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.

If you have been issued IT equipment, ensure you have everything you need before day one, check machines power up and you can get access to key systems if you’re working remotely. Don’t leave this until day one and miss induction meetings because technology lets you down.

2. Practice your introduction

This is something you’re likely going to have to repeat multiple times in the first few weeks, so knowing what you’re going to say will save a huge amount of anxiety. Making it brief but effective, covering a bit of background such as previous relevant experience or education, your role in the organisation, what you’re hoping to get out of the meeting / your induction and ending with something personal that can build rapport. This can include hobbies, pets or recent travel destinations - anything that can spark a connection with new colleagues!

3. Pack essentials

You’re going to have to take in large amounts of information and if you’re on site you may even be given materials to take away. Essentials would always include a notepad and pen, but also a folder you can store documents in. There are a number of note taking apps with free to use versions on the market, such as Otter AI. These can be useful for summarising key points for reflection, but you must have the permission of everyone present to use these and you must remain in line with company policies. 

It is also worth exploring the company’s BYOD - or “Bring Your Own Device” policy. Many organisations will allow you to add key apps and even email to your smart phone within a set policy. This can help you stay on top of things during your busy induction period and beyond.

Finally, remember you have to eat and most importantly stay hydrated. Packing a lunch and snacks can save time and money, a good drinking bottle is a must have.

4. Dress appropriately

Understanding the organisations dress code and culture is something you should get through the recruitment and selection process, but if in doubt, ask. As a rule of thumb, it is better to be slightly more formal than less. It’s also worth considering your commute and the working environment. You may want to travel in more comfortable clothing and footwear and change at work. If you’re working in an industrial setting, be clear on what PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) you will need or be issued with and how and when it is to be used.

5. Reflect at the end each day

It’s worth taking 20 minutes at the end of each day to reflect on your notes, what you have learned and any new questions you have. Don’t worry about knowing everything immediately, but this reflection will help things sink in. Use this time to complete any induction tasks or preparation you have been given, including any online learning rather than letting it build-up and become overwhelming.

Starting a new job is a significant milestone, but with some preparation and the right mindset, you can set yourself up for success from day one. Embrace the experience, stay open to learning, and remember: every day is a step toward becoming more confident in your new role.

The Student Engineer is a special channel of The Engineer aimed at educating and inspiring engineering undergraduates about the career opportunities in engineering and also offering practical advice on how they can access these opportunities. 

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