4 Questions to Ask Yourself as You Prepare for a New Job

4 Questions to Ask Yourself as You Prepare for a New Job Starting a new job can be stressful. All the new coworkers, new processes, and new responsibilities oftenfeel incredibly overwhelming. However, in order to grow in your career, change is necessary. During the week prior to the abflug of your new position, do what you can to prepare yourself, and youshouldfind that your first day goes by smoothly and with few if any speed bumps along the way. Taking the time to do the right kind of prep work will help alleviate a lot of yourfirst-day jitters and minimize your stress levels.Consider asking yourself these four questions tohelp you prepare yourself for any new job1.What Will I Wear?Plan your first-day outfit in advance based on the weather and any dress-code-related information you receivedfrom HR or the rolle who hired you. Planning a few days in advance will eliminate any last minute stresses and decrease the likelihood of a wardrobe malfunction.For the first day, regardless of the organization youre working at, the best choice is to dress in business attire. Its always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed you dont want to give off the impression that you arent taking the position seriously. Play it safe, dress nicely, and assess what is considered appropriate attire once youre in the office.2. WhoAm I Reporting to or Working With?Find out who you are working with and conduct your own mini-background checks. Learning about your colleagues and/or boss will better prepare you for when you actually enter the office. Become familiar with the people youll be working with, and you willfeel more comfortable in your new environment.Take a look at the LinkedIn accounts or other business-related social media profiles of your coworkers to learn their names, positions, and interests.When youre meeting numerous coworkers all in one day, this little trick can do a lot to help you remember names and faces.Familiarizing yourself with the people in your officeis important because you will likely be talking to them in the future or at least running into them in the hallway.Another great resource for learning about your coworkers and managers is to check out the companys About Us page.For example, our websiteis structured so that we have a specific team page that houses photos and titles ofall of our employees, broken down by department. For anyone starting a job with us, its a great resource for familiarizing themselves with their new coworkers.3. WhereIs the Office Located, and What Is Around It?Check public transportation schedules in advance and determine what route you want to take on your first day. If youll be providing your own transportation, do a trial-run,or at least make sure you know exactly how to get there. Use a program such as Google Maps to determine the best route possible and yourestimated commute time, and youll know howmuch travel time to allow yourself onthe morning of yourfirst day.Plan to wake up a little earlier than needed so that you can handleany delays that may arise.You want to show up to your first day of work at least 15 minutes early in order to collect your thoughts, make a good first impression, and calm your own nerves.Its a good idea to scope out some lunch spots prior to your first day on the job, too. Find out what coffee shops are nearby or what convenience stores are close. Familiarizing yourself with these destinations, although seemingly trivial, can make you feel far more comfortable as you start your new endeavor.4. WhyDid I Get Hired for This Position?Dont let the first day jitters get the best of you you were hired for a reason Be polite, use workplace etiquette, and do the best job you can on your first day. People will notice your effort and willingness to learn,and theyll appreciate all your hard work.Ask questions when they arise and dont be shy or embarrassed if you are unfamiliar with certain aspects of the new job.Final ThoughtsTake a deep breath and mentally prepare yourself for this new experience and the new chapter of your life that is approaching. Do your best, ask questions, and most importantly be open and willing to learn.