How to prepare for a new job and set yourself up for success

Job hunting is emotionally hectic. It involves simultaneously feeling excited about new opportunities and discouraged by accumulating denial emails.

But all the applications, interviews, and networking events are worth it when a recruiter offers you a job. 

Yet starting a new role has its own obstacles and nerve-wracking tasks, like familiarizing yourself with a physical or digital workspace, meeting various coworkers, and following a complex onboarding process. 

But take a deep breath. You already landed this role, so learning how to prepare for your new job should be a piece of cake. 

How to prepare the week before a new job

There's a lot to take in on your first day of work. Even for a seasoned pro, all the new procedures, people, and policies can be overwhelming. But preparing yourself after accepting an offer will ease your first few days.

Here are five ways to prepare before your first day:

1. Do your research: Although you probably researched the company during the interview process, refresh your knowledge about the company's culture, history, and core values before you start. Check out information on the company website, LinkedIn, and news articles to better understand the company and your new role.
2. Review your role: Go through the job description and make a note of your key responsibilities, skill set, and tasks to understand your employer's expectations and embrace your new role with purpose. 
3. Get your personal life in order: The onboarding process throws tons of information at you at once. To ease the mental strain, make a to-do list of tasks to facilitate your adjustment, like organizing childcare, transportation, and meal planning. Not worrying about foreseeable personal details will help you concentrate fully on your new professional role.
4. Prepare for your first day: Check with human resources (HR) about materials you'll need for your first day and the company’s dress code. And test run your commute to ensure you’re timely. 

Polish your home office: If you’re working from home, build a comfortable work-from-home setup. After finding the right corner of your house, consider investing in an ergonomic chair, laptop stand, and keyboard (if they aren’t supplied by your new employer) so you’re comfortable and focused when you start.

Nail the first day at a new job

It takes less than a second for your colleagues and boss to make a first impression of you. And the first impression you leave on team members, managers, and supervisors plays an important role in fitting into and adding to the culture and growing within the company.

If you’re late, this is the first piece of information your coworkers receive about you, and they might form an anchoring bias regarding your untimeliness they’ll find difficult to shake

It’s normal to feel new job anxiety, but taking extra care to show confidence, gratitude, and initiative will help you make friends and show you care about your new role. 

Here are seven tips for starting a new job:

1. Be early: Whether commuting or turning your computer on at home, arrive early to get your bearings. 
2. Dress for success: How you dress changes how you feel about yourself and how others perceive you. And it can even improve your work performance. Wear something you feel great — and professional — in to boost your confidence and express competence to your team. 
3. Come prepared: If you haven't completed employee documentation before your start date, bring everything you need for HR to put you in the system, like banking and tax information. This speeds up the onboarding process and shows you’re a detail-oriented and thoughtful employee.
4. Take notes: In your first week, you'll likely learn new workflow technologies, procedures, and policies. Bring a small notebook or keep a notes app open on your computer to jot down important details, like where to find certain documents and what communication cadence to follow. 

   This shows off your organizational skills, helps you retain information, and saves your coworkers time spent answering your questions later on.

5. Ask questions: No one expects you to learn everything immediately, so don’t hesitate to ask questions. It’s better to show interest and engagement now instead of nodding your head but making mistakes and asking people to repeat themselves later. And it also expresses your inquisitive nature.
6. Stay organized: Good habits begin on day one. Record important information, deadlines, and work tasks from the start. If your company doesn’t have a preferred workflow or project management application, use a calendar, daily planner, or task manager to prioritize your tasks. 
7. Say “thank you:” A simple “thank you” goes a long way to making a great first impression and increasing your likeability. Show gratitude for everyone’s support and warm welcome to spread positive vibes around the office and ease your new hire jitters. 

How to have a successful first week

The first week is often introduction and information overload, so to have a successful first week you need to find ways to take breaks and relax. Don’t go too hard on yourself if you forget someone’s name or make a mistake — you’ll get the hang of things with time. 

Here are five things you can do to make that first week go smoothly:

1. Get to know your team: Good working relationships can determine how much you love your job. If you’re constantly dealing with workplace conflict you might feel stressed and dread going to work. And teams that enjoy and respect one another foster an openness and comfort that ignites creativity. 
2. Iron out details with HR: Make sure to discuss the following things with HR or ensure you have access to the details you need in the first week to ensure you feel set for success and nothing falls by the wayside as time passes: 
• 401(k) package
• Health benefits
• Additional benefits like paid time off, sick leave, and parental leave
• Career development training like coaching opportunities, on-site training, or advanced education stipends
• Extra perks like gym reimbursements, childcare, or wellness stipends
3. Meet with your boss: Your new manager will likely schedule a one-on-one to discuss your role and their expectations. This is a great opportunity to learn more about your company’s short and long-term goals. Understanding where the ship is heading can help you get closer to the steering wheel as you develop within the company.
4. Be open to learning: There's always more to learn, even if you're a seasoned professional. Rather than resist change, embrace it to build resilience and adaptability. 
5. Ask for feedback: At the end of your first week, ask your boss and team members for constructive feedback. This shows you’re willing to grow and don’t shy away from confronting weaknesses. Here are a few questions to ask about the new job: 
• What part of my job performance should I be concentrating more on? 
• What strengths should I continue to develop? 
• Where am I exceeding expectations? 
• Where can I improve?

Career advice for the first few months on the job

It can take up to eight months for an employee to settle in and reach full productivity, so don’t be surprised if you’re still learning new things and feeling out of your element a month in. 

Here are four ways to make the first few months easier: 

1. Set goals: Because you’re taking in so much new information the first few months, setting goals for how far you want to go in your onboarding and proficiency within the company helps you stay on track even when you feel overwhelmed. 

   It also ensures the wrong items or irrelevant information don’t sidetrack you since you’ll focus on the most important tasks. Have your supervisor approve these goals so you head in the right direction. 

2. Create boundaries: The first few months of a new job set your work performance’s tone. While you may feel pressured to overperform, set boundaries to safeguard you from burnout and poor job performance.
3. Take initiative: Employers love to see employees take initiative. It shows that you’re motivated, action-oriented, and confident. Share your opinion, help your coworkers, and volunteer for important tasks outside your purview. 
4. Reach out for help: Everyone knows starting a job is daunting and confusing, so don’t hesitate to ask for help. Your hiring manager chose you for a reason and is there to help you adjust. And your coworkers want you to feel as confident and capable as possible to deliver your best work, so consider them a resource. 

Congrats on the new job

First-day jitters never really go away. But no matter where you’re at in your career, you might feel better about starting this role if you’ve learned how to prepare for a new job. 

A little preparation goes a long way in calming nerves and increasing your confidence. But remember that no matter how prepared you are, you’re going to need everyone’s support to get you up to speed and deliver meaningful work. They needed that too when they started, so ask for help and you’ll do just fine.