Never ever……should have been my first response but just ask yourself, what should I do and what should I not do on my first day in an office? There are very basic things to do during your first day in the office and there are those that you need to avoid like plague. When you join a company, I will assume that you liked it or there is something that you like in the job. These reasons should make you want to stay in a job or company for long. The way you approach it helps you take the first step into staying in the job for long.
There is only one way to helping yourself fit well into the new company, adopt and be dynamic. It is possible that you are moving from one employer to another or from being jobless to the office, please take time to learn the office culture and watch how people behave around it. Learn the office and integrate into the system.
Here are a few pointers to help you make the most of the first day the right way.
- Remember that the impact you make in the first few days will have a lasting effect on the way you are perceived by your employer and other staff.
- Use the opportunity to adopt a new approach in areas that, in the past, you had problems with e.g. delegating, communicating.
- Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth relatively shut for the first few days until you establish the lay of the land.
- Make a point of remembering the names of the people you will come into contact with regularly (jot them down in your little black book if it helps).
- Watch, listen and, if in doubt, ask!
While on the job (DOs):
- As soon as feasibly possible request a meeting with your new boss to run through your job description. Ask questions. Better to be honest now while you are being ‘championed’ rather than 6 months down the line.
- Establish where you fit into the hierarchy of the household - you don’t want to be seen delegating to staff who are not within your remit or failing to direct someone who is.
- Establish the personal relationships (if any) within the household - is the Cleaner in a relationship with the Tea girl? This is important stuff!
- Once you are confident in all of the above call a staff meeting of those under your control and give them the opportunity to raise areas in which they have problems or concerns. Follow this up with one-on-one meetings afterwards. Their being happy and productive in their work reflects well on you so this will pay dividends in the future.
- Who is disgruntled? Is there someone that feels hard done by? Maybe they feel that they should have had your job rather than you?
People, people, people issues…….
- It’s all too easy to form special relationships with some members of the work force in the beginning. We’re talking about friendship here - nothing more! Avoid this (Whatever you are thinking). Some staff will be friendly towards you; others may be waiting to see how you perform and are so withholding judgment - good for them. Don’t alienate the cautious ones by becoming overly friendly to individuals or a clique.
- Any job environment or household is full of internal politics and gossip - do not give anyone the ammunition that could come back to haunt you later.
- Be friendly, professional and polite to everyone. Once you are secure in your position and understand all of the above THEN you can consider changes that might need to be made.
- You’ll soon spot the staffs that need help and direction. Offer it to them in a professional and friendly way. Help people out in any way you can (without being taken advantage of) and you will soon be the respected professional that you deserve to be.
With all the hope, we believe that we at www.kenyancareer.com will want to create a workforce like no other and we believe that this will not only help you on your first day but also as days go by. If you use this as a blue print, then you will be a high performer in your job.
We at HCC wish you all the best.
