822 Starting a New Job – Part 1

I have decided to make these two posts because it was getting a bit long and I don’t want to bore you lovely, beautiful people. So, grab a snack, and a drink of whatever kind you fancy and relax. Here goes…

If you don’t find this just a little bit daunting, I don’t know if you are human. You can be excited at the same time but not even a little bit nervous is inhuman. I wanted to say I recently (well not so recently now) started a new job, it was over a year ago now, how time flies. I know that is a very typical saying but it does, I want to try and be productive with my time. You can prepare as much as you want for an interview, but you are walking into the unknown, you won’t know what you are doing or where you are going fully until the day. You can practice your route; you can double or triple-check travel times but ultimately you must make it up as you go on the day. When you are about to start a new job, you have so much gone through your head that it is hard to get your head around it all. So, I thought I would give you a few pointers and take away a bit of the thinking for you.

Firstly, here are a few basic general tips:

• A notebook and pen (always good to have a spare in your purse or bag) to write your jobs/ “how to” on it. For example, if you use a certain form, you might like to write down where you can find that form.

• For lunch bring something that doesn’t require a plate, cutlery, or heating as you don’t know what is available at work to use. In my previous job, when I first started, I didn’t have a fridge and the cutlery was disgusting so I was glad I took my own in with me.

• A bottle of water, I do think it is vital that every workplace has running water but just to be on the safe side, have one with you.

• Some cash wouldn’t hurt, you might discover a vending machine for a snack.

• Lastly, a USB stick, might not be required, I don’t use one at my workplace, but it could be handy to keep copies of your work or reports etc.

• I also wanted to talk about the night before, and how you prepare. I am going to tell you what I did, if you would like to follow my lead please do and let me know how it goes:

• Have a relaxing bath (or shower if you prefer),

• If possible, I have my hairdresser tidy up my hair because that always makes you feel good.

• I rarely get my nails done but I do make sure they are all clean and painted if I have time at least.

• Leave yourself plenty of time for something to go wrong in the morning.

• Prepare everything possible the night before. For example, outfit, lunch, get everything you need either in your bag or in a pile together.

• Check the weather, you will know if you need to take spare shoes or an umbrella or if it is due to be cold you know to plan an outfit with a warm jumper.

• The most important thing you need to do is know where you are going, and make sure you aren’t going to get lost. If you and using public transport, maybe check how much alternative transport would be as well, maybe the price of a taxi for emergencies.

The morning of is always going to be the most stressful for you, doing all the above is going to get you prepared but you are still going to have thoughts running through your head. My biggest tips for the day off are:

• Do not use your snooze button

• Have a drink (mine is tea, I don’t drink coffee),

• Have something to eat. I don’t like breakfast, but I make sure a breakfast biscuit of some sort is available.

• Don’t forget to brush your teeth, bad breath on your first day is not going to go down well, and it will make you self-conscious.

• Make sure you leave with plenty of time and have checked the weather again (I have found the results change overnight; you don’t want to turn up soaking wet because you didn’t bring an umbrella.

• If you can, leave super early (it is good to turn up 10-20 minutes early), this will help you out and give you a chance to go through everything before you enter.

• Put your phone on silent, and any headphones make sure they are out of sight, you want to give a professional impression.

They may have you start at your desk, or they may have you waiting to be shown or introduced in the meeting room. At my job now, I was taken into the meeting room to meet everyone, shown the toilets and the drinks area etc. They showed me how they start the day, how I would know what work I am doing each day etc. A top tip is to write notes/how-to’s on everything, even the things you think you will remember (you won’t, there is so much information given to you in your first few days you may even forget the simplest of tasks. Try to say hello to everyone, even if you don’t know who they are.

If you get the opportunity to make yourself a drink, offer those around you. It can be annoying to make others drink, but it is a good way to get to speak to them as you would have to know how they have their drink.

You will probably be instructed about your lunch, at a work experience I had, I was told the lunch hour is between 12 pm and 2 pm, it didn’t matter what time I went but I had to be back for 2 pm no matter what, this means that if I went on lunch at 1:30 pm that would be my fault and I would only get 30 minutes. This time, I was asked what time I would like it to be, and it was agreed I would go at 12:30 for 1 hour. Make sure you your colleagues or boss know/ask if you can go on your lunch before leaving.

At home time, you might find they offer to take you to a local pub for a drink, it may seem unprofessional but go because it will give you a chance to get to know the person and you can ask questions with less pressure as you are outside the workplace. If you are worried about appearing unprofessional, stay for one but make sure you buy a round before you go if someone has bought a drink for you (if you need to go before you have bought a round leave the cash with someone or the bar).

Don’t be afraid of saying you need help or would like someone to check something and try not to sign up for all the work, it will show you are willing to work but you don’t want to drown yourself, especially while you are learning.