5 Things to Do on Your First Day at a New Job

Congratulations, you got the job! Perhaps you’re filled with nervous excitement as you plan for your first day and imagine what it’ll be like in your new position. Perhaps your new employer has a formal new employee orientation or maybe you’ll just be thrown into it.

Regardless, there are some things you can do on your first day to set the tone for your new work experience and to ensure that you get off on the right foot.

In addition to planning what to wear on that first day, consider how you might fit the following into your first day plans.  

Get organized. There is no better time to figure out the best system of organization for your work style. By day two you might already find things to be a chaotic mess and struggle to catch up. Talk with your supervisor and co-workers about the methods they use to keep things organized and under control and begin to implement your own system immediately.

Eat lunch with others. Sure, you might need some time alone to catch your breath and refocus your energies but do that over a short break. Do not eat lunch by yourself. If no one invites you to join them, take the initiative and extend the invitation to your colleagues. You’ll feel more comfortable on the job the quicker you get to know the people you work closely with every day.

Familiarize yourself with the layout of the building. Take a few minutes to get the lay of the land. Some companies will take new employees on a tour of the workspace and even if you get this tour, take some time to wander around on your own. You’ll become more easily oriented when you look around at your own pace and stop to situate yourself. Even if you work in a small office you’ll want to know where the kitchenette and rest rooms are located. 

Meet the person in charge of technology. Regardless of our work, we usually end up needing to use some form of technology to get the job done. And our tech eventually breaks down or malfunctions. On your first day take some time to seek out the person you’ll need to contact in this situation. Understand the best way to contact him or her and how you submit a request for help.

Be friendly and curious. This should be obvious but might be difficult if you’re overcome with anxiety. Make an effort to smile, be friendly with those you meet, and be curious about the work. Everyone you come in contact with does something of value to your new company and your job will be more enjoyable if you understand what it is that they do and how it relates to your new position.

Enjoy that new job and congrats!

5 Ways You Can Make Your Company Better

Some of us spend a lot of time thinking about what our company does wrong or considering the areas it needs to improve. We might even complain about employers, but do we spend any time thinking about how we can make things better?

Perhaps we need to paraphrase John F. Kennedy’s famous quote for the workplace: ask not what your company can do for you, ask what you can do for your company.

Here then are five ways we can make our jobs and the companies we work for a little better.

Join a Committee. Most companies create committees to explore solutions to problems or issues that come up. There might be a committee to explore workplace diversity or to develop a recycling program. Contact your Human Resources department to find out more about these initiatives and how you can get involved. Your enthusiastic engagement with your company’s practices will contribute to making it a better place to work.

Welcome new employees. Become one of those employees that new people can turn to for advice. When a new employee starts at your company be sure to welcome them and offer to be of assistance to them in any way possible. Invite them to lunch or to grab a coffee later in the day. A welcoming company is a better company to work for.

Ask questions. Your bosses don’t want to employ robots. Yes, they might want to automate some task where possible, but they do not want to hire “yes” men and women, nor do they want employees that don’t think for themselves. Contribute to making your company better by asking questions, exploring how you can do something better, or how your product can bring better value to your customers.

Learn new skills and apply them to your job. When you and your colleagues increase and develop your knowledge of your field and industry, and apply it to your work, you are making your company better and more effective at its mission. Strive to be a continuous learner while challenging and encouraging your colleagues to expand their thinking. 

Smile. This is the easiest thing you can do to make your company better and so is one of the first things we neglect to do. Greet those you see and work with when you arrive in the morning with a smile and a spirit of gratitude, rather than approaching your workplace with dread. A kind company that fosters a clear sense of mission and gratitude in its employees makes for a better place to work.

Six Ways to Be a Great Coworker

To be successful in your career you need to learn to work well with others, similarly to when report cards noted when an elementary school student could play well with others.

It is unlikely that your career will lead you occupy a solitary position that doesn’t require you to work closely in collaboration with other people. Your ability to be a good colleague and coworker can significantly benefit your career and help you enjoy your job.

Here are six ways to rock the workplace as a great colleague.

Share the credit. Your success is not your own and is made possible by the support of others working with you. Be sure to recognize and acknowledge the others that help you successfully complete your tasks and projects. 

