A Great First Day: Everything You Need to Do Before, During & After

Make the most of your first day and impress the socks off of your boss with this cheat sheet outlining what to do before, during, and after training day!

After using our tips to take advantage of the current candidate-driven job market and dazzle your interviewers, you landed the position. Congratulations! The last hurdle to clear is day one on the job, which can set the tone for your entire tenure.

BEFORE Day 1

1. Get what you need to succeed

Depending on what your manager or HR has on the agenda, you may need to bring some documents in order to fill out necessary paperwork or complete your employee file. Ask your contact what to come prepared with, such as specific forms of identification, to streamline the process.

2. Choose your threads

There’s nothing like a wardrobe malfunction to begin your first day on the wrong foot. Choosing your outfit ahead of time makes for one less thing to worry about in the morning, especially if you end up hitting the snooze button a few times. Plus, it gives you time to put together a wardrobe that is professional and presents the right first impression - and most importantly, allows you to walk in the door with your head held high.

3. Butter 'em up

By the time your first day rolls around, you should have written a thank you note to the person(s) who interviewed and hired you. It is a small gesture that can go a long way toward establishing rapport, showing appreciation, and beginning your new chapter off right. Not sure what to write or when? We’ve put together a brief best practice guide to help you through.

DURING your first day

1. Impress with your naming skills

Chances are good that at some point, you’ll do the rounds and meet at least a few of your new coworkers. Don’t feel pressured to remember everyone’s name right away, but do your best to make a few of them stick by employing some clever name memorization tips.

• Associate a name and image, such as tall Jeff from IT with the image of a giraffe
• Pair names with fun facts about the person, like Sally who enjoys skiing
• If you have a spare minute, write down keywords associated with the people you’ve met thus far, such as topics you discussed or where each coworker sits

These simple strategies can ensure that you’re able to pair some names with faces on day two and start building deeper connections.

2. Use your schoolyard go-to

Do you remember those days as a kid on the schoolyard, when simply smiling made you friends instantly? That works in the adult world too. Take things back to basics on your first day and crack a smile—it can work wonders! Studies show that people who smile are perceived as more attractive and healthier.

AFTER Day 1

1. Play back the tape

Training day is often a whirlwind experience and you may not have time to process everything in real time. Take a few minutes at home to recap your experience. Jot down questions or concerns you’d like to address with your manager, record important information that you’d like to recall, and note any pending to-dos.

2. Set a week 1 goal

Ending your first week with a win sets you up for a great second week. Develop that positive momentum by setting a goal for week one, whether it be to finish your first onboarding module or memorize the names of everyone in the office.

3. Keep calm and take things one day at a time

Considering that it takes approximately eight months for new employees to hit peak productivity, onboarding isn’t for day one alone. In fact, team members who experience lengthier onboarding processes tend to become fully productive 34% faster than employees in the shortest programs. Integrate onboarding into your entire first year on the job and savour the positive results!

If you leave your first day feeling that your onboarding program isn’t up to par, talk to your HR leader about our digital solution.

Or check it out for yourself!