21 Tips for Making a Great Impression at Your New Job
You know the importance of a first impression. As a jobseeker, a first impression was very valuable; now that you’ve accepted a job offer, first impressions are again of critical importance.
First impressions about people often turn into long-term perceptions and opinions. This works well for people who make positive first impressions but can be a negative for people who make negative first impressions.
“I think the early days are when your boss and colleagues form the most lasting impressions about you,” said Ann Marie Russell, a program coordinator with AmeriCorps. “This is when they make assessments about your ‘typical’ behavior, and what ‘type’ of person you are.”
“If you have any attendance or punctuality issues in the first few days or weeks, you’ve already lost a significant battle — their confidence in you. People will take you as seriously as you seem to take yourself and your work,” said Russell.
During those first days in a new workplace, where you are meeting your new coworkers, first impressions about you and your future potential can make a major impact on your success with the organization.
First impressions are important, so how can you improve your chances of making a great one when you’re starting a new job? Follow these 20 tips to help you make a great impression and avoid the blunders typically associated with starting a new job.
1. Have a Positive Attitude
Nothing works better to improve people’s first impression of you more than having a positive attitude. Let your enthusiasm for being part of the team and the organization show through to everyone you interact with. Leave your personal problems at home and concentrate on radiating your excitement for this new opportunity.
Nothing works better to improve people’s first impression of you more than having a positive attitude. Let your enthusiasm for being part of the team and the organization show through to everyone you interact with. Leave your personal problems at home and concentrate on radiating your excitement for this new opportunity.
2. Dress ProfessionallyYou should never underestimate the importance of dressing professionally. Studies show that people make a judgment about you within seven seconds of meeting you, and the way you dress can impact this impression significantly.
In the beginning, take care to dress professionally even on casual days. In the early days of a new job, you just never know when you’ll be called out to meet a top manager or key client. “Perfectly groomed means efficient and reliable [in people’s minds]; unkempt means disorganized and therefore difficult to trust with different assignments,” said Desiree Devaney, a financial analyst with GE Capital Credit. “After awhile, people realize these things do not necessarily correspond, but initially, your looks and dress are your representation to them.”
3. Show Your Team Spirit
You are now part of a work team, and teams work together to solve problems and get the job done. Show loyalty to your co-workers by focusing more — initially, at least — on sharing recognition with the team. Always give credit where credit is due to gain the trust of your coworkers.
4. Learn Coworkers’ Names Quickly
No one expects you to have everyone’s name down pat by the end of the first day or week, but if you are bad with names, now is the time to research some memory-aid tricks you can use to help you remember your coworkers’ names. Make it a priority to learn the names of every member of your team. And if you are in a situation in which you forget a person’s name, the best solution is simply to apologize and ask again.
No one expects you to have everyone’s name down pat by the end of the first day or week, but if you are bad with names, now is the time to research some memory-aid tricks you can use to help you remember your coworkers’ names. Make it a priority to learn the names of every member of your team. And if you are in a situation in which you forget a person’s name, the best solution is simply to apologize and ask again.
5. Ask Questions/Ask for Help
No one expects you to know everything when you first start a new job so feel free to ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Remember that it’s better to ask for clarification before you’ve spent time completing a task the wrong way. It can be easy to let pride get in the way when you first start a job but pretending you know things you don’t isn’t the wise path. Listen to your coworker, ask questions and communication openly with your supervisors about any concerns that arise. No one expects you to know it all in the first weeks and months of a new job.
No one expects you to know everything when you first start a new job so feel free to ask questions or ask for help when you need it. Remember that it’s better to ask for clarification before you’ve spent time completing a task the wrong way. It can be easy to let pride get in the way when you first start a job but pretending you know things you don’t isn’t the wise path. Listen to your coworker, ask questions and communication openly with your supervisors about any concerns that arise. No one expects you to know it all in the first weeks and months of a new job.
6. Take Notes and Go to Orientation
Unless you have a photographic memory — and few of us do — take notes on all the systems and rules of your new organization. Attend all orientation sessions and accept any training that you are offered. Nothing will get you up to speed at a new job faster.
Unless you have a photographic memory — and few of us do — take notes on all the systems and rules of your new organization. Attend all orientation sessions and accept any training that you are offered. Nothing will get you up to speed at a new job faster.
7. Take Initiative
In most situations, you will be given small doses of work at the beginning of a new job. Starting slowly allows you to get your feet wet without getting overwhelmed. As you finish assignments and are ready to handle a bigger workload, take the initiative and ask for more assignments.
In most situations, you will be given small doses of work at the beginning of a new job. Starting slowly allows you to get your feet wet without getting overwhelmed. As you finish assignments and are ready to handle a bigger workload, take the initiative and ask for more assignments.
“Be proactive,” said Ali von Staudach, senior account executive for CNET Networks. “Don’t wait for an assignment. Stick up your hand and ask for something to do.”
