Five ways to prepare for your first day

Starting a new job can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Whether you’re embarking on an internship, a part-time role, or your first full-time position after graduation, your first day is a pivotal moment. It’s your chance to make a lasting impression and set the tone for your time at the organisation. To help you feel prepared and confident, here are my top five tips for day one in a new job.

1. Do your homework

As the saying goes, fail to prepare and prepare to fail. As part of your interview preparation, you will have researched the organisation, so it’s a good idea to revisit this to understand mission, vision and industry landscape. It can help to prepare a list of questions you have, but also that show your enthusiasm.

Often organisations send out joining instructions, pre-reading and forms to complete. Ensure you have done everything you need to for day one. On a practical level, planning your commute is essential if travelling into work. Do a dry run on a workday, if possible, at the time you’ll be travelling. If using public transport, understand what the contingencies are if the bus or train is cancelled.