The week leading up to your first day of work will likely consist of a mixture of butterfly nerves and excitement. That’s perfectly normal – you’re coming to a part of your life odyssey where adulting, adventure and an opportunity to grow await you.

But because this leg concerns the beginning of your career journey, you’ll want to present your best self to leave a good first impression! What can you do to prepare for it?

Do: Dress well

Sluggish dressing may give the impression that you’re not serious about your new role. Dressing well, on the other hand, shows a willingness to invest in your personal outlook and demeanour. It’ll give a good first impression too, as others will be able to discern that you deliberately took the time and effort.

There’s no need to break the bank by buying expensive clothes – just stick with the style and colour that suits you best within the company’s dress code. To make sure that you’re comfortable in your chosen clothes, try them on before your first day at work.

Do: Ask for feedback

Feedback is one of the tools you can use to monitor your progress on-the-job. Approach your direct supervisor or department head, and arrange regular meetings with them so that you can figure out a game plan and pinpoint areas of improvement. You can also seek advice from more experienced colleagues who are also willing to guide and mentor you.

However, bear in mind that receiving feedback is only useful if you use it to improve your performance! As such, you’ll also have to learn how to improve from the feedback given.

Do: Take lunch offers seriously

Lunch outings do a lot to bridge the gap between you and other co-workers, so use the hour to get to know the people you’ll form working relationships with. Observe how your colleagues interact among themselves and note the topics they bring up during lunch. Feel free to talk with them about their roles in the company, and initiate conversations on unique aspects of their jobs to gain some knowledge of their fields as well.

Don’t: Ask personal questions right off the bat

This may be a bit difficult if you love to engage in idle conversation, but remember to keep some boundaries in mind! Bear in mind that your co-workers aren’t your own circle of friends (not yet), so take the time to listen and learn more instead of monopolising the conversations.

Don’t: Be hard on yourself

Making mistakes is part and parcel of the learning process, as you discover the best way to become better and more efficient at your tasks are through trial and error. But be mindful that this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do your best in your first week (or over the course of your tenure)! That’s just giving up before even trying.

Instead, try not to compare yourself with more experienced co-workers in the office; you’re only a few days old at best, and they have way more experience than you do. Remember this simple truth: all your colleagues had their own steep learning curve to overcome when they first joined the company.

It’s normal to be nervous at your new job. As long as you follow these simple tips, treat everyone with respect and do your best, you’ll not go wrong!