Tip number 1:
Get your sleep in: sounds crazy /obvious, but if you’re tired on your first day of your placement, you’re unlikely to perform at your best. This is even more important if you haven’t had a regular routine beforehand. So get a few good nights’ sleep before you roll up to make sure you don’t fall asleep halfway through your first day.
Tip number 2:
Work out your route: if you wake up on the day and realise you don’t know where you’re going, chances are you’re probably going to be rushing around and may be late. So, before the big day comes, do some research and work out which way you’re going to go. Look at directions, distances, routes, travel times and public transport sites if you’re using it. Also, check if there are any traffic works going on that could disrupt you.
Tip number 3:
Refresh your memory: you probably did a fair amount of research before your interview, so you should know a little about the company and industry already. However, if that was a little while ago, it’s a good idea to refresh your memory and see if anything new has happened in the industry before you start. This will stop you from going in cold and not looking like you have a clue what the company does on your first day of work.
Tip number 4:
Refresh your wardrobe: if you needed a good excuse to go shopping, this is it. You’ll probably want a few new outfits to help you fit into the company. The kind of place it is will dictate what you need to wear. If it’s a global finance or consultancy company, chances are a stylish suit will be in order. Elsewhere, you might get away with something more casual. If in doubt, you can always contact the company to find out (or they might tell you).
Tip number 5:
Show how keen you are: you may have a first day scheduled in your diary, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach out before then. If you can, you may want to meet with some of your soon-to-be colleagues for a coffee. This will give you the chance to start building a rapport in a less formal and pressured setting and suss out who’s who.
Tip number 6:
Set yourself a goal: this might seem like a bit of an overkill, and may be tricky without knowing what projects you’re going to be working on specifically, but take some time and have a think about what you’d like to achieve within a set time of joining. That could be a month or two or three, or maybe the first 100 days. Don’t be unrealistic, but also try and set goals that will push you quite a bit and help you get off to a strong start.
Tip number 7:
Final preparation: read through any contracts, induction packs or emails you’ve been sent by the company. These will have important information about your employment, responsibilities and what you may need to bring with you when you start. Also make sure you have everything that’s been asked for specifically. This could include: your passport, I.D, driving license, proof of your address, etc.