so as not to leave room for excitement. Be sure to go to bed early.
In order to not forget anything in a hurry, from the evening you need to do the following:
- Decide on your working wardrobe and prepare all the things so that in the morning you just have to get dressed;
- make a list of necessary documents and immediately put them in a bag;
- make a scenario of actions in the morning so as not to get confused;
- plan how you will get to work, taking into account all unforeseen circumstances, to avoid being late.
Never put off fees in the morning. Believe me, you will not be up to it. It’s better to sleep the extra half an hour, prepare a delicious breakfast and spend time on hair or makeup.
First day at work - psychologist's advice
Everything new is stress, and even more so when it comes to work. You will need to get comfortable in an unfamiliar team and quickly deal with your responsibilities. Naturally, an unprepared person can get confused or even lose his temper. That is why it is extremely responsible to approach such an event as the first day at work. Psychologists will tell you how to behave:
- Put aside unnecessary experiences. Everyone goes through a complex process of staff adaptation. Tune in to the fact that every day it will be easier for you.
- Treat your colleagues as politely as possible. At the same time, your face should radiate friendliness. So you quickly establish contact with employees and find friends.
- Get involved. Compassion for failure and joy for the success of colleagues is an important point in establishing contacts. Nevertheless, obsession is not worth it.
- Their problems and troubles should not be made public. In addition, in no case do not show personal hostility to colleagues.
- In no case do not host in someone else's workplace. Even if you use someone’s phone, stapler or printer in the company, it’s not worth it on the first business day.
- Do not talk too much about yourself, do not show off your skills and talents. First of all, it is worth showing interest in the work.
- Devote your first day at work to observation. This applies not only to the workflow, but also to the behavior of colleagues. Knowing their character traits, it will be easier for you to adapt in the team.
- Do not wait until the authorities call you to make a remark. At first, it is better to independently report to management in order to control the correctness of the implementation of the work.
- Drive away negativity and despondency. Imagine what successes you can achieve today, in a week, in a month, in a year. Thoughts are material, and therefore they must be positive and bright.
- Use the status of a novice and do not immediately strive to show brilliant results. To get started, try to dig deeper into the details of the work.
The main rule to be guided when starting a new business is a positive mood. Come into the office with smiles and wishes for a successful working day. It is very important to do this sincerely. If you have no mood, then you do not need to stretch your grimaces. Enough to be polite greeting.
What can not be done
On the first day at work, many make mistakes that can interfere with further adaptation in the team. In order for acquaintance with colleagues to go smoothly, in no case should you do the following:
- to be late (even if this happened through no fault of yours, in the eyes of colleagues and superiors you will be a non-punctual person);
- forget names (it would seem that this is a trifle, but it can offend, and therefore write down if you are not sure of your memory);
- flatter both superiors and employees;
- show off (it’s better to prove your superiority by excellent work);
- talk about your previous work (perhaps your colleagues will listen to you with interest, but this may not be pleasant to the authorities);
- to establish their orders in the office; to take on too many obligations both in terms of work and in terms of personal relationships with colleagues;
- insist on something if you do not understand the issue;
- advertise friendship or kinship with superiors or dignitaries (especially if you got a place on their patronage);
- Immediately impose their friendship or closer relations.
Of course, no one is safe from mistakes, but at first it’s better to keep yourself under control. If you manage to establish yourself well and become a valuable employee, then some oversights will forgive you.
What you need to catch on the first day
The first day at a new job is a serious test. Nonetheless, panic must be removed and rational thinking enabled. To make work easy for you in the future, on the first day you need to run the following minimum program:
- Take the initiative in meeting your colleagues. Remember that you are in an already established team, and in order to occupy a certain niche in it, you need to make an effort.
- Start organizing your workplace right away. In the future, you may simply not have time for this. Moreover, this way you can create the impression of an active and hardworking person.
- Try to get as deep as possible into all the features of the work in this team and understand its atmosphere. Be observant.
- Understand the specifics of your work, as well as the features of the mode. Gather and study all the documentation that contains information about your rights, obligations and other essential conditions.
If you are a department head
Sometimes it’s much more difficult for a boss to adapt to a new workplace than an ordinary employee. If you are the head of the department, then on the first day and in your future work you should be guided by the following rules:
- in no case criticize the subordinate in the presence of his colleagues;
- keep your personal impression of the person with you - you have the right to speak only about his professional qualities;
- express your thoughts clearly and concretely by giving instructions or making comments;
- criticism should help improve performance, and not be a means of self-expression;
- in informal communication with subordinates, be polite and friendly;
- Be attentive to your employees - always inquire about their well-being, as well as congratulations on the holidays.
