First Day on the Job: How to Make a Winning Impression

Advice for the first day on the job

• Don’t assume anything. Anytime you walk into a new situation, you’re bound to have questions. The best way to alleviate those doubts is by asking about what to expect. It’s natural to be nervous. Both sides want your first day to go as smoothly as possible.
• Ask for an employee handbook in advance. This is a great thing to review in advance if the company provides it to you. Reading through it will give you as much information as possible on the first day.
• Your first day is not the time to showcase your skills unless you’re asked. It’s the time to listen, ask questions, and take in what the culture offers. Don’t feel the need to perform early on, no one’s expecting that of you. Go in looking to learn and absorb as much information as you can.
• It’s better to show up overdressed than underdressed. You never want to show up underdressed in a professional setting, and you definitely don’t want to stand out in the wrong way. Remember that every environment has its own culture and expectations for dress code.
• Take a test run before your first day. If you’re in person, make the drive ahead of time (and at the same time!) and find out where to park to ensure you arrive at least 20 minutes early. If you’re virtual, make sure all of your technology works in advance and show up 2 minutes early on Zoom.
• Be eager, be hungry, and be willing to be coachable. Don’t let your ego get the best of you, you will have so much to learn about your new organization. Create a foundation to have a solid career with the company and don’t get hung up on what’s in your job description. If you want to stand out, you must go above and beyond.

Additional resources

• Things to consider before your first day of work checklist
• Business casual vs. business professional
• How to introduce yourself at work

Transcript

Pete Newsome  00:00
You’re listening to the Finding Career Zen Podcast. I’m Pete Newsome. And I’m with Ricky Baez again today, Ricky, how are you?

Ricky Baez  00:07
I got my coffee and my Darth Vader cup. It cannot be better today.

Pete Newsome  00:11
Awesome. It’s a great Friday here in Florida. And today we are going to talk about something else that you can make great, which is your first day at work, and how to make a winning impression. What do you think about that rookie?

Ricky Baez  00:22
Pete, that’s a great idea. 

Ricky Baez  00:24
As soon as you told me about this one, I’m like, spot on. 

Ricky Baez  00:27
Too many episodes out there other episodes out there about what to do before, what to do in the middle of your jobs lifecycle, or how to leave gracefully, but never on your first day to start on the right foot. 

Pete Newsome  00:40
I love this topic, you can never get a second chance to make a first impression. So I’ve been told.

Ricky Baez  00:44
That’s right. That is right. Unless I know that no unless that’s 100%. Right?

Pete Newsome  00:50
Is there an alternative? Do you have a counter to this after all this time? Now? 

Pete Newsome  00:57
Alright, so let’s start at the top, then you’re going into your new job. 

Pete Newsome  01:01
Now, what’s interesting is, you know, so many new jobs are not on site today. 

Pete Newsome  01:06
So that is a consideration, right? 

Pete Newsome  01:08
I mean, what a different thing that people have to encounter, I’ll say, you know, even young people going into their first professional job where it may be virtual, that’s a weird thing for me to think about. 

Pete Newsome  01:21
I haven’t really wrapped my brain around that entirely, and how that’s going to affect the workforce as a whole. What do you think about that, before we really get into this too much?

Ricky Baez  01:31
Honestly, Pete, I think, what do you myself in the position of a leader with somebody starting brand new, and then also putting myself as the employee training brand new in a virtual environment, I think we will, we will both be nervous to give each other the wrong impression. 

Ricky Baez  01:47
If I as a leader, don’t reach out too much to the employee in a virtual environment on the very first day or the first week, then maybe the employee is going to think I don’t care about them. 

Ricky Baez  01:57
Whereas really I’m like, I just want to give them some space. 

Ricky Baez  01:59
And maybe the employee is like, wait a minute, I gotta make sure that I don’t come across as I’m not working into the kind of overcompensate. I really think both sides are nervous at first.

Pete Newsome  02:10
Yeah, well, we are willing to virtual and we’ve had this happen now, since COVID. 

Pete Newsome  02:14
And we’ve stayed virtual with the staffing business, we’ve hired employees from out of state and their first day was online, there are only days that have been online. 

Pete Newsome  02:23
And it’s an adjustment period for all involved. 

Pete Newsome  02:27
What I think is just specifically unique is a little bothersome are people who only have their only job. 

Pete Newsome  02:35
Yeah, the first job is online, right? I mean, what a different experience that these professionals will have then has existed at any other time. 

Pete Newsome  02:45
In history, I guess there were some remote jobs prior to COVID. 

