Employees who will always arrive at work on time and get to meetings and appointments early. Thinking on your toes and a keen focus on delivering exceptional service to both your co-workers and customers is immediately noticed and valued by hiring managers. Attitude is the tie-breaker between you and getting the job and another young person with comparable skills getting it. No one feels confident always, they are just good at camouflaging their insecurities, you should too. To demonstrate to an employer that you are job ready you must be prepared and ask questions. You’re trying to demonstrate your curiosity and desire to learn.
Be aware of asking too many questions on the first day though. Show up early, get there at least 15 minutes early. Relax on your first day so that you can optimize your productivity. First impressions matter, smile when you meet new people and shake their hands. Introduce yourself to everyone and make it clear how happy and eager you are to be there. Take the conservative approach in how you dress and what you say and do. Be as professional as you were in the interview process. Make a point to reach out and introduce yourself to others.
Don’t try too hard. The best thing anyone can do in the first few days of a new job is to listen. Be prepared to take lots of notes. Learn the decision making process. If you establish that you’re friendly and approachable early on, you will start on the right foot in establishing trust. You need to be 100% present at work, especially on the first day. It’s not just flattering, it will help you do your job better. Think of ways to be relaxed and project yourself as who you are.
It’s stressful to try to be someone else, why bother? What ways does SkillsUSA prepare you to be job-ready, day one? Integrity, doing the right thing in a reliable way. Be honest, Hold yourself and others accountable, and make choices consistent with your values. Work Ethic, Putting forth your best effort to meet expectation. Engage in meaningful work to make a contribution, Be productive at all times of the day, Reflect and evaluate your productivity, and do what it takes to get the job done.
Professionalism, Meeting the expectations of employers. Be loyal to your peers, supervisor and yourself, Adhere to dress codes and other policies, Beware of the impact of your words and actions, Use good judgements in the decisions you make, and Resolve conflicts peacefully. Responsibility, taking ownership of your work, your behavior, and your actions. Honor your commitments, complete your work and assignments on time, Work efficiently and effectively without supervision and Preserve in accomplishing your work.
