How to Succeed Your First Day on the Job
- Mr. Career Guide
- Sep 10, 2018
- 8 min read
They say first impressions are everything. They are. It doesn’t take long for co-workers to size you up the first day on a job. Your body language and the way you introduce yourself will give them an idea of who you are. This can all change once the relationship is bonded. But never underestimate the power of the first impression. In the workplace, and in life they can go a long way.
Mr. Career Guide’s First Day
I remember it like it was yesterday. 22 years old and fresh out of school. I landed a job at a premier government organization. The job was in the Intelligence Community (IC). A prestige place to be. It wasn’t the CIA but close. The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) is the IC’s eyes in the sky. As an analyst you spend all day looking at satellite imagery, think GoogleEarth on steroids. Your duties include exploiting targets for any suspicious activity and writing reports for other agencies, foreign partners, the military, politicians, and sometimes even the President. It’s an nontraditional job but incredibly rewarding and important.
To say I didn’t know what kind of opportunity I had at the time is an understatement. I was young, full of drive, and a bit of ego. I grew up in D.C. and this is where I dreamed of working but I also didn’t want a desk job. On my first day I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into.
Showing up outside a secured government compound is a nerve racking experience on the first day. My confidence at the time didn’t display signs of nervousness but overconfidence. I graduated with a degree in International Relations and here I am IC!
Once I was let into the compound, I waited for my boss in the lobby of NGA. He was a short man, balding, and huge wayfarer glasses that covered most of his face. “Who is this guy?” I thought to myself. Government employees are cut from a different cloth. They don’t need to dress fancy or put on a fake show to impress. The jobs are nearly impossible to be fired from and my boss reflected an attitude of living in the moment. He wasn’t there to impress but he did. He graciously took out his hand and said, “I’m really glad you are here. Welcome to the IC.”
“Happy to be here. Very excited to be brought on,” I said as I held out my hand for a shake.
Although I had spoken to my boss over the phone, this was the first time I would meet him in person. It was my first impression and I needed to be respectful and humble. However, the attitude I had in my head was not one of humility. I knew I didn’t want to sit at a desk in my twenties, but I took the job because I had no other options. Other goals did not pane out that put in the field. Taking the job in the IC was a second choice. I couldn’t let my boss know that. I need to stay humble and appreciative.
“Come, let’s go upstairs and meet the rest of your teammates,” my boss said as we made our way to the elevators. We entered the secure facility and walked to the workspaces. The workspace was different than what I had expected. A dark room with bright glowing lights coming from computer screens. A perfect place for analysts to exploit imagery. It was not quite what the movies show. “Why is it so dark in here?” was the first thing I said inside the room. Mistake #1, this may not have been the appropriate time to ask such a question, especially to the boss who had been working there for 30 plus years!
“We keep these lights low to improve our analysis,” he said as I was beginning to deeply miss sunlight and windows.
Meeting my coworkers was a strange experience. They were all extremely introverted and had trouble making eye contact. I showed off a sense of confidence and eagerness as the new employee. I couldn’t change who I was in the moment as I didn’t fit in. Mistake #2, showing overconfidence in a group when you are the new employee. Downplaying the confidence to show humility is what I should have done looking back.
After meeting my team, I was introduced to the person I would be working directly with. He was a senior analyst and had spent his career at the agency. For our area of interest, he was an expert. The IC called on him when they needed answers. We sat down, and he took some time to get to know me. “I read your resume and some of the papers you did in college, nice work man,” he said as he was looking down to the ground. “Thanks man, I appreciate that, I did a lot of mock intelligence assessments in school. I feel prepared to be here,” I said in a semi-smug tone.
Mistake #3, not downplaying the accomplishments I had achieved. When you start a new job it’s important to leave behind all the accomplishments you’ve acquired thus far. You are really starting from ground zero and this is the time to learn. What you did in college doesn’t really matter in the “real world.” All of the accomplishments that make you unique can be brought up as you forge relationships.
After speaking with my mentor for a few minutes, my boss pulled me aside for a one-on-one meeting. I was beginning to have some physical effects from being in a dark room. It took nearly 3 months to get used to working in the environment. My first day was rough as I started feeling drowsy and tired. Gosh, I was such an over-privileged middle-class American. That first day I was already considering my exit plan. A windowless dark working environment was not ideal.