Pete Newsome  02:49
We know that but the world is having to adjust and adapt to that in a way that really kind of happened overnight, for lack of a better way to put it.

Ricky Baez  02:59
So this is where that leader or that trainer or that HR department, they really need to roll out an interesting red carpet to make sure that that employee feels welcomed, right, even in this kind of an environment. 

Ricky Baez  03:13
And you and I have talked about this on the show before where even, even if you resign from your previous position, you’re going to start a new one, I don’t care how comfortable you are with a new position before you start. 

Ricky Baez  03:23
There’s always something in the back of your head. That doubting that you make the right decision. Right. 

Ricky Baez  03:28
So from a leader’s perspective, it’s a good idea to really roll out the red carpet to make sure the employees are feeling welcome. But that’s not what this shows about. 

Ricky Baez  03:37
This shows that candidate is on stage one.

Pete Newsome  03:39
So new employee, we’ll and we’ll keep both in mind, right virtual and site we have these days, we have to consider each. 

Pete Newsome  03:48
So I think it really starts with knowing what to expect. 

Pete Newsome  03:52
And if you mentioned being nervous, that’s natural. I think anytime you’re walking into a new situation, you’re going to have questions and doubts. 

Pete Newsome  03:59
And the best way to alleviate those doubts is to ask questions about what to expect from your manager from the person you’re going to be reporting to. 

Pete Newsome  04:11
Maybe it’s someone in HR who’s guiding you through the onboarding process that’s not uncommon for a lot of new positions, to begin with HR initially before being passed off to their department and their specific hiring manager. 

Pete Newsome  04:26
But the most important thing going in is to ask as many questions as you need to in order to be comfortable and know what it is you’re really walking into on that first day.

Ricky Baez  04:38
Yes, so ask as many questions that way you are aware. 

Ricky Baez  04:43
Now, I’m gonna go on the opposite side of that. 

Ricky Baez  04:45
Also, Pete because I do know I have seen some people they are so focused on trying to make a good first impression. 

Ricky Baez  04:52
They want to showcase what they got. 

Ricky Baez  04:54
And as soon as they go in there as soon as they start training or orientation or just meeting all the stakeholders, you start making suggestions about what needs to be changed. 

Ricky Baez  05:02
Let’s change this. Let’s do that because they feel the need to showcase. 

Ricky Baez  05:07
That’s not the time for you to showcase your skills unless you’re asked, this is the time to listen, ask questions, and really take in what the culture has to offer. 

Ricky Baez  05:17
Even if you think you know, you can run it better. 

Ricky Baez  05:20
Pause for a second and get to know the people who are training.

Pete Newsome  05:23
So are you suggesting that revamping, you’re trying to revamp corporate strategy is not a good idea to do on day one at your new job?

Ricky Baez  05:32
I mean, let me see, let me know. Not on day one, not a good night. Wait, wait

Pete Newsome  05:37
for day two, before you try to take the CEO’s job? No, we’re kidding, of course about that. 

Pete Newsome  05:43
But that’s a great point and great advice. Don’t feel the need to perform early you’re there to learn. 

Pete Newsome  05:49
And I think that it is probably a natural inclination that people will have let me show that I belong. 

Pete Newsome  05:56
Let me show that I was a good hire. And let me do that early and often. Do it often once you have the chance. 

Pete Newsome  06:02
But early, we would advise against that for sure. 

Pete Newsome  06:05
And no one’s expecting that of you. You know, it, is not your first day, that’s for sure every job has its own unique ramp, ramping-up period, or training period, whatever that might be. 

Pete Newsome  06:17
But on your first day, I can’t think of many jobs where you’re expected to do anything, anything but learn and absorb as much information as you can.

Ricky Baez  06:26
That’s right, I mean, many white-collar jobs, right? It’s, I would venture to guess like as an electrician, right? 

Ricky Baez  06:32
Something very different. Where you’ve got 20 years of experience, you start yet you know how to not die from electrocution, you’re good.

Pete Newsome  06:40
That’s the hope. That’s what we’re hoping for sure. 

Pete Newsome  06:43
And that scenario. 

Pete Newsome  06:44
So other than electricians and certain jobs where you would hit the ground running, go in looking to learn to absorb on your first day. But prior to that, you want to know how to dress. 

Pete Newsome  06:58
That’s another point that I think is really big. 

Pete Newsome  07:01
And so many of these things that we’ll talk about on today’s show, can you just need to ask oh, and make a list. 

