Putting The Best Foot Forward: Top Tips to Make a Good Impression on The First Day of Work

A person’s first day of a new job is just around the corner. They are very excited, but, they’re also a little nervous.

They want to be at ease and be themselves, but they also want to make sure they make a good first impression on everybody, both bosses and co-workers.

What should their outfit look like? What should they do to make people feel comfortable around them?

Read on to learn the top tips to make a good impression on the first day of work.

1. Wear a Watch

The way they dress can make a huge difference in terms of what people think of them. If they don’t dress the part, people won’t think they can act the part.

Aside from the obvious stuff like wearing a nice suit or pant suit, an individual should also add something classy to make themself stand out, such as a watch. A watch helps them look professional, organized, and like they are someone who should be taken seriously.

But, they can’t just go to Target and pick out any watch they see. If they are going to invest in a watch, a person should make it a luxurious one. After all, a watch is something that never goes out of style and that they can wear throughout their whole life, so they might as well put the money towards one that’s top quality.

This Rolex Submariner watch is a perfect example of the type of watch that will make a good first impression on others.

2. Smile and Act Professional

Even if a person isn’t a super “smiley” person in real life, make an effort to smile a lot on their first day.

Smiling shows others that a person is excited and appreciative to be where they are. It also helps they appear more approachable to others. Anytime they pass someone they don’t know, they should be sure to go up to them and introduce themself with a smile.

In terms of professionalism, a person really needs to read the tone of the room. After interviewing with their new employer, they should already have a pretty good idea of the company culture, so this shouldn’t be too hard.

Basically, if they are working in a more laid back environment like a brewery, they don’t want to sound like they are talking to a board of investors all the time.

3. Be the First to Introduce Themselves

So many people, instead of introducing themselves first, wait for others to come up to them.

If a new employee wants to make an excellent impression on their first day of work, they need to be the first one to introduce themself to others.

When they introduce themself, they need to be sure to act natural and do it with a smile. Try to ask the person something small about them as well, to show them that they’re looking forward to getting to know them. For example, if they bump into someone at the copy machine that they haven’t met yet, introducing themself and asking something like, “What department do you work in?”

Don’t ask questions that are too loaded, like, “What’s your favorite part of this company?” This will make people feel like they’re being put on the spot, and they won’t like it. Stick to small, easy chit-chat at first.

Introduction are not always easy, especially if the is new employee is on the shy side. However, this shows others that they are excited to get to know them, and, that they’re not afraid to take initiative.

4. Listen and Ask Questions

It’s very normal to feel a bit uncomfortable in a new role on the first day of work. In fact, a lot of people go into the first day of work not really sure what they’re day to day is going to look like.

And that’s totally okay. Just like any other job, a person will eventually get the hang of things.

However, don’t feel like they need to hide their confusion about things. Listen, and ask others questions when they feel lost. Don’t worry, this won’t make them look stupid. Instead, it will make them look humble and more human.

Plus, it’s better to ask as many questions as a person can on those first days of work than to not know what they are doing later on.

5. Overdress

After interviewing, a person should have a pretty good idea of what the dress code is on a day to day basis at their new job.

However, some people still feel unsure about what to wear on their very first day.

In general, it is always best to overdress on the first day of work. Even if it makes a person stand out a little, it will at least be in a good way. Overdressing shows others that they care about their new job and that they take it seriously.

Underdressing, on the other hand, makes it look like they are a slacker and they don’t really care to be there.

After the first day, they can adjust their look according to what they see others wearing.

6. Send Emails to People Who Helped On The First Day

As we said, a new employee is probably going to have a lot of questions on their first day of work, and a lot of people are going to help them by answering those questions and showing them the way.

It’s very important that they thank these people, not only by word, but through an email at the end of the day. When someone helps them with something, that means they are taking time out of their day and stepping away from their work to make sure they know what they’re doing.

Letting them know that they are thankful for this will really make them feel special, and they’ll probably be more inclined to help them in the future.

So, there it is, the top tips to make a good first impression on the first day of work. Has anyone had success with some of these tips already? Let us know in the comments below!

Melissa Thompson writes about a wide range of topics, revealing interesting things we didn’t know before. She is a freelance USA Today producer, and a Technorati contributor.