Be supportive and help out. In turn, offer your assistance to your colleagues and volunteer to help out with other projects when possible. Stay alert to co-workers who might be struggling with a particular task or project and step in to support them.

   

Let your guard down and be social. Some people try to keep their professional and personal lives separate but it’s important to be authentically you in the office. It’s difficult to develop meaningful relationships with colleagues without sharing some details about your personal life and finding some things to bond over. Develop these relationships by socializing with your colleagues at lunch, for dinner and drinks after work, and at the company-wide holiday party.

Smile and be kind. Your generous smile and greeting to a passing coworker can help ease a stressful day and brighten the office for others. Showing kindness to your colleagues is a simple way to build rapport and contribute to a positive work environment.

Offer what you know. You don’t need to have a formal mentoring relationship with someone to provide them with some training and offer guidance. You don’t want to come across as a know-it-all but be willing to share your skills and knowledge with others who could benefit from it.

Communicate effectively. It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of learning how to effectively communicate with you colleagues, customers, and supervisors. Developing positive ways of communicating with others will enable success in many other areas of your career.

Implement these practices and you’ll develop a reputation around the workplace as someone others look forward to working with.

Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Immediately Connect with Anyone

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the video below from Entrepreneur, you'll learn five tips to connect with anyone you meet, starting with leaving a good first impression with positive body language.

5 Ways to Cultivate Your Network Over the Holidays

The end of the year is approaching and you likely have a lot to do before taking some time off over the holidays. Without adding to your stress here are 5 ways to cultivate and enhance your network over the next few weeks.

1. Attend that holiday party. Yes, sometimes the company party seems like a waste of time and you're tempted to skip it or make a brief appearance. Resist that temptation. The company party is a good opportunity to develop deeper relationships with others in your company as you likely will have a chance to talk about more than just work. Going beyond the superficial discussion of projects can enhance the relationships with those you work with and provide new career opportunities in the future. And, at the holiday party, you just might get some time to talk with the company president or CEO.

2. Send a card to your top 5 business associates. If your company uses freelancers or vendors for any part of the business be sure to send a card of thanks to the most important ones you work with. Personalize the card and use it as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship you have. You never know, you just might want to contact one of these vendors or freelancers for a job in the future.

3. Smile and bring some joy to your coworkers. Build on your relationships with coworkers by having a positive attitude over the holiday. By smiling and being positive you can help to reduce the stress your colleagues might be experiencing. Some holiday cookies might even help too!

4. Send an email of thanks to your colleagues. Think about some of your colleagues and co-workers and consider those who have helped you in some way over the past year. It's unlikely you're a lone ranger so you probably depend on support from many others in your company. Prepare a brief email of thanks for some of these partners and you'll likely make their day and strengthen your relationship with them.

5. Send a note of good wishes to new contacts. Have you attended a conference or networking event during this past year? Perhaps you've started doing business with another company or vendor. If so, take a few minutes to send a note of reintroduction, extending well wishes for a happy holiday and new year.

If you spend a few hours implementing some of the ideas above over the next few weeks you'll likely strengthen your network and deepen your friendships, helping you enjoy your job and career even more.

5 Steps to Improve Your Mindset

Our thoughts and the attitude we bring to our jobs and careers significantly impacts our career success and enjoyment.

Consider the following 5 steps to improving your mindset and attitude on the job:

1. Sleep. Our attitude and mood is greatly influenced by the amount of sleep we get. In order to have a positive attitude about your career (and life in general) start with getting eight hours of sleep each night.

2. Eat well and exercise. Additionally, it's important to eat foods that energize and avoid a lot of caffeine, sugar, and alcohol. Eating well should be complemented with a routine of physical activity. Consider walking or biking to work, if possible.

3. Meditation. Take some time to meditate every morning before starting your day. It can be as simple as 3-5 minutes of standing or sitting quietly, or you might meditate on one or two things that you are grateful for.

4. Breathe. Be sure to breathe deeply throughout the day. This will help calm you and center you again on the priorities in your life.

5. Smile and laugh often. Greeting everyone you meet with a smile will not only improve your mood but also the attitudes of those you work with.

These are just a few of the many steps you can take to improve your mindset on the job and at home. Implement one or two this week and experience the difference.