Pete Newsome  07:09
And so I’ll just say as Nick quick point that on zengig.com, we have a blog article about this very topic. 

Pete Newsome  07:17
And so refer to that it’s a checklist on and we have that too. 

Pete Newsome  07:22
We have a checklist of what to do for your first day. So we’ll put those links in the show notes. 

Pete Newsome  07:26
So you can refer back to those if you’re already bored with listening to us talk you’ll you’ll have that information to look at. 

Pete Newsome  07:33
But knowing how to dress is is an important thing whether you’re online or in person because if you show up, underdressed, which is something you never want to do in a professional setting.

Pete Newsome  07:47
Then that would just make you uncomfortable on your first day and you probably wouldn’t make the right impression going in.

Ricky Baez  07:55
And in. So ask but in the event you don’t know or nobody answers that question for you. It is always 100 times better to show up overdressed than underdressed

Pete Newsome  08:07
Why is our way Why is it so? I’m sorry. Why is that? Exactly? 

Pete Newsome  08:11
I mean, we know that but why? Why we explain why. For someone who may think hey, who cares what I wear? 

Pete Newsome  08:17
Do they need to like me for me, Ricky? They need to accept me as who I am.

Ricky Baez  08:21
Yeah, because that’s why I’m on first date. 

Ricky Baez  08:23
We dress up crappy, right? That’s why, because we have to show our best foot, right? 

Ricky Baez  08:29
So here’s the thing, I’m gonna give two scenarios, somebody who shows up to the office on day one in shorts and flip flops, they’re, they’re automatically going to make an assumption about you. 

Ricky Baez  08:39
They really are, and it’s not going to create a good first impression for you. 

Ricky Baez  08:42
Now, obviously, that’s extreme right? But if you show up in jeans and a collared shirt when nobody else is wearing jeans, you’re going to stand out the wrong way. 

Ricky Baez  08:51
They’re going to wonder Who is that one guy not following the rules is. 

Ricky Baez  08:54
They don’t know you’re new, right? The other people I’m talking about. 

Ricky Baez  08:57
Now, let’s switch. Let’s make that switch. 

Ricky Baez  09:00
Let’s say everybody wears just khakis and a polo shirt. You just happen to show up in a suit. 

Ricky Baez  09:06
That’s a good first impression. Right? 

Ricky Baez  09:09
Now, they’ll let you know, they’d be like, hey, it’s we don’t dress like that here right now, but just do a good job. 

Ricky Baez  09:15
Well, it would give a better first impression than showing up on the dress.

Pete Newsome  09:19
And like pretty much everything we could talk about. 

Pete Newsome  09:22
We’ll talk about today. It’s asked in advance because you mentioned electrician earlier, if the electrician shows up on day one in a suit, it’s probably not gonna go so well. 

Pete Newsome  09:32
For them, right you’re so you know, just know what is expected in that particular environment and know that each environment has its own culture and expectations for dress code. 

Pete Newsome  09:46
And really, if you’re in a new role in hiring a new role, ask for the employee handbook in advance. 

Pete Newsome  09:52
That’s great if they if the company will provide that to you. Some will, some won’t. 

Pete Newsome  09:57
But that’s a great thing to review in advance. 

Pete Newsome  09:59
Just So you can be armed with as much information as you possibly can go in.

Ricky Baez  10:06
That’s right. I agree. 100%.

Pete Newsome  10:08
Awesome. Alright. So the next thing let’s talk about is, when’s lunch? 

Pete Newsome  10:14
When the heck is lunch? Now that seems, that seems like something that you think, yeah. 

Pete Newsome  10:20
Do you really need to ask about it upfront? 

Pete Newsome  10:22
But maybe, right, yeah, it’s common in a lot of scenarios to bring a new employee out to lunch on their first day. 

Pete Newsome  10:32
Maybe everyone brings her lunch, and no one goes out in that in that particular environment. 

Pete Newsome  10:37
And if you want to be able to participate in that on day one, you should at least be aware of that information, whether you choose to do it on your own break is different. 

Pete Newsome  10:47
But to know what time and how that works. 

Pete Newsome  10:50
Again, every every company has its own unique way of approaching those things. Do people go to lunch at 11? 

Pete Newsome  10:58
Or do they go at 1230? And, you know, you should probably ask about that.

Pete Newsome  11:03
Not, not in terms of making it too much about non work issues. 

Pete Newsome  11:09
But I think that’s a really relevant question for people to know, hey, what should I be prepared for? 

