We Ask an Expert: Tips to Prepare for your First Day at a New Job
At Resume Ninjas, we believe that being prepared and feeling confident is one of the most important ways you can do well in your career. Engaging with professionals in your network is vital to getting the pulse on industry hiring practices and uncovering the answer to questions like how do I prepare for my first day on a new job?
That’s why we offer one-on-one coaching and resume prep to make sure you feel ready for your job interview and are directing your experience and career ambitions effectively. As recruiting experts, we know it can be challenging to navigate the job market and find the right career which is why we are here to help!
But what happens once you’ve got the job? You’ve prepared a top resume and cover letter, and you’ve aced your interview. Your next step is to rock your first day!
In this article, we’re letting Jen take over. She’s the orientation coordinator for a large health organization and has watched hundreds of new hires go through her program. She’ll give you her top tips to prepare for your first day at a new job to make a lasting impression on your hiring manager, recruiter, and colleagues - which will also help you advance down the road.
Top Tips to Prepare for your First Day at a New Job
Hi! Jen here. As an orientation coordinator, I’ve seen some stellar new hires who have gone on to do amazing things, and I’m here to share what they’ve done to prepare for their first day on the job. From email etiquette to engaging with training, I’m here to give the low-down on what you can do to stand out to your employers.
1 - Email Communications and Etiquette
Check your spam!
Larger organizations will often use older software that may get filtered out by your email provider’s spam filters. If you know that an email is coming, filter the address in your settings - so it doesn’t all go to spam. Jotform has a great step-by-step tutorial on how to do this! If you get stuck, just check your spam messages regularly to make sure important information isn’t getting buried.
Read the entire email, highlight significant portions, and check your attachments.
Often new hire emails contain a lot of overwhelming information. My recommendation is to sit down, print the communication (if you can), and highlight important sections, including your training dates, documentation they need, and essential policies (dress code, perfume policy, etc.). Double-check to make sure there are no attachments included, and if there are, make sure you go through each one.
Create a to-do list based on hire emails.
In my organization, ‘orientation’ takes place across multiple departments. I’ve heard from various new hires that it can make things confusing! When the department initially hired me, I combed through each email and gathered a list of the different things they needed: my orientation dates and times, and the documents and items I needed to update on my end. Here’s an example of a document to-do list I created (and the type of information that’s common for an employer to ask for:)
Documentation to gather: Social Insurance Number, Void cheque, insurance paperwork for extended health and death benefits, your emergency contact information, police background check, and immunization records.
Have a question? Check to be sure it isn’t in the emails!
Every month, new hires pour into inboxes asking questions about their schedules and dress codes. The most challenging part of being an orientation coordinator is answering questions that you can find in the new hire packages (sometimes highlighted and bolded to be seen more quickly.) That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get in touch with your trainers or managers; just double-check to make sure they haven’t already answered your questions in their communications.
2 - Clear Your Schedule for Training
Your manager or orientation team works hard to incorporate you into schedules, line up trainers, and sometimes even negotiate with previous employers to make things work. When they contact you with dates for training (whether it’s a large or small business,) it’s crucial to try and be available when they ask for it.
The recommendation above isn’t absolute - if you have an appointment with a specialist or have a family emergency, communicate this with your managers. Most people are sympathetic and will try to accommodate! However, if you have a massage appointment, you should probably reschedule.
3 - Pick your Favourite Professional Outfit
If you’re anything like me, you wear your favourite items on repeat, and you feel like a million bucks every time you put them on. Make sure your outfit choice is something you feel confident in while still maintaining the dress code of the organization you’re joining. Better yet, head to the store and pick something out as a celebration of landing your new job!
4 - Pack your bag the night before with these essentials:
It’s always better to pack your things ahead of time so that the morning of your first shift is relaxed and not rushed. Here are a few things that are important to include:
1 - Notebook
2 - Pens
3 - Mask
4 - Mints
5 - Copies of your training schedule
6 - Your ‘hire package’ - documents that are needed to add you to the system
7 - Deodorant
8 - Your lunch!
5 - Know your route ahead of time.
When getting ready for your first shift, you need to consider all the different parts that make up your day, from getting ready to commuting! A critical part of your first day is getting there.
Too often, I’ve seen new hires showing up fifteen minutes late to their sessions because they didn’t understand parking, got stuck in traffic, or got lost getting there. As a coordinator, I know navigating places like a hospital or a new city can be confusing and disorienting. However, those who came in late missed important information and interrupted learning for their colleagues.
My recommendation for getting to work is to take the route once before you start. Whether you’re driving, taking the bus, or riding a bike - it’s essential to know where you’ll run into hiccups so you can account for more time. If you’re driving, make sure you won’t need to stop for gas on the way.
Additionally, whatever Google Maps tells you, add fifteen minutes longer to get there. Often Google will give a good cushion of time, but sometimes it can take longer. For example, I take one route where the app tells me it’ll take 30 minutes to travel when it takes a full 45 every time.
Making the Best First Impression during Orientation and Training
We’ve gone through all of the ways to prepare for your first day on a new job, but how can you make a lasting impression during training? The following paragraphs contain a few things that have stood out when working with new staff.
1 - Take notes!
Even if you plan on never rereading them, taking notes can help cement key information that you’ll want to review later. It’s also helpful to have when you start working on your own as you can always refer to it when you’re unsure about a decision.
2 - Engage with the Content
There’s nothing more challenging for presenters and your trainers than making content engaging, and a lot of preparation goes into making things more interesting for new hires. The one thing presenters and trainers appreciate is students who engage with their lesson plans and ask questions.
As a trainer, I welcome students to ask to clarify the content. It means I know what the person is absorbing and where I may not be clear. It also helps me know you’re paying attention!
3 - Meet with instructors/your managers and ask questions
The staff who are training you are often further into their career or are moving on to a higher position. Don’t be afraid to ask them about advancement and education! I am always impressed by the new hires who seek this information out from us as it’s clear they want to grow within the organization, and they’re extending their connections.
One of our hires was a recently graduated nurse who wanted to specialize in renal (kidneys.) After speaking with myself and one of my colleagues, she was connected with the renal department manager and had a unit tour. This proactive approach will help you learn more about where you can go in your career and what opportunities may be available!
4 - Follow-up with instructors, educators, and trainers
Most presenters, trainers, and educators include their contact information at the end of their presentations. The person training you at the desk gives you their contact info and lets you know how to get in touch if need be.
If you connect with the person and their content, reaching out is a great way to build your network in the industry or learn more about a particular career. I still keep in contact with the person I replaced and keep connections going with old colleagues.
Conclusion
In this article, we let Jen give an excellent overview of the best ways to prepare for your first day on a new job. From preparing in advance and asking the right questions to use training to learn about growth within the company - there are many opportunities to make a great impression with your trainer or coordinator.
Do you still have questions about your career direction? Not sure where to start when it comes to getting hired? Resume Ninjas takes years of human resources management to provide personalized coaching sessions and resume writing services to translate your work experience into your dream career! Check out some of our packages, or get in touch with us to get started.