It’s the first day of your new job or temporary placement. Now what? Whether you’re seeking to be hired permanently, filling in for staff on leave, or temporarily staffed on a special project, getting acclimated, and quickly, is a goal for all new hires.
Of course, there’s the easy things for the first day –
- be punctual,
- dress the part (your staffing firm can provide guidance),
- bring lunch (just in case), and
- a pen and notebook always come in handy.
Making a good first day impression is essential, but the way to reach full productivity is communication – from others and by you. Yes, you want to show your new employer what you know and the skills you have in a positive way. However, a greater skill is knowing what you don’t know and being brave enough to admit it and seek help. An effective employee, whether temporary or permanent, knows how to seek knowledge, support, and resources to ensure maximum productivity. So, ask questions and take notes to reference as needed to avoid repeating the same question and interrupting co-workers.
Other elements to your success are:
- understanding your role as it fits into the big picture and business outcomes,
- knowing how your role intersects with other staff,
- identifying the firm’s reporting lines and the feedback loop for your work,
- quickly identifying priority tasks and projects that are “must do” in your first 90 days, and
- seeking input from your supervisor and coworkers regarding what those priorities are, and who the key collaborators/contributors are on each.
While effective onboarding by your company and staffing firm will set you off on the right path, it’s you – and your communication and job skills – that will be what get you down it successfully.