Pete Newsome  11:14
You know, when, when, at lunchtime how do things work? I think it’s a good, you know, the logical thing to know, upfront.

Ricky Baez  11:22
I wish more people would ask for that, right? 

Ricky Baez  11:24
Because, you know, as as, as HR pros, and in new employee orientation employees, when we’re welcoming people on board, we have to make sure that okay.

Ricky Baez  11:33
We let them know what the rules and regulations are because you really don’t know as an employee, or as a brand new employee, that some organizations don’t want you to have lunch at your desk. 

Ricky Baez  11:43
The good boy just wants you to go to the cafeteria, right? So ask for that upfront. 

Ricky Baez  11:47
Now, as a leader, for all the leaders out there listening when somebody starts and on my team working for me.

Ricky Baez  11:54
Obviously, I’m gonna have some conversations from that week before we start, but I tell them, Don’t worry if you if your lunch pack or don’t bring anything on Monday, we’re going out as a team, I let the person know what to expect. Right? 

Ricky Baez  12:07
I answered that question for them. 

Ricky Baez  12:08
So for all the leaders listening, make sure you quiet every single voice in the back of that candidate’s mind about the doubt they have about starting in that position. 

Ricky Baez  12:18
And you can start doing that by letting them know what lunch looks like next week.

Pete Newsome  12:21
That’s, that’s, that’s a great way to do it. Right. 

Pete Newsome  12:24
And for leaders to take care of this upfront, it’s great. 

Pete Newsome  12:27
But as I’ve always said, in staffing, if we think of 100 things, there’s going to be 101 that we didn’t think of, and lunch probably isn’t on a lot of people’s minds up until they get there that day and say we probably should have talked about this time. 

Pete Newsome  12:44
But that’s why we’re doing this show. So let’s let’s, then, yeah, go ahead.

Ricky Baez  12:49
Can I ask something real quick? Because something just hit me. 

Ricky Baez  12:52
Can we go back to number two weekend and how to dress because Sure, talk about, um, how to show up to the office? 

Ricky Baez  12:59
But what about when you’re at home? Virtually? Because you’re so comfortable at home? Right? 

Ricky Baez  13:04
Still ask what is the expectation to show up on camera just because you are home on the company’s dime, it doesn’t mean that you can dress however you want. 

Ricky Baez  13:14
Still, ask the the the the leader? What is the expected dress code, even in a virtual situation, it could surprise you.

Pete Newsome  13:23
Absolutely. The same thing applies. And I think the in all of these scenarios, the message is don’t assume, which is what you were just saying. 

Pete Newsome  13:34
And don’t assume because you’re home that you can show up in your pajamas. Rarely is that acceptable. 

Pete Newsome  13:42
But the way I’m dressed right now, I’m wearing a t shirt I for up until COVID. Never in my career that I that I worn a t-shirt to work. And it never even occurred to me. 

Pete Newsome  13:58
But now it’s different, right? And the environment where I am, that I’m home, I don’t have any meetings scheduled with clients today. 

Pete Newsome  14:06
So yeah, I’m okay, getting away with this. I mean, some days I even sit at my desk wearing a hat, which, again, is just foreign, foreign to me, even though I’m the one doing it. 

Pete Newsome  14:18
So we’re learning these work at home, what’s acceptable and what isn’t as we go, but again, not every company is going to be okay with how I’m dressed right now. 

Pete Newsome  14:31
And that is a given. And so, to your point, it’s a great one, ask, and clarify up front, right. 

Pete Newsome  14:40
So if you think of someone showing up on their first day, what to bring is a huge piece of this and we probably should have started with that right? 

Pete Newsome  14:49
Because you talked about what to wear. What else do you need to bring? 

Pete Newsome  14:54
Do you need to bring any of your own equipment? 

Pete Newsome  14:57
Some companies give out cell phones most companies will give out computers, but not all right? There are jobs where you may have to bring that. 

Pete Newsome  15:05
Do you need writing utensils? Do you need any kind of supplies to get through the day? 

Pete Newsome  15:13
And, again, you, I would say most people probably walk in not thinking about that not having asked that question. 

Pete Newsome  15:21
Most managers probably won’t cover that either. But it’d be, it’s an easy thing to do. 

Pete Newsome  15:27
It’s an easy box to check for a new employee. 

Pete Newsome  15:29
That’s why we’re talking about this here, because it just saves any potential embarrassment, right or, or discomfort. 

Pete Newsome  15:35
And that’s really what the first day is all about, is to have it go as smoothly as possible on both sides.

