It is a huge challenge for a lot of people starting a new job to blend in and adapt quickly. I just joined the Kamdora team so I know what it is like to be the new girl. I have been the new girl at work a couple of times, however, as I have tried my hands at a couple of things and so it’s safe to say that I am now such a Pro at being the ‘new girl’ that it doesn’t get to me anymore.
My very first ‘new girl’ moment, however, was a totally different story. I was still in my second year in Uni and I had convinced myself that I was ready to take the corporate world by storm. My first internship was at a Magazine Company as an Intern on the editorial team. It took me at least 4 hours to put together my outfit for the first day of work and as I stepped out of the house to head to work; I remember wondering if I looked ‘corporate’ enough. With a pantsuit on; I truly did.
That was, unfortunately, a big mistake. I got a job offer and was so excited that I didn’t take the time to make enquiries about what the dress code was. I showed up at the office looking like I was about to attend a conference on Corporate Management and found that every single member of staff was casually clad in denim, dresses, cool T-shirts and sandals. They looked at me like I had grown horns. You can imagine my embarrassment.
I was mortified for the rest of the day and by my second day at work, I had toned it down several notches. Moral of the story: if you’re going to start a new job, here are a few tips to help your transition from ‘new person’ to ‘part of the team’ be a smooth sailing.
- Be on time– This really goes without saying but show up on your first day ON TIME.
- Dress Code– Depending on the type of work you do, there is an everyday dress code. Figure out what it is before your first day so you don’t end up sticking out like a sore thumb.
- Pay attention during introductions– Except your office is one that has hundreds of staff in just one building, it will come in handy to pay attention during introductions so you don’t call people the wrong names or have to point to signal a person (this comes off as rude).
- Ask Questions– Ignorance is not bliss. You have never worked there before and so it is OK not to know certain things. Don’t feel shy or uncomfortable when in doubt. If you need to know; ASK.
- Do NOT talk too much– As strange as it sounds, it is always advisable to take a little time to study the people you work with before you start running your mouth. The last thing you want to do is come off as ‘too forward’ because you couldn’t keep it together.
- DO YOUR JOB– Don’t spend all of your first day staring at people and wondering what they think about you. Remember the reason why you are at that establishment and do your job. Chances are, you’ll be so busy working, you won’t have time for many slip-ups.
On that note, have a great first day!
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