Starting a new job can feel intimidating no matter how confident you are. You’re learning a new place, meeting unfamiliar faces, and trying to get through the day without doing anything embarrassing or making an early mistake.
For most people, day one is less about being perfect and more about setting the right tone with your new colleagues. With that in mind, PR strategist Rob Phelps, founder of DigitalPR.co.uk, has outlined 10 common first-day missteps to avoid — including a few things that might seem helpful at first glance.
While it’s tempting to overcompensate by arriving extremely early or volunteering for everything, Phelps suggests those moves can sometimes work against you.
Here are his tips.
Being friendly is important, but Phelps warns against overdoing it by agreeing to every extra request, forcing laughter at every joke, or treating everyone else’s needs as higher priority than your own.
While that approach can seem like a fast track to fitting in, Phelps noted: “It’s a recipe for burnout and can weaken the boundaries between your professional and personal life from the minute you start your new job.”
At the other end of the spectrum, don’t stay silent out of fear of getting something wrong. If something is unclear, raise it early rather than struggling quietly.
Phelps explained: “If you’re not being a people pleaser, you could be on the other end of the scale, and not saying a word because you’re scared of saying the wrong thing or asking a ‘stupid’ question.
“Of course, listening is essential on your first day, as you have a lot to learn, but no question is stupid if you don’t know the answer, so don’t be ashamed to ask.”
That doesn’t mean you need to dominate conversations, but you also shouldn’t disappear into the background. Aim for a balance between contributing and taking things in.
Phelps noted that you don’t ‘need to be the centre of attention’, but try to speak up and ‘make yourself seen’.
“Say enough to be noticed, but listen enough to learn,” he said.
Even if you’re highly experienced, a new workplace has its own systems and expectations — and assuming you can run before you can walk can create unnecessary problems.
Phelps noted that ‘although you have the experience and skills, it doesn’t mean you know exactly what you’re doing yet’.
He continued: “Trying to do everything without understanding the processes of the company means that tasks will take much longer, or simply be done incorrectly, and will start you off on the wrong foot.”
It can feel uncomfortable approaching people you’ve never met, but Phelps advises that building connections should start immediately rather than waiting for others to come to you.
“Introducing yourself to co-workers displays confidence and self-assurance, so don’t assume that they will automatically introduce themselves to you,” he explained.
The sooner you learn names and roles, the sooner you feel like part of the group — and not like you’re hovering on the edges of the team.
Also worth remembering: even if you’ve already been hired, first impressions still matter, and early performance is often being watched more closely than you might think.
Phelps acknowledged that not every job has a probation period, but ‘it’s important to remember that you’re probably still being evaluated on your first day, week, and maybe month’.
“Don’t yawn (no matter how little sleep you got last night due to nerves!) and don’t keep checking your phone,” he advised. “Don’t start booking days off as soon as you start, as it can show a lack of commitment – as can clock watching and rushing out of the door the second it hits five o’clock.”
Trying to look eager by turning up dramatically early can backfire too. If the team is still getting ready for you — setting up accounts, sorting a desk, finishing admin — you can end up stuck waiting while everyone feels rushed.
Phelps explained: “It’s common to start a little later than the rest of the team on your first day, so they have time to prepare your workspace and any admin that needs to be done, so make sure that you arrive on time. Don’t get there too early as they might not be ready for you, and you’ll be awkwardly hanging around while they feel under pressure to finish.”
Clothing is another area where uncertainty can cause stress. If you can, find out the dress code beforehand — and if you can’t, it’s usually safer to lean slightly smarter until you understand the office norm.
However, Phelps warned that even different dress codes can vary for different people.
“Remember that ‘smart casual’ can mean different things to different people,” he warned. “Until you have an idea of the vibe of the office, it’s best to dress smart so you don’t turn up too far on the casual end of the scale.
“Your clothes are your visual identity, much like brand visuals in digital PR, so make sure that you can align with the company culture with what you’re wearing.”
You’ll pick up a huge amount of information on day one — routes around the building, new tools, company processes, faces and names — and it’s easy for details to blur together.
With that in mind, Phelps advised: “Rather than trying to look like you have an incredible memory but not actually remembering anything, take notes of important information, from co-workers’ names to daily tasks and even where the toilets are – you don’t want to keep asking, or not go to the toilet all day because you can’t remember where it is!”
It’s also wise to be careful about how you talk about your previous employer. Even if you’ve come from a difficult environment, repeated negativity can create doubts about how you’ll speak about your new team in the future.
Phelps noted: “Even if your last job was awful, don’t keep talking about how much better this job is.
“You might think it would be complimentary to your new job, boss, and colleagues, but constant badmouthing of your last job and team from the moment you start can raise concerns and make them think about how you’d talk about them if you left.”
Finally, don’t feel pressured to perform a “new job” version of yourself. Trying to keep up an act is exhausting — and people will eventually notice the gap between the persona and the real you.
“If you decide to try out a new personality on your first day, it’s going to be difficult to maintain that character long term, and trying to build your reputation in the company as someone you’re not can be exhausting,” Phelps said. “Stick to being yourself, without feeling like you need to exaggerate your personality or skills; your professional relationships can build gradually and honestly.
“Authenticity provides strength – for example, in digital PR, brands that constantly change their tone and values lose trust. Your co-workers will notice when your real personality comes through, so make sure you’re you from the start.”