Ricky Baez  15:42
So I’m going to, I’m going to take that a step further, right? Because I honestly don’t think we have to do that. For these reasons we think we need to do it. Right? 

Ricky Baez  15:53
Yes, bring all those things of be prepared nine times out of 10, the organization you’re going to work for has all those things there. 

Ricky Baez  16:00
But in the very rare case, it doesn’t, you want to at the very least show that you’re prepared. This is all part the first impression. 

Ricky Baez  16:12
That’s all the CISSP because even if somebody says, Oh, you know, let’s write this down, and everybody’s pulling stuff that they got from the supply room, you bring on your own stuff, you’re prepared, right, versus you assuming like, I need a paperclip. 

Ricky Baez  16:27
And so this is all even if you don’t need it if you know they’re gonna have a bring it anyway. It’s all part of the first impression process.

Pete Newsome  16:34
Absolutely. All right. So when should you arrive? What time should I be there first? So, we skipped ahead to lunch, right? So you can tell what where our minds aren’t. 

Pete Newsome  16:50
Anyone who listens to this show regularly will know that food is a regular topic. 

Pete Newsome  16:55
So we went to lunch right away, but you’re going go back and up from that is, What time should I arrive? You don’t want to take, you don’t want to take that for granted right on either side that can really be awkward.

Ricky Baez  17:12
It’s a balance because I see situations where people arrive right on the dot, which Mm hmm. And that’s the situations that we open up at 8 am. 

Ricky Baez  17:24
And at 615, I get a call from the security guards saying this street car is in the parking lot. Do you know who this person is they look like they’re waiting for new employee orientation? Though don’t go too early. 

Ricky Baez  17:36
Just there’s nothing wrong with showing up 15 to 20 minutes early, especially if there’s any type of eyeline information that needs to be covered as not accounted for always 1520 minutes is barely a sweet spot. 

Ricky Baez  17:50
No less than that. No more than that. And folks, please don’t show up right on the dot. That just shows what the rest of that employee lifecycle is gonna look like something attendance perspective. 

Pete Newsome  18:04
Early is on time and on time is late, right? I mean, that’s the golden rule of when to show up, and just adhere to that. It’s, it’s it’s such a simple thing. 

Pete Newsome  18:14
And so when you if you have to drive if you’re commuting, if you’re not online if you’re online, there’s really no excuse. B be early, it’ll be you don’t have to be 20 minutes early. 

Pete Newsome  18:25
And in fact, I think it’s worth clarifying. Because when zoom rooms are used today, so often they’re shared. 

Pete Newsome  18:34
And so there’s there’s an argument to be made that showing up too early for a zoom may present its own awkward scenario. In fact, you and I experienced that. 

Pete Newsome  18:46
A number of months ago, when I had a previous meeting, we were using my Zoom Room, and you popped in which was fine, right? Because my but my It wasn’t your fault. My meeting ran late. 

Pete Newsome  18:56
And you got a very surprised look on your face when you popped in. And then you exited. I was going, but you didn’t even give me time to introduce you. And that’s how it felt right for you. 

Pete Newsome  19:12
They could not and so we were all it was funny to laugh about. 

Pete Newsome  19:16
But that’s not what you it’s very different from you and I experiencing that situation together than an employee on their first day, who may pop into someone else’s zoom and it may create an awkward moment that’s, again, going to just make that employee feel awkward. 

Pete Newsome  19:33
No one else will care, I’m sure and it would probably be something to laugh about later. But in the moment you don’t do that. So if you’re on Zoom, arrive, you show up two minutes early. 

Pete Newsome  19:43
That would be my advice there. Right. Let’s go ahead and set that as the standard two minutes early. No more. But

Ricky Baez  19:52
and, and if you’re late, right, it’s normally if you’re late, it’s nine times out of 10 because you had a previous meeting. Right that that ran over. 

Ricky Baez  20:02
But that’s when you use the tools that are available to you and say, I’m going to be late and I do that all the time, right? If you and I are going to be late, we text each other, hey, I need five minutes, right? 

Ricky Baez  20:12
Because it’s not because I’m stuck in traffic. It’s because I’m stuck in another meeting. 

Ricky Baez  20:17
But sometimes it’s easy for me to go over. But that’s when you schedule it with a buffer, you should be good.

Pete Newsome  20:22
But let’s make the point you can’t be late on your first day, that’s cannot happen. So if you’re on Zoom, no excuse, make sure that all your technology works ahead of time that’s on you. 

Pete Newsome  20:33
Right, that’s a given. 

