How to manage first impressions at work, by an expert

The world of work can seem deeply baffling when you’re new to it. What should you do? Ask for? Expect? Struggle with? And how do you then go about it?

Here’s the first of a series of ten weekly blogs to help you make a success of any new work situation.

So, starting at the beginning. Let’s talk about first impressions. You never get a second chance to make a great first impression. Which means getting it right matters because, consciously or not, your new colleagues will be judging you. Here’s what you need to think about.

Dress professionally

Did you know that people make judgements about you and your abilities within five seconds of meeting you? With that in mind, I recommend dressing more formal than informal if you don’t know what to do. If you show up looking more bed than board room, you’ll feel like a right numpty when everyone else is suited and booted.

And well turned out means people assume you are efficient; untidy, or dressed very differently from everyone else just says ‘I’m not one of you.’ Plus it puts unnecessary distance between you and your new colleagues. You want them to like you, not gossip about how you look. So, don’t wear anything too revealing, cover up your washboard abs, and definitely no underwear as outerwear.

If you are heading into the professions, you should also lose all piercings except for your ears.

By the way, telling the new grad to smarten up is everyone’s least favourite job.

Get there on time

If you can’t be punctual on day one, you’ll lose a ton of credit, regardless of the trains or traffic.  Your colleagues will only take you as seriously as you take yourself. You need to get there early and leave late. You can’t be a high-flier and a clock watcher, so take your pick. Work out your journey time in advance and then add a safe margin.

Asking for wifi in the first hour

A word of advice.

Don’t.
You are there to work and not to catch up on your social media, and focusing on your phone looks terrible.

Meeting people

It’s super polite to stand up when someone you haven’t met enters the room, or comes over to your desk. So, stand then shake their hand. Sitting down and waving a vague hello looks either like lack of confidence or comes over as too laid back: neither creates a good impression.

And kissing anyone when you met is absolutely not on in a work context.

Handshakes

Too limp and everyone will think you are a pushover, too hard and they think you’re a ball crusher. Practise with friends and family to get their feedback before you start; then you’ll understand the pressure you need to put into your handshake.

Introducing yourself

Don’t just say ‘Hello I’m Jane.’ Say ‘I’m Jane Smith, I’m here for four weeks as your social media intern.’ Never ever say, ‘I’m so nervous or unconfident; it’s my first day and I’m so confused.’ No-one knows until you tell them. If you don’t have faith in yourself, why should anyone have faith in you?

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Instead, ask your new colleague about their job, when they started and what you need to do to be successful in this organisation.

Learn everyone’s names fast

Yes, you have a lot to take in, but you’ve got to learn your closest colleagues’ names. By the end of day one you should have at least 10 people’s names under your belt.

The way to do this is to repeat someone’s name when you first meet them, then use it once in the first conversation. As in ‘Hi Tim, Great to meet you Tim.’ Then associate Tim with something that’s true for him; maybe a rhyme (‘Tim has terrible skin’), someone else you know who looks similar (Tim – looks like my friend Hussein), his shoes, job, or his conversation.

Once you’ve ended your interaction, write his name down so if you do forget you don’t need to ask.

By the way don’t say ‘I’m bad with names’. It’s sounds lazy and simply suggests that you can’t be bothered. Even if it is true.

Contributing to informal and formal conversations

Take your cue from everyone around you as it’s respectful. You aren’t there to lead the conversation, to be the brightest and best. Aim to listen three to four times more than you talk because then you’ll take lots in. If you are an extrovert you might find this hard; to distract yourself, get a note book and take notes. Then you won’t feel such a need to splurge words.

On the other hand, if you are an introvert, please don’t sit there and say nothing; that will just feel weird to your new colleagues and you may come over as uninterested or bored.

And finally

Being a newbie is both challenging and exciting because you’ll want to make the most of everything that comes your way. Don’t worry about being perfect because you are bound to make mistakes. And that’s totally OK. The main thing is to be yourself, be as positive as possible and to enjoy the new world that’s opening up for you.  

Come back next week to read about how to take direction and become a star performer.

Upcoming blogs will include:

• Understanding colleague relationships: they don’t hate you they are just short of time.

• Participating in meetings

• Handling a difficult boss

• Getting negative feedback

• Writing emails at work