Congratulations, you've got the job! Now what? Your priority may be figuring out the coffee and snack situation. Although important, that's not the first thing you should do. If you're wondering how to make a great impression, just follow our six tips to ace your first shift.

6 Things to do at Your First Shift

1. Show up early

   Set yourself up for success the day before. Plan your route, lay out everything you need, and set your alarm. Remember- don't hit snooze in the morning!

2. Show your excitement

   Energy is contagious. If you're enthusiastic and eager, the people you interact with will be too. Plus, it'll show your positive attitude and excitement for the job. Get to know your coworkers and make sure to remember their names.

3. Ask questions

   You can build momentum from day one by finding the most important information you need to do your job well. You can even make a list of questions the day before. Asking questions shows that you're committed to success in your new role.

4. Put your phone away

   Many companies believe you aren't paying attention when you're on your phone. Keep your phone on silent or leave it in your bag to avoid the temptation of checking every text.

5. Get a small win early

   No one expects you to turn the whole company around on your first day. A small win could be learning the new software or suggesting an idea to a colleague they're using. Make sure to highlight your successes, especially if it positively impacts the company.

6. Say goodbye when you leave

   It can come off rude if you leave without saying anything. Instead, tell your supervisor that you're heading out and thank them for all their help. Showing appreciation to anyone who trained you helps build positive relationships.

   Bonus: if your supervisor has time to talk, you can ask them how they thought your first day was. They can give you insight or feedback you can use the next day.

An (Almost) Real Life Example

Let's compare Felix and Spencer. They are two new Assemblers for the same company, starting at 7:30 AM.

Felix

Felix is excited for his first day and prepares everything the day before. He finds that it takes 20 minutes to transit from his house, so he plans to leave at 7:00 AM. Felix packs his lunch and lays out everything he needs. Then, he sets the alarm for 6:00 AM and is ready for the next day.

In the morning, Felix wakes up to his alarm and immediately jumps out of bed. He has an hour to get ready before he leaves. He heads out on time, catches his bus, and arrives ten minutes early for his shift.

Felix meets and chats with his new supervisor, Alex, and his coworkers in the first ten minutes. He gets to know everyone and asks questions. At 7:30 AM, he's ready to start training and leaves his phone in his locker.

Felix continues to ask questions during his shift. During lunch, he sits and chats with everyone too. After lunch, all trainees are on the production line. By the end of the day, Felix hit the goal of assembled products in a day.

Before Felix leaves, he catches Alex to let him know he reached his goal and to thank him for his training. Alex says he's impressed with Felix's work and looks forward to seeing him tomorrow. Felix says goodbye to everyone and is feeling confident for his next shift!  

Spencer

Spencer is excited for his first day, sets his alarm for 6:00 AM, and heads to sleep.

The next morning, Spencer's alarm goes off, but he's tired and hits snooze until it's 6:24 AM. He looks up the commute to see that it's 20 minutes long and decides there's 40 minutes before he needs to leave. He gets ready and rushes to grab everything but doesn't have time to pack a lunch. He leaves for the bus stop at 7:05, but it's driving away as he gets there. He waits ten minutes until the next bus arrives.

Felix runs into work 5 minutes late and interrupts training. He apologizes to the supervisor, Alex, who says it's alright and moves on. He listens carefully and is quiet. A couple of hours later, his cell phone rings. A few trainees glare, so he leaves the room to answer. Felix comes back in after a few minutes and apologizes again.

During lunch, Felix goes out to grab food. He returns to go to the production line with the rest of the trainees. He focuses on what he's doing and hits the daily goal of products assembled.

The shifts over, and Spencer leaves without talking to anyone. Alex tries to see how his first day went but can't find him. He asked other employees what they thought of him, but no one had an opinion since they didn't talk to him.

If you were Alex, who would stand out as a great employee? Felix and Spencer had the same productivity, and both hit their goals. However, Felix left a better impression because he was punctual, seemed excited, and got to know his new coworkers.

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