Being a self-starter is a great way to make a strong first impression at a new job. “Volunteer for things,” said Stephen Magennis, whose first job out of college was as a benefits analyst for Hewitt Associates, Orlando, FL. “There will be people [who need] help, and they will appreciate your efforts to start making an immediate impact. Many times, there may be some tasks that you can accomplish with a little guidance, which will probably free up time for someone who needs to work on more important items.”
8. Learn Everything You Can About Your New Employer
In theory, you should have already done your homework during the interviewing process, but there is always a lot more to learn once you’re on the inside. Get an employee handbook and study it. In addition, gather all those reports and company literature and read as much as you can to become an expert on your organization.
In theory, you should have already done your homework during the interviewing process, but there is always a lot more to learn once you’re on the inside. Get an employee handbook and study it. In addition, gather all those reports and company literature and read as much as you can to become an expert on your organization.
9. Arrive Early, Leave Late and Don’t Call in Sick
“Be on time, come in early, stay a little later,” said von Staudach. Remember, you can’t be a go-getter and clock-watcher at the same time so plan to be at work a little longer than your eight-hour shift. There’s nothing that can affect your reputation faster than routinely coming into work late or leaving work early. Especially in these first days or weeks on the job, observe the flow of the office and be sure you are coming in earlier and leaving later than the majority of your coworkers. Also, don’t take long lunches, especially in the beginning. Once you understand the office culture better, you may be able to shift your hours or take longer lunches but in the beginning, err on the side of spending more time at work to make a great first impression.
“Be on time, come in early, stay a little later,” said von Staudach. Remember, you can’t be a go-getter and clock-watcher at the same time so plan to be at work a little longer than your eight-hour shift. There’s nothing that can affect your reputation faster than routinely coming into work late or leaving work early. Especially in these first days or weeks on the job, observe the flow of the office and be sure you are coming in earlier and leaving later than the majority of your coworkers. Also, don’t take long lunches, especially in the beginning. Once you understand the office culture better, you may be able to shift your hours or take longer lunches but in the beginning, err on the side of spending more time at work to make a great first impression.
10. Establish a Good Attendance Record
It should go without saying that it’s important to show up to work every day and establish a good attendance record. Yes, there will be emergencies, and, yes, you may get sick, but as best you can, try to make it to work every day during those first weeks and months on the job.
It should go without saying that it’s important to show up to work every day and establish a good attendance record. Yes, there will be emergencies, and, yes, you may get sick, but as best you can, try to make it to work every day during those first weeks and months on the job.
11. Avoid Office Politics and Gossip
The workplace can be full of rumors and gossip. Your mission should be to stay above the fray. Take care not to associate the office gossips and don’t get involved in any office trash talk or politics, especially in the beginning. Repeating gossip will do nothing to help you make a good first impression at a new job.
The workplace can be full of rumors and gossip. Your mission should be to stay above the fray. Take care not to associate the office gossips and don’t get involved in any office trash talk or politics, especially in the beginning. Repeating gossip will do nothing to help you make a good first impression at a new job.
“Stay out of the office politics for as long as possible,” Magennis says. “It’s inevitable that you will be exposed to them sooner or later, and you will most likely participate in them as well as it’s human nature. But stay out of the game for the first few months.”
12. Keep Personal Business on Company Time to a Minimum
Studies show that just about everyone conducts some amount of personal business on company time — checking email, making dinner reservations, buying stuff online. Your goal is to keep your personal business to a minimum and stay focused on work. If you need to make a personal call, step away from your desk. If you need to make a reservation or take care of other business online, do it quickly and discreetly, and, if possible, from your personal device.
Studies show that just about everyone conducts some amount of personal business on company time — checking email, making dinner reservations, buying stuff online. Your goal is to keep your personal business to a minimum and stay focused on work. If you need to make a personal call, step away from your desk. If you need to make a reservation or take care of other business online, do it quickly and discreetly, and, if possible, from your personal device.
13. Take Advantage of After-Hours Activities
Many organizations have formal or informal after-hour activities, such as sports leagues. Get involved — even if only as a cheerleader — because these types of activities are great ways to bond with your coworkers. Do be on your best behavior during these outside-work activities, though.
Many organizations have formal or informal after-hour activities, such as sports leagues. Get involved — even if only as a cheerleader — because these types of activities are great ways to bond with your coworkers. Do be on your best behavior during these outside-work activities, though.
“If attending happy hours with co-workers, never drink more than one drink,” suggests Anne Johnson, senior corporate relations coordinator for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, recalling a coworker who came to a happy hour and had too much to drink. “Now, no one will invite her again. You don’t want to make a stupid mistake like that.”
14. Listen More than Talk
Listening more than you talk can be one of the hardest skills to learn, especially for extroverts. However, you don’t want to get the reputation as the office know-it-all — or worse, someone who always has to have the limelight. If you have a legitimate contribution, make it, but if not, do more listening and absorbing during those first days on the job.