Pete Newsome  20:35
But if you’re in person, the easiest way to do that is to make the drive ahead of time, and do it at the same time in traffic, you’re usually there’s the commute is going to be longer if it’s if it’s in any kind of rush hour traffic. 

Pete Newsome  20:49
But make that extra effort to leave that to create the right impression from the start. It’s it’s worth it. 

Pete Newsome  20:56
Because we’ve all experienced if you’ve been in the workforce for any period of time, employees that show up late and it just as a little, a little lead Dark Cloud, you know, over you on the first day that you don’t know why.

Ricky Baez  21:11
Now as a recruiter back when I used to recruit on a Friday afternoon, because one of the things that I cannot stand is people showing up to work late on Monday for new employees or ghosting me so I will call them on Friday. And I’m like, Hey, so we are so excited for you on Monday. 

Ricky Baez  21:27
We got this waiting for you. You know how to get here. You know what time to get here? Do you know what time to come in? And they’re like, oh, no, perfect, Ricky, we got it. Alright. 

Ricky Baez  21:35
Are you considering the eye for buffer? And you’re like, what I for Buffer? I don’t care what your morning news person says about I for always assume a 40-minute delay. That’s what I call the eye. 

Ricky Baez  21:48
That first time. Yes. Now, I know that kind of contradicts Pete what I just said about showing up too early in the parking lot, right? Here’s what I tell people. Like, hey, please don’t freak out. 

Ricky Baez  22:00
Our security guards show up. Like an hour and a half early. If you happen to be in the area. There’s a Chick-fil-A that opens at 6:30. Right over here. 

Ricky Baez  22:09
There’s a thing over the biggest I used to have a card. I had a great relationship with the Dunkin Donuts people, I used to have it a card that I fill up $200 A month that I will send people over there and say, Hey, I’ve got two candidates going over there. They got a meeting starting at such and such time, take care of them. 

Ricky Baez  22:24
For me. That leaves a lasting impression. Pete Oh, it worked.

Pete Newsome  22:28
I believe it and of all the things that I’ve been surprised by today you have in a great relationship with the Dunkin Donuts people is not one of them. I can promise that.

Ricky Baez  22:37
Yeah, commercial break commercial. Exactly.

Pete Newsome  22:40
Okay, so we kind of touched on this. 

Pete Newsome  22:42
But also, this falls under the category of a couple other things where you’re going right where you’re going physically to the location, or how to log into the Zoom or, or teams meeting, whatever it might be, give that a test run ahead of time. 

Pete Newsome  22:57
But as at a big company, potentially, there may not you may have interviewed, I can think of one company that I’ve worked with for years for staffing.

Pete Newsome  23:06
They have an HR building at their main corporate building where people will interview for jobs and managers will meet everyone there from a different department coming from a different building, but the actual job is going to be performed somewhere else. 

Pete Newsome  23:23
So don’t assume that where you interviewed is where you’re, you’re, you’re working. Now, that’s probably a conversation that would have come up. 

Pete Newsome  23:30
But I don’t want to assume that either in this scenario. So confirm in advance where you’re going or and we’ve seen this too, I mean, because people are, you know, people are human, and they forget to cover everything. 

Pete Newsome  23:43
But employees being in staffing, we get a lot we get these calls, employees first days getting on zoom and no one sent them the link, you know, on where to log in. 

Pete Newsome  23:53
So at 839 o’clock, whatever their start time is supposed to be. They’re sitting there waiting. So that’s not good. Again, even if it’s not your fault as employee, it’s just you don’t want to start your day off with something that’s going to throw you for a loop. 

Pete Newsome  24:09
So ask about that in advance. Where do I go? How do I log in if that’s what you’re doing and just cover those bases?

Ricky Baez  24:16
It’s I got it. You nailed it. Everything is right on the head. I agree 100% with that.

Pete Newsome  24:22
All right. Well, good. Well, we agree on that. 

Pete Newsome  24:25
And then even it was simple as I want to mention this and I know we talked about this on a podcast not too long ago, but where to park. In our office downtown. 

Pete Newsome  24:37
We use a parking garage, and we don’t have one connected to our building. So we have various options we pay for parking for employees. This way we’re not in the office every day now but we’ve always done that. 

Pete Newsome  24:52
Being downtown had parking garages to park and sometimes depending on what our office were office was may have been connected to the building but right now it’s not. 

Pete Newsome  24:59
And so Do you have to get those instructions? And if you’re showing up to a downtown office, that that can be really confusing if you’re not used to that area, because every downtown has its own sort of unique way of doing things when you agree.

