10 Tips on making a good first impression

Career Coach: 10 Tips on making a good first impression

Dione Chen

14 Jun 2016

1/10
Dress professionally
Looking clean and neat is the first step to making a good impression. Before you even speak, people judge you based on your appearance. Therefore, it is incredibly important, whether you're going to stay in the office all day, or if your job entails you to go out to meet clients, to dress well and smart. If you're well-groomed, it is more likely that people will think you're responsible and reliable, compared to if you don an unkempt or inappropriate look.
2/10
Be punctual
Pay attention to your company's culture about work attendance and punctuality. You don't want to always be the late one, or look like someone who just wants to go home early all the time, especially if no one else does the same. At least for the first few weeks, establish yourself as a hard worker in terms of getting to work early and leaving only after you've finished all your work, so that people know you can be trusted.
3/10
Come with an open mind
The way you think and see the world makes a huge difference in how you treat others and people you meet for the first time. Having an open mind will help you enjoy your new job and be a person others would want to mix with as well.
4/10
Have a positive attitude
This acts as a follow-up to the previous tip. Keeping a positive attitude will not only help you to enjoy your work a lot more, but also make you enthusiastic about being part of the team. This optimistic outlook will rub off on your fellow colleagues and in turn create a more healthy work environment.
5/10
Understand your manager’s goals
The fundamental basics of getting off on the right foot is to communicate with your new manager about his or her objectives in the job. Once you understand what exactly they're looking for in this particular position, you will be able to help them achieve their aims together. This way, your manager will also feel better connected with you.
6/10
Remember their names
When someone you meet for the first time remembers your name among a sea of others, don't you feel respected and important? That's the impression you want to create among your new colleagues. If you're not good with names, there are some memory aid techniques online you can use to help you, just for those first few days on the job!
7/10
Show that you have team spirit
Since you're going to be working with your coworkers for quite a while, you're going to need to have a little rapport and teamwork with them. Showing that the team is more important than the individual when getting work done is a great way to let your colleagues know that you are someone they would want to work with. Always give credit to the team.
8/10
Communicate openly
If you're not sure of the demands of a task, ask. No one expects you to know everything about the job on the first day. Your manager is there to help you, so feel free to ask questions when you need to clarify things, and always ensure an open path of communication.
9/10
Be proactive
Bosses always like workers who take the initiative, so don't just sit around after you're done with your tasks at hand. Ask what you can do, or what you can help with. There will definitely be someone who needs your help, and they will greatly appreciate it.
10/10
Avoid office gossip
For as long as possible, stay out of office politics or gossip, as soliciting rumours can greatly tarnish your reputation and image. You definitely don't want to be known as a trash talker or a superficial gossip monger around your workplace!

You’ve cleared the interview stage, but this time it’s a whole different ball game altogether. Read this before your first day at your new job.

Starting your first day at a new job can be a harrowing experience for some, especially if this is your first one. Without any previous experience, how would you know what to expect, and what you should do in order to ensure a smooth transition into your new career? Of course, every job is different, and the types of people you meet won’t be the same as well, but there are some surefire tips that will guarantee you a good first impression with your boss and your coworkers, which is definitely a good start to a peaceful work environment.

A positive first impression is also important in the long term, since what others think of you in the future is usually based on their assessment of you the first time you meet. The good thing is that employers understand that you need time to settle into your new job, so don’t worry too much about exceeding expectations too early in the game. As long as you follow these simple pieces of advice, you’ll be on the right track.

Dione Chen

Photos: iStock

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