Work after vacation
The first day at work after a vacation can be a real torture. Even inveterate workaholics at the end of a well-deserved rest can become depressed from having to start their routine duties again. As psychologists assure, this condition is quite normal and passes over time. Nevertheless, it is better to prepare in advance for the end of the vacation.
Plan your howling vacation so that your vacation ends 2-3 days before you go to work. At this time, it is worth adjusting the sleep mode - again get used to go to bed early and wake up early. But you shouldn’t dive into domestic affairs with your head, because you are still on legal leave.
It is worth noting that it is quite difficult to withstand a full-time working week after rest. That is why try to plan your vacation in such a way as to begin your duties, for example, on Wednesday or Thursday. So, you have time to merge into the working rhythm before the weekend and do not have time to get too tired.
To make the first day at work after a vacation easy and calm, follow these recommendations:
- reward yourself for a job well done (such as a delicious dinner or going to the movies);
- so that the return to the previous rhythm is painless, start with the most interesting things, and leave the routine for later;
- every 30-40 minutes take small breaks to avoid overvoltage (at this time you can review photos from vacation or share impressions with colleagues);
- immediately start a diary in which deadlines of the most important cases will be set;
- be sure to have a snack during the day (bananas and dark chocolate can stimulate the brain and provide a good mood).
Signs and superstitions
For many people, the phrase “I go out the first day to a new job!” Is simultaneously desirable and frightening. Signs and superstitions are widespread not only in everyday life, but also in offices. Sometimes, wishing to achieve the disposition of their superiors or increase salaries, employees of reputable companies can resort to the help of psychics, fortune-tellers, and even perform magical rites.
Of course, cooking a miraculous potion or making or making a director's voodoo doll is not worth it. So that the first day at a new job brings you good luck, remember some office signs:
- put coins in the corners of your office to attract a salary increase or bonus;
- so that computers do not freeze, and the printer does not chew paper, communicate politely and affectionately with the equipment, thank you for the work (if you are shy in front of colleagues, then do it mentally);
- try not to get started on the 13th;
- on the first day, you should not leave the office before the end of the working day, either on personal or official matters (this is a dismissal);
- Do not keep the cabinet door open, otherwise you will get a lot of errands;
- on the first day do not order yourself business cards, badges or signs on the door, otherwise there is a risk that you will not last long on this job.
Features of the adaptation process
Work in the new team certainly begins with the adaptation process. Moreover, it is important to understand that this applies not only to the beginner. The team must also get used to the emergence of a new link and in every possible way help him to join the work process. Four successive stages can be distinguished from which the adaptation is composed:
- To begin with, a new employee is evaluated in terms of professional and social skills. Based on the data obtained, an adaptation program can be made. It is worth noting that the easiest way to join the new team is for those employees who have experience in a similar position. Nevertheless, even such a person does not immediately get used to the new conditions and daily routine.
- Orientation involves introducing a beginner to his job responsibilities, as well as a list of requirements that are put forward both to his professional and personal qualities. To this end, conversations, special lectures or preparatory courses may be held.
- Effective adaptation occurs at the moment when the employee begins to join the team. He can prove himself both in work and in communication. We can say that during this period the employee applies the acquired knowledge in practice.
- The stage of functioning implies a transition to the stable performance of official duties, in accordance with the established schedule. Depending on how the work is organized at the enterprise, this stage can last from several months to a year and a half.
conclusions
The first day at work brings a lot of emotions and new experiences. In a short time you need to have time to not only understand the work, but also get to know the employees and win their sympathy. The main thing is not to panic in case of difficulties and objectively take criticism. It is worth noting that the first day of the new employee’s work is a turning point, but far from decisive. Even if everything went smoothly, you still have a long period of adaptation.
It is worth noting that in Western practice the trial period lasts about six months. During this time, you need not only to show your knowledge and skills, but also to adapt in a new team. In domestic enterprises, the newcomer is given no more than two weeks (in rare cases, a month), and therefore you need to prepare for the first working day in advance. Try to find out as much as possible about the organization, as well as get acquainted with the recommendations of leading psychologists. To give yourself extra confidence, follow the national signs.