Starting a new job? Here’s how to get it right

Starting a new job is exciting—but can also make you nervous. It doesn’t matter if you're starting your career or just making a strategic move to a more senior and challenging role, stepping into a new workplace can feel like entering a different world. You’re learning the ropes, adjusting to a new culture, meeting new and unfamiliar faces, and trying to prove yourself—all at once.

It’s a lot. But it’s also an incredible opportunity.

First impressions are important. How you approach your first few weeks can set the tone for your entire experience. A strong start can lead to faster integration, better working relationships, and early wins that boost your confidence and visibility. On the other hand, feeling overwhelmed or unsure can slow your momentum and affect how you're perceived by your team.

The good news is that, with the right mindset and a few practical strategies, you can turn the initial uncertainty into a path for success. Guide and

17 important points to focus when you start a new job

This guide will walk you through how to overcome those first-day nerves and offer actionable tips to help you settle in, thrive, and start your new chapter with confidence.

1 - Prepare before day 1

A great first day doesn’t start when you walk through the office doors—or log in remotely on Slack or join your first call. Getting organized ahead of time can calm your nerves, build your confidence, and help you hit the ground running. Even if you've already been through interviews and onboarding materials, take some time to do a deeper dive. Review the company’s website, mission, and values. Look up your team’s recent work or projects if possible. Check out any press releases or blog posts that might give you insight into current priorities.

If you know who your manager or team members are, it doesn’t hurt to check out their LinkedIn profiles—not to snoop, but to get a better sense of their backgrounds, roles, and interests. The more familiar they feel, the easier it’ll be to connect with them when you meet.

2 - Set your intentions

Ask yourself what you want to get out of your first week and set some goals. Maybe it will be “getting to know X new people”, or “understanding the team’s biggest challenge.” Setting small, specific intentions helps you stay grounded when everything else feels unfamiliar.

3 - Meet with your manager

No one is better suited to help you get acquainted with your new position than your manager. It’s likely you’ll have a 1-1 meeting with them once you start, so prepare for it by jotting down some questions that help you understand your goals and show that you’re curious and prepared for new challenges.

These questions can include:

• What does success look like here?
• What’s the biggest priority for my first 30 days?
• Who do I go to for what?
• How often should I report to you and at what level of detail?

4 - Take care of the logistics

Simple stuff matters. Double-check your start date, time, dress code, and any documents or equipment you need to bring or set up. If you're going into an office, plan your route and give yourself extra time. If you're working remotely, make sure your tech setup is smooth—Wi-Fi, headset, login credentials, camera, etc.

Nothing throws off a confident start like struggling to connect to the internet five minutes into your first meeting.

5 - Focus on making a great first impression

Your first few days are when people begin forming opinions about who you are, how you work, and what you bring to the table. The good news? You don’t need to dazzle anyone with genius ideas on day one. You just need to show up with the right energy, curiosity, and attitude.

Be on time. Be prepared. And most importantly—be present. That means giving your full attention in conversations, making eye contact (or camera contact, if you’re remote) during meetings.

Even if you don’t have much to contribute yet, your attention shows that you’re invested. Nod, smile, take notes, and ask thoughtful questions when the moment’s right. These small signals go a long way toward building credibility.

6 - Be confident, but also humble

People appreciate someone who is confident—but not arrogant. It’s okay to let your experience or skills shine, but don’t act like you already know everything. In a new role, avoid having irrefutable opinions and be open to suggestions and to learning with who was there before you and knows how things work at the company.

Being open to feedback and genuinely curious about how things work shows that you’re adaptable and collaborative—both qualities people love to work with.

7 - Be a sponge and learn the vibe

Every workplace has its own rhythm and culture—formal or relaxed, fast-paced or thoughtful, chatty or heads-down. Try to observe the little things: How do people communicate? Do they use Slack or email more? Are meetings formal or more casual?

Early on, mirroring the tone and behavior of your team can help you blend in naturally. If you’re not sure about something, it’s totally okay to ask your manager or buddy, “What’s the norm here for (situation X)?” Most people appreciate the consideration.

8 - Remember names

It can be tough when you’re meeting a bunch of people at once, but putting in the effort to remember names makes a big difference. If it helps, write them down along with a quick note about who they are or what they do. People always appreciate being remembered—and it’s a small gesture that builds warmth and trust fast.

