How to Survive Your First Day at a New Job

The first day on any new job can be awkward, and challenging. That’s why the good people at staffing firm OfficeTeam put together the following tips for making the transition to a new workplace easier.

OfficeTeam recently polled American workers, and found that more than half of them (54%) had experienced at least one mishap when starting a new job.

Most of these mishaps had to do with a lack of familiarity, and preparation. New employees found that they lacked computer, phone or security access, or that necessary supplies were not provided at the outset.

While a majority of workers said they experienced troubles on their first day, almost as many human resources professionals polled (50%) felt their organization’s onboarding process is very effective.

So, what can you do to help make the transition to a new job smoother? OfficeTeam is offering these tips:

Set up shop. Stock the desk with essential supplies and equipment, such as pens, notebooks, a computer and phone. Confirm network, voice mail and email functionality. Coordinate building security access, if necessary.
Get acquainted. Send a welcome email to team members and alert the receptionist so everyone’s aware. On the first day, introduce the employee to coworkers around the office. Consider scheduling a lunch for the new hire to get to know colleagues. Assigning the worker a buddy or mentor can help ease his or her transition.
Review the essentials. Provide a tour of the building. Schedule an orientation to review the employee handbook, company history and policies. Allow time to complete any required HR paperwork.
Focus on the job at hand. Set expectations early on by discussing the position’s goals and responsibilities. Organize training sessions on office equipment, software and procedures necessary for the role.
Keep it going. It can take a few months to fully onboard a worker. During that time, regularly check in with the employee and encourage him or her to ask questions.

If there’s a central theme in these tips it is to be proactive. Don’t wait for somebody to provide you with things; ask questions and achieve self-sufficiency as soon as possible.