7 Tips for a Successful First Day at Your New Job

Whether you’ve just graduated from college or you've been in the workforce for years, starting a new job is always exciting but it can still be a little stressful. Your first day is the time to make your boss feel confident that she hired the right person and to make a positive first impression on your new colleagues by building a foundation for strong working relationships. You’ll be spending more time with your co-workers than with your own family, so starting off on the right foot is a smart investment. Here are 5 tips for a successful first day at your new job:

1. Mentally Prepare
Take a little time to mentally prepare yourself for this new role. That can be as simple as making a list of what you want to accomplish in your first week on the job, or taking a few minutes to reflect on your new responsibilities and brainstorm ideas that could help you be successful.

2. Dress for Success
Many offices have a casual dress code these days, but the first day on the job is not the time to show up dressed for Saturday errands. If your office has a “no suit” policy, aim for business casual the first few days until you get a sense of what is really appropriate.

3. Keep an Open Mind
You were probably hired for a specific job, but as most career professionals will attest—your job description will change. You’ll be asked to help with new things and you’ll face tasks that are outside of your comfort zone, so try to keep an open mind when asked to do something new. Flexibility and enthusiasm will take you a long way in your career, and in life.

4. Be Confident but Humble
Know the difference between confidence and arrogance. If you’re an executive or manager, you want to be a strong leader and create a dynamic that makes your team feel confident about reporting to you—but be careful not to come across as a “know it all.” Even if you’re currently an expert in your field, you weren’t always one, so remember how you felt at the beginning of your career.

5. Put Your Phone Away
This is mainly geared toward recent graduates (and Millennials in general). Keep your cell phone in your desk drawer or in your bag! Resist the urge to text throughout the day and certainly don’t go on Twitter or Instagram and put up selfies that show you hard at “work." If you’re sitting at your desk texting or sending Snapchat’s every time your boss walks by, how invested are you?

6. Ask Questions & Take Notes
Whether you’re just starting out in your career or five years away from retirement—asking smart questions on your first day will set you up for success and let your boss know that you’re curious and eager to do a great job. Taking notes while training or sitting in meetings shows that you’re organized and conscientious, and what job description doesn’t require those traits?

7. Bring Lunch Money
Pack a simple lunch and carry a little cash on your first day. Your boss may take you to lunch or your co-workers might invite you to order food with them. Either way, it’s a smart idea to cover the basis when it comes to food…you don’t want to be “hangry” on day one.