Got the job you wanted? Great! Now, the next thing you should be thinking about is how you are going to make a good first impression. That first impression is likely to define you for a while. The people you will work with don’t really know anything else about you, so they are waiting to see what happens in those first couple weeks. And the impression that they get is likely to follow you for a long time, so make sure it is a good one!
Here are some tips for making a first impression that you’ll be glad to have stick:
- Listen! People love it when the new person actually listens to instructions and follows them. If you’re truly listening, you will have a better chance of doing tasks properly the first time.
- Ask questions. And be sure to ask smart questions. If you ask questions about information that has already been covered, they’ll just think you weren’t listening the first time (see the first point!). Ask questions that will help you do your job better.
- Make sure you understand your job description. If your job description isn’t clear, ask for clarification (see the second point!). Make sure that you completely understand what they expect of you.
- Meet people. You need to meet as many people that are key players in the company as possible. Ask questions and listen to the answers (see the first two points!).
- Be on time or early. Never show up late in your first couple weeks under any circumstances. Make sure you plan ahead so that you can get there on time. And don’t take extra time on your breaks. Be back on time from your coffee break and your lunch break.
- Don’t work through breaks unless someone specifically asks you to. If you start now, they will expect it from you in the future. Same for working late.
- Watch how others dress (especially those that are in the position that you ultimately want to be in) and mimic them. If none of the women wear pants, then you shouldn’t either. If everyone wears a tie, then you should, too.
- Smile often. Show that you have a good attitude and be ready to meet others with a smile on your face. If you’re always frowning they will think that you are not happy to be there and it will reflect in how people approach you.
What other tips can you think of for making a good first impression when you are searching for a job or starting a new one?
