6 Important Things to Do to Prepare for a New Job

You have worked through the resume-writing process, made it through the interviews, and finally landed the job. Now you are getting ready for that first day, which causes jitters as you do not know what to expect. While a JobTestPrep review could have broken down what you will expect from your job, it doesn’t let you know what to expect from your fellow employees. That is part of what makes the first day a little complicated. Here are some things to do before starting a new job.

1. Research the Company

You already researched the company when preparing for a new job, but that was only the start. You now have to explore the values and cultures in a new light, bearing in mind that you will now be subject to the same culture. You want to know the leadership better and how the structures are in the company, your immediate supervisor, and even your colleagues.

Most of the things to know you can only find out after you start, but it helps to have a little foundation on the expected structures. It will also help to know the dress code, so you know how to show up on the first day. As a matter of fact, you want to line up a wardrobe in readiness for the new job to align to set values. These minor issues could make all the difference. A seemingly minor issue that some people forget to check when they start working is the company’s policy on colleague dating, yet it is quite vital. These are some of the questions you can ask the HR manager before you report on the first day or check whether they are addressed on your contract document.

2. Research Your Colleagues

This is not something you necessarily what to do when looking for a job, so you will want to get to it after getting the job. You want to know the kind of people you are working with, and these days social media makes it easy to stalk people without looking weird. You have all the tools to go through without getting noticed, so use them to know the team a little better before you start working with them, as this could work in your favor.

3. Practice your Commute

You do not want any inconveniences on your first day, so it helps to know all the possible routes to the office. If you have only been there once or all the interviews were done virtually, you may want to do a quick run to ensure you know where the right turns are before D-day. Things tend to go wrong when you least expect them, especially when you have to use public means of transportation, so it helps to explore all ways to get to the office – bus, train where possible, cabs, and even cycling. You can afford to make mistakes on any other day but not the first.

4. Arrive Early and Introduce Yourself

One of the most important observations you can make is being on time when you report for the first day. All eyes will be on the newbie, and you do not want to start by showing up way after everyone else. Fifteen minutes before showtime is usually good enough for most people as they get the time to take in the environment. You will take the time to know the amenities before the team members show up. When the time is ripe, you want to introduce yourself or follow protocol if the human resources manager is the one responsible for that. As the day goes by, you will be able to read your colleagues better and get to know them more as you work together.

5. Ask Questions where Needed

Part of how to prepare for a new job is knowing that it is okay to ask questions. Co-workers are most times exceptionally good to new employees, so you will have all the questions asked, even the silly ones. At this point, it helps to know nothing is too outlandish if you do not have the answer – for instance, not all printers work the same, so it doesn’t hurt to ask for help. You may not know where the stationery is, and asking will help. You will tell by the body language of the people who don’t mind being asked questions, which is vital because you do not want to feel like a bother, so make the most of them without being unnecessarily intrusive.

6. Be Open to Socialization

Part of creating a healthy community is actually participating, and it doesn’t hurt to go out for drinks or lunch sometimes. Even when you are not the most social butterfly, you may want to be open to getting to know your colleagues outside work once in a while. If you segregate, you will alienate yourself and maybe make your stay at the company lonely, so participation could do you some good. While at it, it helps to remember your colleagues are not necessarily your buddies, so boundaries are necessary to keep the work environment formal.

Conclusion

Remember to take care of yourself, so you do not burn out. You want to hydrate, rest, ask questions where needed, take on what you can, and learn to set boundaries to create a healthy relationship with your job. As much as everyone starts enthusiastically, it behooves us to remember to say no when we need and to take one day at a time. Because you want to have a beautiful relationship with your colleagues, you also want to give the best version of yourself. A healthy workplace is the best gift everyone can give the other. Also, remember to go through the contract document closely to know how the company expects you to conduct yourself before you even start working. Most importantly, remember to enjoy yourself.