Ricky Baez  25:12
I would definitely agree this is one of those things that asset now. It’s, I see a trend here. Pecos. We keep this as for the candidate, but I keep moving towards the leadership piece, right? 

Ricky Baez  25:23
So from the candidates perspective, yes, this is very important, especially if you go into the downtown area. So if the HR folks are the leaders forget, always ask. 

Ricky Baez  25:32
Now, from a leadership perspective, again, the HR people trying to make the first day as welcoming as possible, alleviate any questions they may have. 

Ricky Baez  25:41
Because when I used to do new employee orientation for 4 Corner Resource, I was really detailed on that Friday unit, come here, hit this button with I’ll put a map a little thing on how to get to the building, give me a call, I left nothing to the imagination.

Ricky Baez  25:57
I want them to know, I don’t want the biggest challenge of the day to be finding the office or knowing where to park, I don’t want it to be the biggest challenge of the

Pete Newsome  26:04
day. No, easily, easily avoided, right. But only if you think about it in advance. So it can either be really simple or or you know, just something that this is far from a great way to start. 

Pete Newsome  26:19
And then along those lines is when you want when you get in, you know where to park, you know, you’re there at the right time. 

Pete Newsome  26:25
Who to ask for. That’s right, right. I mean, again, you don’t want to assume maybe it’s the manager, but maybe it’s someone new in HR, who’s an onboarding specialist. 

Pete Newsome  26:37
I mean, that happens a lot, right? I mean, you’re the HR guy, you, you need to talk about us.

Ricky Baez  26:42
Always make sure I’m like when you get here, you ask for Ricky, you ask for Kayla, you asked for Judo, you ask for this person, and I let that person know to so and so’s going to be here on Monday looking for you. 

Ricky Baez  26:53
Here’s your checklist to make sure you have everything ready for them. So yes, ask if you’re not told upfront, ask them and say Who do I ask for be really specific with it. 

Ricky Baez  27:04
Now a good HR person. After the fifth question, you’re like, oh, maybe I need to put a checklist ticking the pink gifts ahead, right. But again, you have your own checklist right here on zengig.com. 

Ricky Baez  27:15
We got 10 of them, go down this list and make sure you make your own. And I’m telling you, you’re gonna have a great experience. And you’re gonna make an amazing first impression. But, Pete, we got one more. And this is my favorite.

Pete Newsome  27:28
Wait, I thought lunch was your favorite when we talked about it early.

Ricky Baez  27:32
Because I can take care of that. I can take your lunch. But can I say it? Can I bring this one? When can you leave? This part right here is so crucial guys. It really is crucial. 

Ricky Baez  27:46
Here’s why. Because if you don’t ask when can you leave? And you assume as of 5 pm. This is where you need to have a keen eye. Know your environment. Know your surroundings? If it’s 5:30 pm, nobody has left. Don’t leave. Don’t leave. 

Ricky Baez  28:05
That’s obviously not the right time to leave. Right. But you should ask people ask them when is a good time to leave? When am I expected to leave? Some people work overtime. 

Ricky Baez  28:16
That’s okay. There are some things, some deadlines that were missed. And you have to make up for no problem with that. But what I don’t want you to do is assume that you leave at a certain time. 

Ricky Baez  28:25
And you the brand new person who’s supposed to be learning everything. And being trained and absorbing everything is the first one to leave. It’s just a bad impression.

Pete Newsome  28:35
I can’t add anything valuable to that. That is true. That is true. 

Ricky Baez  28:42
So we’ve all noticed it because I’ve seen people who start on day three, the first ones out the door. I’m like, why? 

Ricky Baez  28:47
Why is he leaving? Why are we here? This person’s gone. That’s when I met I assume I messed up and have a conversation the very next day. I don’t know if it’s an emergency. 

Ricky Baez  28:58
Right? 

Ricky Baez  28:59
I don’t know if it’s anything like that. Or you know, if they’re, you know, on a sports team. I don’t know anything like that. So it’s up to me as a leader to check and make sure I let them know when they susceptible to leave.

Pete Newsome  29:12
Perfect. All right. Well, did we cover all the bases? That’s the main question do we leave anything uncovered yet?

Ricky Baez  29:18
I got a bonus one. All right. I have a bonus one and this is just following me here. You know, this morning Pete I was taking my son to school, right you know, I listened to The Howard Stern Show every now and then. Right. 

Ricky Baez  29:31
And he was telling and he was telling a story on Sirius XM about when he first started in radio. He was making $200 a week and this one guy give him a shot and this one guy gave him a shot. 

