First day - what do you like to see in a new starter?

nick74

Upon seeing your new boss for the first time don't immediately burst into floods of tears and tell him how much he reminds you of your late father. When this happened to me I was very sympathetic as naturally I assumed it was a very recent bereavement and still quite raw. It was some weeks later when I discovered that the lady's father had actually died about 20 years previously. She turned out to be both totally bonkers and pretty much incompetent at her job.

74jax

nick74 wrote: »

Upon seeing your new boss for the first time don't immediately burst into floods of tears and tell him how much he reminds you of your late father. When this happened to me I was very sympathetic as naturally I assumed it was a very recent bereavement and still quite raw. It was some weeks later when I discovered that the lady's father had actually died about 20 years previously. She turned out to be both totally bonkers and pretty much incompetent at her job.

It is so wrong I laughed at this.... 🤣

bamgbost

I like this forum..as i am due to change jobs in the new year. So will defo take on these tips...

A few to add. Is just be you. Ask Questions when necessary but not too much to be come annoying.

Quickly try and understand your job role and where you have been brought in to add value.

General_Grant

Don't say, "when I was at XYZ we used to do ABC" - learn what happens in the new place and work out whether ABC is better, just different, or not worth the bother in trying to change procedures.

elsien

Someone who stays put for day one and doesn't get their mum to ring on day two making their excuses is always a bonus.

NeilCr

Lots of good tips

I'd add - be yourself. Don't try to be something that you aren't because you think you should

Whenever I was interviewing for my team (while obviously looking for proficiency) I was keen to see the personality of the applicant and look at how they would fit in with the rest of the group.

Savvy_Sue

From the employer's POV, make sure the new starter knows where the loos are, where the fire exits are, and where to put their bag and coat. Closely followed by where the drinks making facilities are and how that 'work's.

At one point we used to make sure they were buddied at lunchtime by taking them out, but now we just make sure they break for lunch and know where we'll be eating.

Elinore

Thanks, everyone - really good tips!

I have made myself a neat little custom notebook and have started writing up things to take note of - names, meeting times/policies, where the loos/kitchens/fire exits are, sign-ins what systems, notes page and workload expectations/priorities as well as takeaways from the day.

The interview was off-site so I have no idea what the facilities are like so that is adding to the general feeling of slight nervousness. I did a drive-by just to get an idea if it's modern or old big or small and if they have a large presence likely to have a canteen/kitchen- but the building is set back and on google maps, it's fairly large but I know it's shared with several other departments. I have no clue if it's a small team or ill be working within a huge unit.

They did email me this morning to advise I got a pay rise, which is nice as I've not even started yet! apparently everyone in the job role got one and they were extending this to me which I thought was rather capital of them.

nick74

74jax wrote: »

It is so wrong I laughed at this.... 🤣

I did also once accept a lift from the same lady, who proudly told me that the spirit of her dead relative haunted the car. She apparently knew when the ghost manifested itself because the interior of her car was filled with the scent of his pipe tobacco. I could smell it too, but didn't have the heart to tell her that what she was smelling was almost certainly warm antifreeze, coming from a leaking heater matrix...

Skiddaw1

nick74 wrote: »

I did also once accept a lift from the same lady, who proudly told me that the spirit of her dead relative haunted the car. She apparently knew when the ghost manifested itself because the interior of her car was filled with the scent of his pipe tobacco. I could smell it too, but didn't have the heart to tell her that what she was smelling was almost certainly warm antifreeze, coming from a leaking heater matrix...

Loving this and the previous post nick74! :rotfl:


I've worked with a few fruit-loops myself but your lady takes the biscuit.