How to start well on your first day in a workplace

Written By Cristy Houghton

Before:

  • Find out the night before how you'll get there, how long it takes, what time you start, and what to wear.

  • Charge your phone. You might need it for emergencies, not for scrolling.

  • Sleep. Seriously. Tired you is bad you.

On the day:

  • Arrive 10 minutes early.

  • Bring a notebook and pen. Take notes. Looks professional, helps you remember.

  • Introduce yourself to everyone you meet. Use names.

  • Smile. Costs nothing. Makes a huge difference.

  • Ask what you should be doing if there's nothing obvious. Don't just sit around.

  • Help. If someone's carrying something, help them. If a job needs doing, do it.

  • Phone away. In your bag, not your pocket.

  • Say thank you at the end of the day. By name.

  • If you mess up: Own it, apologise, ask how to fix it. Don't hide it. Everyone makes mistakes — employers care about how you handle them.

Cristy Houghton

Cristy's unique career has taken her from country NSW to the city lights of Clarendon Street South Melbourne and back again. With an early career in radio as a copywriter and creative strategist, she is now a Jill of all trades as a graphic designer, website builder, blog writer, video editor, social media manager, marketing strategist and more. 

In fact, give her any task and this chick will figure out how to do it! Go on, we dare you!

No, really, we DARE you!!

Cristy has won two Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) for Best Ad and Best Sales Promotion, and even has an 'Employee of the Year' certificate with her name on it.

Cristy and her husband James have traveled extensively through Russia, China and South East Asia, and have two fur-babies, Sooty (cat) and Panda (puppy). Cristy loves drinking coffee, meeting people to drink coffee, coffee tasting and coffee flavoured cocktails. She also enjoys road trips, TED Talks and watching cat videos on youtube.

http://www.embarketing.com.au
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