Congratulations! You have a new job. Now it’s time to prepare to get off to a great start with your new employer.
When you receive and accept a job offer there are a lot of practical things you should do before your first day to allow for a smooth transition.
The celebrations should of course come first and foremost, but there is lots to consider doing before starting your new job. You might not have time to do all of these things before you begin work, particularly if you are asked to start right away.
However, cast your eye over this list and select the essential tasks to complete first and then accomplish the others during the first couple of weeks of work.
Research the Company
With all the little practical tasks you have to do before your first day, it’s easy to forget about what you can do to prepare for the job itself. Before the first day, spend a little time refreshing yourself on the organisation. This task can be as simple as skimming over the company’s website one more time. You can also take a look at their social media feed and news page for up to date information.
Plan Your Commute
Make sure you know exactly how to get to your new office, and how long it will take. You don’t want the panic of being late on your first day! If you are using public transport, make sure you know any and all stops and transfers you will need to take.
Do a dummy run or two before the big day! You might want to come up with a backup route too, just in case, traffic is particularly bad one day. On your first day, leave 10 minutes earlier than you think you need to, just in case.
Go and meet your new team!
If you are working a notice period, it’s a great idea to keep engaged with your new employer throughout that time. A good idea is to complete all of the necessary paperwork, sign your contract etc and suggest taking it in to the office. That way you get the opportunity to meet your new team mates! If there is a staff social event during your notice period grab yourself an invite too, it’s another great way to meet the people you’ll be working with and get to know them before you start.
Plan Your Outfit
Dress to impress! You only get one chance to make a first impression! If you’re unsure of your new employer’s dress code give them a call before you start.
Get Plenty of Sleep
If you’ve had a slightly irregular sleep schedule during your job-searching period, now is the time to get back into a regular sleep pattern. Start going to bed and waking up at the times you plan to do so for work. Ideally, you should begin getting into this pattern two weeks before you begin your job. However, if you don’t have that much time, just start as soon as you can. You’ll feel much more rested on that first day of work, and you’ll be less worried about sleeping through your alarm!
Make Necessary Household Arrangements
You may need to arrange for childcare, depending on the age of your children and the hours that you work. If you need to find a before or afterschool club, you should also try to find a place that is a good fit before beginning your job. This way, you don’t have to scramble to find new childcare once you’ve started your job. Of course, you may not have a lot of time before you start your job, in which case you might have to continue to find the right form of childcare while you’re working.
Make a list of other things you need to be taken care of at home while you’re at the office that way everything will be taken care of giving you full opportunity to focus on impressing in your new job.
Make Any Appointments
If you can help it, you don’t want to be asking for time off from work to go to doctors’ appointments in the first couple weeks of work. Therefore, try to schedule and attend any upcoming appointments before you start your new job. If you already have an appointment scheduled that falls within the first couple weeks of work, you might want to call and see if they can fit you in earlier and if not give your new employer prior notice.
Get Your Materials Together
Make sure you have all the materials you will need for day one. Get a notepad and pen to take notes on all your training. Even if these are prepared it makes you look organised and ready for action! If you are unsure about whether people tend to buy or bring their lunch, pack a lunch for day one, just in case.
If you haven’t found your dream job just yet, check out our latest vacancies at www.glurecruit.co.uk/jobs or for more job search advice take a look at our latest articles https://www.glurecruit.co.uk/candidate-advice/