Transitioning into a full-time job can be a daunting thought. Whether you’ve come from study, worked casually or have never had a job – being relied upon for 35 or more hours a week is a big change. Luckily for you, we’ve been around the block a few times and have picked up some tips that can support your transition into the workforce.
From learning about your future company to calm your first-day jitters, to knowing the right time to get petrol – we can help you strategise your employment journey to give you the best opportunity at success.
Before you start:
Even before your first day, there are ways you can get prepared. If the company has social media pages – have a look at them to understand a bit more about their culture. Are they corporate? Do they regularly celebrate their workers?
What are the people wearing? Is the language they use casual or formal?
Learning these things reduces the unknowns and can make you feel more comfortable heading into your first day.
Prepare your uniform, lunch and anything else you need the night before your first day. This will make the morning super seamless and will reduce your stress so you can just focus on showing up on time.
This may seem obvious, but make sure you know how long the drive is to work. Your travel time could be significantly different during peak hours if that’s when you’re due at work – so be sure you factor that in!
Your first week:
Make every effort to get to work early! This will show your boss you take this role seriously. On your first day, introduce yourself to your team members, be polite,look them in the eye and be positive. Your team will become your closest network at work, working with them for about seven hours, five days a week, every week. It pays off to start off on the right foot with a positive attitude and genuine interest in them.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You have the skills, but every workplace has different procedures, so don’t think you’ll seem incompetent for wanting to understand their way. Having said that, use your skills! You were hired for a reason – trust your employer hired you for the right job and show them what you’ve got!
To make the transition as easy as possible, it’s important to set up good habits from the start. Continue to prepare your uniform, lunch and tools the night before.
Prioritise getting eight hours of sleep every night. Fill your car up the night before! There’s nothing worse than realising your car’s tank is on empty when you get into it on your way to work. ‘I can do it in the morning’ is you lying to yourself – don’t listen! Write to-do lists everyday and stay on top of your tasks. Having a daily receipt of what you do or don’t have on can also come in handy if someone’s wondering.
Into the future:
Develop soft and hard skills to keep growing in your role and setting yourself up for a rewarding future in employment. Hard skills are things like training and education, whereas soft skills are personality traits – like your professionalism, approachableness or efficiency. Attending training sessions that add value to your workplace makes you very desirable, and if you’re a delight to work with – then that’s even better!
After a few months of full-time work, it’ll begin to feel like second nature so now you can set aside some time for yourself. It’s important to have boundaries between your work and personal life to ensure you can keep showing up as your best-self at work. Set goals you can achieve outside of work – want to jump on the running bandwagon? Sign up to a marathon. Been keen to learn how to bake sourdough from scratch?
Look up a recipe and go for it. Working towards personal milestones helps you feel less consumed by your nine to five and ensures a sustainable future in your career.
Most importantly, if you need support be sure to reach out to your network. We’re all in the same boat and can all relate – check in with your family and friends and have a chat when things feel a little overwhelming. You’ve got this.
