What Never To Do On Your First Day At Work

By Selipha Kihagi

When starting on your new job, the first day can either go well or really bad. It will all depend on the things you choose to do or not do. Managers, bosses and coworkers vary in character and while you might want to impress all of them, that is purely impossible. Some will like you for being nice and others will hate you for it. So, to avoid this kind of situation, how about being the mysterious one.

By being mysterious, you leave room for people to get to know you first before deciding if they like you or hate you. To achieve this, avoid calling attention to yourself by not doing these 5 things.

4 Things To Never Do On Your First Day

1. Be too excited or too quiet
On your first day at work, you will need to find a balance. You might be super excited that you landed the job and maybe it is even in your dream company, but don’t go telling everyone how happy you are. If your co-workers and boss find out you are too excited, they might give you more responsibilities just because they know you will probably say yes. You do not want this.

In parallel to this, being too quiet may rub a few people the wrong way and they may start judging you too early. You do not want to be the shy new kid. Instead, focus on showing excitement by asking necessary questions, staying put in your job and keeping a happy face. Avoid, Avoid and avoid a gloomy face.

2. Coming to the office looking tired
Like point one above, your appearance and current state will tell a lot about you. If you went partying with your friends the previous night to celebrate the new job, chances are you will be overly tired the next day. Not to add being hangover. However much you may try to hide it, early mornings have a way of showing who went out last night and who stayed in to rest.

You can get away with afternoons but we all know 8am is the usual timing. Rest a lot and prepare what you are going to wear to work because your dressing will also matter and then plan to arrive early.

3. Talking too much about yourself
Talking about oneself is never a conversation starter and neither is it great in a conversation unless inquired. On your first day at work the last thing you want is a coworker labeling you a certain type of way. To achieve this, avoid sharing too much about yourself or your last job to your coworkers.

You might have really hated it or felt unappreciated, but this kind of information should be saved for later when you have become close with some of your colleagues. If coworkers or the boss asks too many personal questions, you can turn it around by inquiring more about the job.

4. Flirting with a co-worker
You may see a stud or very beautiful lady but do not start pursuing them yet. They are cute, yes, and you really like them but flirting on your first day will put you on the wrong side of your coworkers. Relationships at the office are already considered taboo by many; this might be changing but it still is a thing and flirting will only amplify your unwanted status.

The first day of work should be not be that hard to get through, just focus on creating a little mystery so people will want to know you.