How To Beat The First Day Jitters

By May 31, 2017For Talent

Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect. Often we focus so much on securing the gig that we don’t really consider the plan for afterwards. It’s not long before the elation of landing a job turns to panic at starting it. What if you’re not good enough? What if your new colleagues are mean? What if you don’t make friends? What if you fall on your face in front of everyone and break your nose and have to go home and change your blood soaked clothes?

Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, check out our pointers on how to overcome those first day nerves:

Get plenty of sleep

This is easier said than done when your mind is a mass of silly scenarios (see above). However, force yourself to go to bed early and try to get plenty of rest. Reading or listening to soothing music can help relax your mind and weigh down those eyelids.

Eat well

Get up early and have a nutritious breakfast, even if you don’t feel like it. High energy, slow release foods are best here to make sure you’re not crashing halfway through your first important meeting. Think green tea and fruit!

Dress appropriately

Nothing like a top hat and monocle to make a splash on your first day but if you’re unsure of the dress code probably better to play it safe. Wear something comfortable that will make you feel confident.

Arrive early

Give yourself an extra few minutes to get to work so you have some time to gather your thoughts before you start.

Smile

This may seem glaringly obvious but it’s important to make an effort to be smiley and friendly to your new colleagues. This is especially true if your default face setting is resting bitch.

Be social

One of the best parts about starting a new role is getting to meet and work with a whole new team of people. As such, there’ll be a lot of questions about your background, as your colleagues get to know you. Don’t make the mistake of speaking negatively about any of your former work mates or employers, even if your new coworkers initiate it. You never know when it could come back to bite you in the ass.

Ask questions

As the new hire you’re expected to ask questions. Don’t feel embarrassed for needing help, it’s par for the course in any new job. Take notes wherever possible and if something still isn’t clear, just ask again! Making mistakes, getting lost or forgetting people’s names is all just part of the learning experience, so give yourself a break.


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Author Aoife Geary

Aoife Geary is the Content Editor at Jobbio specialising in the areas of Workplace Culture, Diversity, Startups and Digital Trends. She's partial to a burrito, a bad pun and living way beyond her means.

More posts by Aoife Geary

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