As we sat down in his windowless office, we discussed a number of activities related to the job. From my role description, responsibilities, expectations, security protocol, and any questions I had. “So, what if I don’t like the job?” I asked. My boss sat back in his chair and let out a sigh. Here was a new analyst stating alternatives to the opportunity at hand. “Well, I tell every new analyst to give it a year. We are not going to hold you to the same standards as a seasoned analyst. The learning curve is high. Consider this year a learning opportunity,” my boss said.
Mistake #4, asking a question related to not liking the job on the first day was a big mistake. The way I framed the question was not as bad as I’m describing, but I’m sure in my boss’s eyes he had a hint of concern. This type of question can be realized through self-discovery. It’s not a great first impression to ask questions related to “not liking a job” on the first day!
After the meeting with my boss, I rejoined my teammates. They spent the day walking through their analytical activities with me. It was quite exhilarating to say the least as I learned more. Here I was at the pinnacle of National Security learning from intelligence analysts. Their passion and love of the tradecraft was infectious.
As I sat down with the analysts I asked probing questions. The questions showed a desire to learn more and appreciation for their role. When I sat down with one employee, she told me how she fell into the career. She told me how she had a master’s degree in Biology and wanted to be a doctor. Somehow, she found herself in the IC. I also told her that I fell into the role as it was my only full-time job offer.
Mistake #5, allowing coworkers regret to articulate my own on the first day. Looking back, I should have kept that to myself. The coworker I was sitting with was discussing her regret of not following her dreams. I felt an inner sense to empathize. Even though we both felt the same way, I was still the new guy and this statement may have changed her perception of me.
The day was long, and I’ll never forget it. Once I was ready to start working, my teammates showed me my workstation. It wasn’t a workstation, it was a makeshift library other analysts had used to store books and guides. The desk was littered with papers and manuals for imagery exploitation. Wow this is some way to treat the new guy, I thought.
“Sorry about that, let’s clean this up,” one of my coworkers said. “Haha yea, I was beginning to think you all did not care about me,” I said hoping to liven up the introverts. Mistake #6, it’s okay to make jokes on the first day but it is better to be overly formal. You don’t have to be a robot, but it takes time to figure out the people you work with. Joking with coworkers is formed through relationship building.
The day was almost over, and analysts were starting to leave work. It was five o’clock and I needed to walk to the subway station. I walked over to my boss’s office and asked if I could leave. He granted me approval and I left with my first day in the books. Mistake #7, it’s your first day, be the last one to leave or wait until told to head home.
First impressions are everything and I already had one strike in my boss’s eyes. Now I was asking him to leave. As a new employee, I should have read over books and read articles while waiting to receive the green light for heading home.
What I Learned My First Day
I’ll never forget that first day. It was nearly a decade ago and I still remember it well. I made some fundamental mistakes that may have altered my first impression:
Asked my boss about why it was so dark in the workspace
Made jokes while not really knowing my coworkers
Asked my boss what would happen if I didn’t like the job
Empathized with my coworker on her regrets of not following her dreams
Asked to go home at 5pm
Looking back, it’s easy to see that some of the mistakes were not a big deal. When you start a new job, it’s always best to take the high road, say less and do more. The first day is a whirlwind but here are some things to keep in mind when just starting out:
Be confident but do not come off as cocky
Remain humble and appreciative of the opportunity at hand
Refrain from making jokes until you know your coworkers well enough
Take the high road if a coworker articulates regret or dissatisfaction with the job. This happens more than you think! New employees listen to everyone their first day/week/months and it’s an easy opportunity for dissatisfied coworkers to pull you in
Ask questions and show interest in the work you’ll do
Be thankful for your working conditions even if the lights are off
Wait until you’ve built a relationship with the boss before you discuss your future with an organization
Leave the accolades from college at home, you can bring them up later
Be present and in the moment. If this isn’t your dream job, don’t show it and get to work
Over dress and look sharp
First impressions are everything. But don’t be too hard on yourself if it doesn’t go perfectly. Stay calm and be humble. You’ve worked hard to land a job and now it’s time prove your worth.
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