11 Tips for Making a Good Impression at Your New Job
When you’re starting a new job, you want to make a good impression on your boss and your new coworkers. Your coworkers first impressions of you will set the stage for how they view you in the future and how you fit into the company’s culture. Follow these tips to make your first impression a good impression.
Arrive on Time
It’s important, especially when you’re first starting a new job, to arrive on time, or even a few minutes early. It might be tempting to take a couple extra minutes at lunch, but that’s a surefire way to make a bad impression.
Dress Appropriately
Make sure you dress appropriately on your first day at work – maybe even dress more conservatively than you normally would. Once you’ve gotten a pretty good idea how everyone else in the office dresses, you can start to dress more like yourself.
Don’t Spread Gossip
Your new coworkers might spread gossip, but try not to get caught up in it. If you start gossiping about your new coworkers before you get to know them, they won’t trust you, and you’ll have a hard time separating fact from fiction.
Find a Mentor
During your first week, find someone in the company who’s on a similar career path as you, just further along. Ask them to take you under their wing.
If in Doubt, Ask Questions
Nobody expects you to know everything when you’re first getting started. If you’re not sure where something is or how to do something, just ask!
Practice Active Listening
You can learn a lot from your new coworkers. When you’re talking to them, listen carefully and be genuinely interested in what they’re saying.
Use “Please” and “Thank You”
Being polite can go a long way, and it never stops being important.
Leave Your Personal Business at Home
You might be having a rough time at home, but try not to let it interfere with your workday, especially when you’re first starting out. Your coworkers might worry that you won’t be able to handle the job because you’re always worried about what’s going on at home.
Take Initiative
Your first couple days at work might be a little slow because you have paperwork to fill out and small projects to get your feet wet. Instead of being bored during your downtime, take initiative – volunteer to help other coworkers with their projects or complete tasks you’ll know you have to do eventually anyway.
Get to Know Your Coworkers
You’re going to spend a lot of time at work, so take the time to get to know your coworkers. Everyone likes talking about themselves, so ask them questions, like “Where are you from originally?” or “How long have you worked here?”
Smile
When you pass your coworkers in the hallway, smile at them. They’ll know that you’re excited to be working for the company, and they’ll automatically smile back.
