When Do I Start? A New Job Brief

Congratulations! You’ve landed a new job, now you’re asking, “When do I start?” A variety of factors can go into the decision on when your first day at your new job will be. Perhaps you need to give notice at your current job or your new employer has an onboarding process that must be in place before you can start.

In clarifying when your first day will be, you’ll want to get answers to a few questions.

1. What time should I arrive at work?
   Be sure to get clarification on where you need to park and where you’ll need to report in. Some companies have security or locked entries, so you’ll need to find out how you’re supposed to handle that. Be sure to account for traffic at that time of day too. 
2. What do I need to bring with me?
   Find out what supplies will be provided and what you’ll be expected to bring, for example, do you need to bring a hard hat or specific tools?
3. What hours will I be working?
   Arrange your personal life to make sure you find out the details on your schedule, like when the work day ends and what break times you are given. This may also be a good way to find out if there is a lunch room you can use or if you have time to go out to lunch.
4. What is the dress code?
   First impressions are everything, and you want to make sure you show that you’re ready to work. Do you need to wear steeled-toed shoes or are suits required? Get the specifics and don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for the dress code policy to be sent to you.
5. What can I expect on the first day?
   Everyone is nervous on the first day, but you can put yourself at ease by asking for a few details. Ask if you’ll be teamed up with someone for job training, if anyone else is starting that day in the same job as you, or if you’ll just be training or actually getting straight to work in your role. Maybe there is an agenda for new employees that could be sent to you prior to your first day.

More Advice for Your First Day
We’ve had a few blog posts on Movin’ on Up with tips for starting a new job. Here is a quick summary:

Prim and Proper: Basic Rules for Workplace Etiquette Check this post out for tips on how to get along with others on the  job and to help you make friends, not enemies, at your new job.

What to do When You’ve Got Big Shoes to Fill This post has advice on how to respectfully create your own path at a new job.

How to Succeed at Your First “Real” Job In this post you’ll find advice for starting on the right foot at a new job. Perhaps you’ve always worked with friends or family, or in more casual environments, and now you’re branching out and will need to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered.

What are your best tips for starting a new job?