Congratulations, you did it! You landed the co-op, practicum, preceptorship, or clinical role you’ve been eyeing since the beginning of the semester and made it past the most stressful part of the job search.
But your
efforts shouldn’t stop there. In fact, your journey to becoming a working
professional is only beginning. While the most nerve-racking part may be over,
you still need to impress your new manager and get along with your new
colleagues.
Your first
day of co-op, practicum, preceptorship, or clinical can build up a lot of
anxiety and nerves, especially if it’s your very first one.
A lot of
questions probably come to mind for you. What
should you wear? How early should you
be? How should you introduce yourself
to your colleagues? How can you be
prepared? If you’re that nervous, don’t worry as we’ll be covering 4 useful
tips and tricks that can help make a great first impression on your first day.
1. Don’t Wait
This first
tip starts before you even have your first day of work experience.
Most of the
time, your Employment Services Coordinator (ESS) will provide you with the
contact information of your manager. If you have access to this information,
you want to take full advantage of this and show your initiative!
Email your
manager first and show him/her that you’re excited and ready to start your new
role at the company. Show them that you’re prepared and ready for your first
day – this helps give you a good first impression before you’ve even started
the job.
2. Be Punctual
Punctuality
is important in making a strong first impression.
Have you ever heard the saying “early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable?”
On your first
day on the job, it’s important to avoid being late at all costs. Being late on
the first day is going to make a negative first impression and show your
manager and colleagues that you already don’t care or take your work seriously.
And you don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.
3. Introduce Yourself
Your first
day in an entirely new environment with new faces can be overwhelming.
Sometimes, your manager will give you a tour of the office and introduce you
around, but in the case that doesn’t happen, don’t wait to introduce yourself
around. Take the initiative and say hello to colleagues in and outside of your
department. Taking initiative and introducing yourself shows that you have
confidence and a friendly face that your colleagues can get to know.
As a student,
your work experience lets you meet industry professionals who are already
working in the field you’re interested in. Take this opportunity to build
professional relationships with these individuals who may down the road be able
to connect you with someone hiring for a role that you qualify for. Don’t miss
your chance to impress these people.
4. Dress to Impress
We all know
the power appearances can have on our first impressions. Some people may make
strong assumptions based on how you’re dressed and what you’re wearing. For
example, if you’re wearing ripped jeans and a band t-shirt on the first day,
that’s going to say a lot about you – and not anything you want said. But if you’re wearing appropriate attire based
on your company and industry, that’s going to say the right things about you. It’s
always better to overdress than underdress.
If you’re in
the business and administration industry, wearing an appropriate blouse and a
crisp pair of slacks are a safe choice. If you’re doing a preceptorship at a
healthcare center, you fortunately have it easy as you know wearing your
uniform is what’s expected.
If you’re
completely unsure of how you should dress, it doesn’t hurt to ask. In fact, it
might even show your manager that you’re prepared and organized.
Now, while
your first day of work experience (or any new job!) may be daunting, remember
that there’s no need to be nervous. You’ve already got the job so the most
stressful part is over and done with.
Bonus tip,
don’t forget to get a good night’s sleep the night before and you’ll be ready
to take on whatever this opportunity throws at you.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask your Employment Services Coordinator who would be more than happy to answer them – they’re here to help you!