Listening more than you talk can be one of the hardest skills to learn, especially for extroverts. However, you don’t want to get the reputation as the office know-it-all — or worse, someone who always has to have the limelight. If you have a legitimate contribution, make it, but if not, do more listening and absorbing during those first days on the job.
15. Track Accomplishments
It’s up to you to track your accomplishments; no one else will do it for you. Tracking your accomplishments is great for a variety of reasons, including your personal satisfaction, for increasing your chances of receiving a raise or promotion down the road, and for future job-hunting. To ensure that you stay on top of tracking your accomplishments, read our article, For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments and use Accomplishments Worksheet.
It’s up to you to track your accomplishments; no one else will do it for you. Tracking your accomplishments is great for a variety of reasons, including your personal satisfaction, for increasing your chances of receiving a raise or promotion down the road, and for future job-hunting. To ensure that you stay on top of tracking your accomplishments, read our article, For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments and use Accomplishments Worksheet.
16. Show Appreciation
Nothing works like kindness and genuine appreciation. Show your appreciation to everyone who helps you learn the ropes during your first days on the job — from your coworkers to receptionists to the folks in human resources. Recognizing those who have helped you get acclimated will show your gratitude, which will do wonders for making a good first impression.
Nothing works like kindness and genuine appreciation. Show your appreciation to everyone who helps you learn the ropes during your first days on the job — from your coworkers to receptionists to the folks in human resources. Recognizing those who have helped you get acclimated will show your gratitude, which will do wonders for making a good first impression.
17. Find a Mentor
You don’t need to jump on this task your first day, but as you get introduced to senior staff, begin thinking about developing a mentoring relationship with a senior person in the organization. Mentoring has numerous benefits, from a simple sounding board to someone who helps direct and advance your career within the organization.
You don’t need to jump on this task your first day, but as you get introduced to senior staff, begin thinking about developing a mentoring relationship with a senior person in the organization. Mentoring has numerous benefits, from a simple sounding board to someone who helps direct and advance your career within the organization.
18. Get and Stay Organized
If you’re one of those super-organized people, this tip will be easy for you. The rest of us, however, need to develop a system for keeping track of meetings, appointments, assignments, and projects. Get an organizer or planner and keep on top of all your work. Use your Outlook or Apple calendar, with reminders set for important deadlines. Make an Excel spreadsheet or just write a simple to-do list at the beginning and end of every day. Everyone has a system that works best for them. Try different organization techniques until you find the perfect one; you certainly don’t want to miss an early key deadline or meeting in the early days of a new job.
If you’re one of those super-organized people, this tip will be easy for you. The rest of us, however, need to develop a system for keeping track of meetings, appointments, assignments, and projects. Get an organizer or planner and keep on top of all your work. Use your Outlook or Apple calendar, with reminders set for important deadlines. Make an Excel spreadsheet or just write a simple to-do list at the beginning and end of every day. Everyone has a system that works best for them. Try different organization techniques until you find the perfect one; you certainly don’t want to miss an early key deadline or meeting in the early days of a new job.
19. Set GoalsAs you look ahead, set goals for yourself and then strive to achieve them. Revise your list every few months; what’s important to you in your first three months of a job will be different from the goals you have when you’ve been in a position for six months.
20. Make a Date With Your Boss
Having a weekly meeting with your new boss to keep him or her informed of how you are doing is very important, especially in a new job. In addition to helping you stay on track with assignments and deadlines, meeting with your boss helps establish a rapport and relationship. The meetings shouldn’t be about minor details – your coworkers can help you with those. Rather, use this time to discuss your tasks and projects.
Having a weekly meeting with your new boss to keep him or her informed of how you are doing is very important, especially in a new job. In addition to helping you stay on track with assignments and deadlines, meeting with your boss helps establish a rapport and relationship. The meetings shouldn’t be about minor details – your coworkers can help you with those. Rather, use this time to discuss your tasks and projects.
“Request meetings with your boss on a consistent basis to review your performance. Express interest in moving ahead and ask what else you can be doing to get to that next step,” advises von Staudach.
21. Network – Both in and out of the OfficeAt the work, take advantage of every opportunity to network with key people in your organization and profession by attending staff meetings, professional organization conferences, and trade shows. Use every opportunity to meet colleagues in your field. Networking with key people can help you identify mentors within your organization
Outside of work, join an organization or take additional classes to stay ahead in your field. Just because you have a new job does not mean you should suspend your networking. Even in a new job your should constantly be managing and growing your network of contacts.
Final Thoughts on Your First Days on the Job
Being the newest member of the organization — the rookie — is both challenging and exciting. You’ll be faced with both difficulties and opportunities, and your goal should be to make the most of all situations. Don’t worry if you don’t make a perfect first impression in those early days on the job — few of us ever do. Remember to relax, keep your mind open, get to know your team members, and do your work. These things should help you go far in making a positive and lasting impression at your new job.
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