9 - Build relationships

One of the fastest ways to feel grounded in a new job is by building relationships with the people around you. It might feel awkward, but take the initiative to say hello. You can do it by sending a a quick Slack message in a group channel, or introduce yourself in-person with a “Hey, I just joined the team as (your role). Excited to be here!”. This will help people understand who you are and why you’re there.

If your company uses any kind of org chart or team directory, scan through it and identify a few people you'd like to connect with. It could be people on your team, cross-functional collaborators, or anyone whose work seems related to yours. Reach out and ask if they'd be open to a quick intro chat.

10 - Find your allies

In every job, there are people who make life a lot easier. They’re the ones who know where the good coffee is, who to talk to when you’re stuck, how to navigate corporate files and systems. These informal “guides” can be just as important as your manager.

Be on the lookout for:

• A go-to person for day-to-day questions
• Someone who seems well-connected across teams
• A colleague who remembers what it’s like to be new and is open to helping out

If your company has a buddy system or onboarding mentor, take full advantage of that. And if it doesn’t? Create your own. Ask someone experienced if they'd be open to answering occasional questions as you ramp up.

11 - Make time for casual conversations

Work isn't just about tasks and deadlines—relationships often grow during those small, unscheduled moments. If you’re in the office, don’t skip out on lunch invites or coffee chats. If you're remote, jump into casual Slack threads or suggest a virtual coffee break.

Even five or ten minutes of genuine conversation can build rapport and make working together easier down the line.

12 - Understand the learning curve

No matter how experienced you are, every new job comes with a learning curve. New tools, new processes, new expectations—and sometimes a whole new industry or way of thinking. It’s normal to feel a little lost at first. So in your first days and weeks, make observation and learning your priority. You don’t need to have all the answers right away—in fact, it’s better if you don’t pretend to. Instead, focus on understanding how things work: the workflows, the priorities, the people, the pain points.

Take lots of notes. Your future self will thank you when you’re trying to remember what that one team does or what an acronym means. See the tips of our article to boost productivity

13 - Ask questions and don’t expect to know everything

There’s no such thing as a dumb question when you’re new—but it doesn’t hurt to do some research before asking something easily Google-able or that might be in your onboarding docs.

No one expects you to have everything figured out in week one. It’s far better to admit when you’re unclear than to guess and get it wrong. A simple, “I’m still getting up to speed on that, but I’ll follow up once I have more context,” keeps your credibility intact and shows that you’re taking ownership of your learning.

14 - Create your own learning plan

Some companies offer structured onboarding plans; others just toss you into the deep end expecting you to learn by doing. Either way, you can set your own learning goals. This way you’ll have a sense of direction and be able to track your progress in the early days. For example:

• Week 1: Company structure, team roles, key tools
• Week 2: Processes, recurring meetings, project history
• Week 3: Begin shadowing, small tasks, deeper dive into one core area

15 - Look for quick wins

You’ve made your introductions, started building relationships, and have a better understanding of how the company works and what is expected of you. Now it’s time to show what you can do by finding small ways to contribute.

You don’t need to wait six months to make an impact. Quick wins are those small but meaningful contributions you can make while you're still getting up to speed. They also show initiative, attention to detail, and a willingness to help—qualities that make a strong first impression.

16 - Ask for feedback

Don’t wait for your first performance review to find out how you’re doing. Within your first month, check in with your manager or mentor and ask questions about your performance. For example:

• Is there anything I could be doing differently to better support the team?
• How am I doing so far against what you expected?
• Are there areas I should focus on improving?

This shows maturity and a willingness to grow—and helps you course-correct if needed.

17 - Think long-term

Finally, after your first 30 days, you can start making long-term plans for yourself and looking beyond the day-to-day.

What excites you most about this job?

• Where could you grow, or make a unique impact?
• Where in the company could you make a bigger impact?

Start thinking not just about surviving the job—but thriving in it. Talk to your manager about potential growth paths. Ask how performance is evaluated over time. Find out what kinds of opportunities exist for your so you can set clear goals and then plan accordingly.

You don’t have to make big moves yet—but planting the seeds now shows you’re thinking like someone who’s in it for the long haul.

Take the lead from here

Starting is about stepping into a new version of yourself—more capable, more confident, more connected. With a little preparation, self-awareness, and curiosity, you can turn those early jitters into the beginning of something great.