Tips for starting a new job

Starting a new job can be daunting. You don’t know anyone, and you have the added pressure of needing to make a good impression and perform well in your new job.

Below, we have created a list of things you can do to ensure you have the best start you can in your new role and give you some advice for your first day.

Read more: What makes a successful team

What are 5 tips for starting a new job? 

Follow the 50-50 rule: 50% professionalism and 50% office culture.

Tip 1: Excellent time management – Work can pile up quickly, and if you’re not on top of it, you can fall behind, making it look like you can’t keep up with the pace or you’re underperforming. Good time management will help you stay on top of things from the get-go.

Tip 2: Ask questions – There are many things to learn and understand when you’re a new employee. Asking questions is the fastest way to settle in, make friends and learn the business. If you want to be a success early on, asking questions is essential.   

Tip 3: Remember your personal brand – You represent your personal brand. You would have focused on this in your interviews but don’t forget about it after you have the job! You have been hired because of a mixture of your personality and skill set, so don’t change who you are once you have started. Your first six months are critical, so use this time to prove that you are respectful, hardworking, and professional.

Tip 4: Earn trust and respect – This can take time. It’s best to settle into your role and get to know your colleagues quickly. Be careful not to be too demanding early on. Prove yourself through your work.  

Tip 5: Set boundaries – Set healthy boundaries for things like how late you’re willing to work, working overtime, the total number of hours you’re prepared to work a week and so on. Learn to push back on the things you disagree with and while you must do all you can to show willingness and be a team player, don’t be bullied into doing things you don’t agree with.

Read more: How to know if it’s time to change jobs

Advice for your first day at work

What can you do to make your first day a success? It’s important to make sure you use your first day as a chance to make a great first impression with your team and the senior leadership team.

Below we have created five tips to help you succeed on your first day:

Dress for success – You will quickly find out what clothing is acceptable or typical in your workplace, and in time you can align your style to that of your colleagues. Aim to go in smarter than required for your first few days while you figure out what is considered normal attire.  

Plan your commute – Whether you take the train, walk, or drive, plan your route and leave ample time to arrive early. Remember, it’s better to be early than late, so leave enough time to arrive around 15 minutes before your official start time. It’s always good to check your route before you leave, so you can adapt to any issues with roadworks, traffic, delays and can act accordingly. 

Prepare for everything – Your first few days often involve tasks that are not part of your job description and are usually heavy with HR-related admin. Be prepared for anything. You may also be required to shadow other team members to learn what they do, and you will also spend time meeting the team and being shown around your office.

Be kind – This goes without saying but be kind, professional, and patient (which is good advice for your whole working life and not just for your first day).  

Remember your team members names – If you are bad with names you will need to find a system that can help you remember names. Besides being respectful, this also shows you have paid attention and helps to build rapport with your team early on.

Explore our Career Advice articles for more hints and tips.

Can you start a new job when you are in your notice period?

When it comes time to leave your current job, you’ll most likely have to give your current employer some warning, which is called your notice period.

To see how much notice you must provide, check your contract, as it can vary by company. That said, if you’ve been in your job less than a month, you won't need to give any notice (unless your contract states differently).

If you’ve been working with them for over a month, you must give at least one weeks’ notice.

As your notice period starts the day after you resign, you will need to plan to make sure your new start date is after your last day of notice with your current employer.

You will typically need to work your notice before you can start your new job. Your employer may let you leave early (or in some cases right away) without needing to work your notice period, but that will be on an individual basis and will be discussed with you at the time that you hand your notice in.

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Do you need a P45 to start a new job?

When you change jobs, you will need to provide your P45 so that your new employer can make sure you are put on the correct tax code. If you don’t have it, you might end up on an emergency tax code or paying too much tax.

If your last P45 is unavailable, you will usually fill in a P46 when you start your new job. If you don’t have your P45 and don’t fill out a P46, your employer will need to put you on an emergency tax code, which means you will pay tax on all your income above the basic Personal Allowance.

How to make a good impression

There can be a lot to think about and remember during your first few weeks in a new job. It’s important to actively try and make a positive impression from the get-go. To help you prepare for this, we have created a list of 10 things you can do on your first day of the job to help you settle in and get the most out of this very important day.

• Arrive early and be prepared to stay late.
• Have a positive attitude.
• Take initiative.
• Withhold some personal details (such as marriage issues or debt) Keep some personal details to yourself.
• Be sociable with your colleagues (but not TOO sociable).
• Avoid gossip and office politics.
• Say “thank you” often.
• Admit when you make a mistake.
• Organise yourself, your work, and your thoughts.
• Spend time outside of work with different colleagues.

That’s it! You’re ready to get started in your new job and are now prepared to make the best impression you can.

If you need any additional knowledge or skills in your new job and are considering taking on training courses to become qualified in a specific area, we can help! Explore our full range of training courses, and then contact our team of Course Consultants on +44 (0) 20 3198 7700. Alternatively, you can fill out our contact form, and someone will be in touch with you shortly.