How to do well in your first weeks at a new job

Getting ready before day one, learning fast, building good relationships and passing probation.

Why the first weeks matter

In the first weeks, your manager and colleagues form their first impression of how you work. Most new jobs also start with a probation period, during which the employer decides whether to confirm you. You don't need to know everything at once. What people notice is whether you are reliable, willing to learn and easy to work with.

Before your first day

Confirm the start time, the address and who to ask for when you arrive.
Ask what documents you should bring. Employers commonly ask for your ID, original certificates, bank account details and details for tax and social security registration.
Find out how people dress at work, and prepare clothes for the first week.
Plan your route and do a trial journey if you can, at the same time of day.
Read your offer letter and job description again.

The first day

Arrive a little early. Greet people, introduce yourself and write down names and roles as you meet them. Expect a lot of new information: forms, systems, rules and introductions. It is fine to feel tired at the end of the day.

Ask your manager three questions early on: what they expect you to achieve in the first month, how they prefer to communicate (in person, by phone, by email), and who you should ask when they aren't available.

Learn quickly

Take notes. Write down how things are done: systems, steps, passwords you are given (kept safely), and who handles what. You will forget less and ask the same question less often.
Ask questions, in batches. Questions are expected from new staff. Save small ones and ask several at once, so you don't interrupt colleagues constantly.
Watch how things are done before suggesting changes. There is often a reason behind a process that isn't obvious at first.
Learn the rules, including the staff handbook, safety rules and policies on confidentiality and use of company equipment.

Build good relationships

Be friendly with everyone, from the receptionist and drivers to senior managers. Offer help when you have time, join colleagues for tea or lunch, and avoid office gossip and taking sides in disagreements. People who are respected at work are usually helpful, keep their word and treat everyone the same way.

Show that you are reliable

Arrive on time every day, and tell your manager early if you will be late or absent.
Finish what you agree to do, by the time you agreed. If you can't, say so before the deadline, not after.
Check your work before handing it in.
Keep your phone use for personal matters to breaks.
When you make a mistake, say so quickly, fix it and learn from it. Everyone makes mistakes in a new job; hiding them is what causes trouble.

Passing probation

Find out how long your probation is and how it will be reviewed. Halfway through, ask your manager for feedback: what is going well and what you should improve. Act on what they say, and mention the improvement at the next conversation.

Keep a short record of what you have done and learned: tasks completed, problems solved, training finished. It helps in your probation review and later in your first annual appraisal.

Look after yourself

Starting a job is tiring. Sleep well, eat properly and plan your money carefully until your first salary arrives. If something worries you, such as your workload, your safety or how you are treated, raise it calmly with your manager or the human resources office. Most problems are easier to solve early.

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