Just clinched a new job but stressed out about the first day at work? In this article, MisterBilingue shares the top tips for kicking off a new job sans drama!
You've sent the CVs, you've written a hundred covering letters, you've survived the interviews, and finally, the holy grail: you got a job in France! Congratulations, all that's left to do now is to take that all-important first step into the wonderful world of work in France: let's make your first day of work a success!
Are you a bit worried about making your entrance into a new working environment? Relax, the Mister Bilingue team explains everything you need to know to survive your first day of work in France!
To start things off, let's take a quick look at a summary of the things to bear in mind when preparing for your first day in a new job:
Ahead of the first day: things to do
The first day: how to behave
Are you ready to face your first day at work? The alarm clock's ringing, time to go!
Before starting your new job, make sure to relax!
You should have a few days to yourself before embarking on your new professional life, so take the opportunity to relax and learn a little more about your future business by doing some research online.
Of course, we don't recommend jetting off to a desert island and cutting contact with civilization: your new employer may need to get in touch with you.
Finally, make sure to keep things low key in the run up to your new job. It wouldn't look good to turn up to work with a hangover and stinking of rum on your first day.
First rule: set an alarm. It might sound obvious, but we're still going to insist on setting two or three alarms in a row to be sure to wake up on time.
Whatever your morning ritual (eat breakfast, watch your favourite cartoon, take a shower, brush your teeth, for example), it might be a good idea to stick to it for your first day at work. The idea is to start the day feeling comfortable and relaxed before you get to the office!
Just to be sure that you don't turn up to your new office in your slippers, it might be an idea to get your clothes ready the night before. When it comes to the outfit itself, opt for something professional so that you don't end up looking out of place among your colleagues (let's save the sequined dress or the latex shirt for another time).
And once more: be yourself. The most important thing is to feel comfortable in what you're wearing!
We won't say it twice: be on time!
Make sure you get to work 10 minutes early (no more, no less), because in France punctuality is still considered an essential professional quality.
And if you do end up getting to work late, it's not the end of the world, but make sure to let your boss know in advance.
In any case, if you'd rather not be labelled as the latecomer by all your new colleagues, we suggest getting off to a good start from day 1!
It doesn't hurt to check your exact route to work in advance either, so that you've got a clear idea of how long it'll take and can plan your commute to the letter.
As you walk through the door of your new office, you shouldn't necessarily expect a welcome party. Some people might not even know to expect you at all! So don't feel shy about reminding your manager of your arrival… you never know!
Ordinarily, you can expect to begin with a tour of the office with your manager. Seize the opportunity to introduce yourself to your new colleagues with a few words about yourself, making sure to speak clearly and naturally, while keeping it to the point.
A smile, good energy, an eagerness to learn and a firm (but not vice-like) handshake are the answer to making a good impression from the get-go. Be alert, honest and don't go overboard: you don't want to make waves on your first day in the office!
When you meet your new colleagues, make sure to listen carefully to their first and last name. Calling your new colleague Jean-Claude when his real name is Michel would be a real faux pas. We're pretty confident that you can memorize each name by heart, but if in doubt, there's no harm in double checking with them.
Beyond simply asking them their names, try to find out about your colleagues' backgrounds and job roles when you find the opportunity to have a chat. This will show that you're interested in others and want to become part of the team.
Don't take up too much of your colleagues' time and avoid being overly familiar with them too early on by sharing your entire life story with them. That could be considered a little inappropriate.
Finally, observe closely and don't hide in the corner. If your colleagues suggest having lunch together or going for a drink after work, say yes and be part of the group!
Seeing as you've only just joined your new company, make sure to familiarize yourself with how the different departments work, so that you have a clear idea of how your position fits into the whole.
One more thing: don't hesitate to ask questions (relevant ones, preferably)! Don't pretend you know how to do something unless you actually do. This is your first day in the job and your colleagues will probably be more than happy to offer you advice or help you out with tasks that you're yet to get to grips with. It's better to ask questions now than in six months, so take notes!
TO RECAP:
So, has you blood pressure dropped a little? If you follow these simple and effective tips to the letter, your first day will fly by in an instant: before you know it, it'll be day 2!
Haven't found the right job offer yet or not sure how to go about looking? Check out our tips in this article or head straight to our job offers listing.
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We hope that these tips will serve you well in your job hunt and all that's left to say is, good luck!
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