What to expect on your first day at work
You’ve secured that first interview, prepared using our interview tips and landed your first graduate job, well done! Now it’s time to start preparing for your first day at work. As the clock ticks on, you might be thinking ‘What can I expect from my first day at work? What do I need to wear? Is there anywhere I can get some lunch?’.
You’ve come to the right place! We have spoken to a few people across our wider Group about their experiences and created this guide to answer all the questions you might have so you can be fully prepared for your first day at work…
How do I get there on time?
You need to get to your place of work to start the job, so make sure you plan this out! If you’re driving, have you planned out the quickest route? Maybe you have to catch a bus or train – have you checked what time this arrives? It’s important that you plan this out.
Alex Norris, Brand Marketing Executive
You need to be in a good headspace when starting your first graduate position as there will be lots to take in – having your travel already planned makes this easier. Alex, who works for Nicholas Associates Group, gave his advice on this. He said:
“I was late to my first lecture at university and was a bit embarrassing. My advice is to plan out your route and test it a couple of times so you don’t have to experience this on your first day at work.”
Lunch facilities
Food – we all love it! But does your workplace have catering facilities? or somewhere close to buy your lunch from? That’s a great question. We recommend emailing your line manager asking what lunch facilities there are and if not, whether there is a shop close by. If you know this before starting, you can prepare some food to take instead.
Naturally, you will feel a little nervous on your first day, making it even more important to eat. Make sure to find out and prepare accordingly – you (well, your stomach) can thank us later!
What should I wear on my first day?
A common question most people think before their first day is ‘what is the dress code?’. This obviously depends on the industry and line of work you are going into. For roles in sectors such as finance, law or business, it’s likely you will need to wear business dress. However, we have seen more recently a lean toward ‘dressing for the day’ and a lot of businesses now recognise a need for a more relaxed dress code. So it is worth checking ahead of time, if you have been working with a recruiter they should be able to answer this for you.
It’s my first day – can I ask for help?
Many of you might be worried that you will struggle with certain tasks but not feel like you can ask for help on your first day – that’s not true! Your manager is there to support you, not make you feel uncomfortable. So if they have set a task you’re not quite sure about or struggle to use a particular piece of software or machinery, ask for help.
Olivia Cancellara, Graphic Designer
Olivia, who works for our partner brand olano as a Graphic Designer, was placed by the Graduate team’s Managing Consultant, Marc. She explained:
“I was worried I wouldn’t be good enough and would be more of a hindrance. But the team were so supportive as they’d started at a similar level to me. My colleague Callum was particularly helpful in training me up and could ask him anything.”
If you were feeling anxious about your first day at work, we hope this guide has gone some way to answering the questions you had and settled your nerves.
One final tip from us – for those that have found this guide useful, keep checking our website for the next in our #MyFirst series. Good luck with your first day!
