Feeling a little anxious about your first day at work? Here are a few tips to help you with first day jitters and plan for a successful first day at work.

Preparation is key

No one wants to arrive on the first day to work feeling caught off guard and unprepared.

The night before you should make sure that you get plenty of sleep. Set your alarm at a time which gives you plenty of time to get ready. Layout your clothes and pack your bag for the next morning.

Dress for the job

Make sure you dress appropriately, nothing too tight or too short. It may take a few days at the job to understand what kind of clothes everyone wears.

Read the job description

Try reading through the job description again and re-familiarise yourself with the role. This will keep the tasks you have to do on a daily basis fresh in your brain. This will also help you mentally prepare yourself know what is expected of you.

Prepare your mindset

You could try and have a short introduction message memorised. This will help you start conversations with people and come across as more approachable and friendly. This will also take out the awkwardness when meeting and greeting new people for the first time.

Be careful with your lunch choices

Keep your lunch choice odour free (so leave the tuna/salmon at home). You should try and get out of the office or have lunch in the staff kitchen or cafe. This is going to give you a chance to meet your new coworkers and make new friends.

Take notes

Login information, passwords, to-do list, names, it’s always important to have a notepad to write down all the important information. You will be bombarded with a lot of information and you’re probably not going to remember everything. This will help you stay on track through the induction period.

Understand the culture

For most companies cultural fit is important. Familiarise yourself with the people you will be spending most of your days with. There is a chance that you will be asked to go out for after-work drinks or event. This is a great opportunity to get to know and bond with your new colleagues. You don’t have to say yes to every social event but attending some here and there would be great for maintaining a relationship with your co-workers/team.