Ricky Baez  29:45
He felt an allegiance to this because this person passed away that’s what he’s talking about him. But he said anything that the leader that that in a new job that he started anything they put in front of him, he attacked it. 

Ricky Baez  29:57
He never questioned that he had a hunger to learn, and that is why he is where he is today. 

Ricky Baez  30:03
I’m saying all this to tell people, when you start a new job, be eager, hungry, willing to learn, and willing to be coachable, coachable, people, get things done, coachable people end up in leadership positions to coach other people. 

Ricky Baez  30:21
When you start in an organization, I don’t care how many PhDs you have, you still have much to learn about the organization, do not let the ego get the best of you, regardless of whether you went to an Ivy League school or not. 

Ricky Baez  30:33
You’ve got to be able to be hungry, and willing to do what needs to be done for the organization. 

Ricky Baez  30:40
That is how you create a foundation to have a solid career with that organization.

Pete Newsome  30:44
It’s great advice. Of course, it’s something that we talk about a lot on this podcast, it’s something that comes up when I interview very successful people, as you know, I do as well on this show. 

Pete Newsome  31:01
And, you know, there’s there’s some consistency that you see from those who are successful and hard work. And focus and dedication is a big piece of it. And my advice to is always in this regard. 

Pete Newsome  31:18
Don’t get hung up on what’s in your job description, do what’s in your job description, but do more. 

Pete Newsome  31:24
Now, there’s a lot of people who will say, I’m only going to do what’s in my job description. It’s all they pay me for. That’s not really how it works.

Ricky Baez  31:33
I mean, wait a minute. It, you’re right. It’s not how it works. But if they don’t want to move up, they don’t want to be recognized. They don’t want to be promoted. That’s fine.

Pete Newsome  31:44
Good. Okay, so that is a good point of clarification.

Pete Newsome  31:47
And I want to clarify what I mean by that’s not how it works. But correct. If you want to do the bare minimum, then that’s how you will be viewed as someone who does a bare minimum and rewards will not come your way. Right? 

Pete Newsome  31:59
So we’re talking, I guess, you and I are both assuming that people want to achieve more and, and to and have opportunities to advance. 

Pete Newsome  32:13
And so maybe we shouldn’t assume that. But if you want to stand out as an employee, then that’s really what we’re talking about in doing, you know, going above and beyond. 

Pete Newsome  32:26
And in generally, that is, you know, that’s how success will happen. Right, it’s how one person will stand out from another. 

Pete Newsome  32:34
What I mean by that’s not how worked, I went to his job descriptions are not always representative of the actual role. And you should clarify that, too. 

Pete Newsome  32:49
And that’s something to do, I would recommend with your manager, not on your first day, but within your first couple of weeks, you know, at an appropriate time asked to review the job description with your manager. 

Pete Newsome  33:04
And just to make sure that you understand the expectation. 

Pete Newsome  33:08
So you probably discuss that in your interview, you should, you should discuss what it takes to be successful in the role, how success in the role is determined. 

Pete Newsome  33:18
But again, if someone who who’s been in staffing and recruiting for so long, I rarely, we rarely fill jobs is strictly based on the job description. 

Pete Newsome  33:31
Because sometimes they’re not written by often they’re not written by the person who’s actually managing the role. And so there’s sort of, kind of two steps to it. 

Pete Newsome  33:42
There’s the job description that the hire will be based on right through the interview process. And then there’s the job itself. And so sometimes these are very, all very, very different things. 

Pete Newsome  33:53
So pull out your job description a couple of weeks, and then we’re beyond the first day now. 

Pete Newsome  33:59
And then cover that with your manager and confirm that those are the things in Yes, as an individual, then you decide, do you want to just check those boxes? And just be good enough? Or do you want to be the best you can be? 

Pete Newsome  34:12
And that’s an individual decision.

Ricky Baez  34:15
And so agreed, 100% Pete, bring it out. 

Ricky Baez  34:18
Let’s have that conversation that shows you have initiative and you really care about the the job that you were hired to do. It shows that you want to know what the KPIs are, you want to know what to start directing the energy of your talents. 

Ricky Baez  34:32
Now, let’s set up the coop from an HR perspective, from a recruiting perspective. Before I tell my recruiters and my team, before we even open up a job. 

Ricky Baez  34:42
Let’s talk to the operations to make sure this job description is still legitimate. Right? It’s still there. 

Ricky Baez  34:50
From an HR point of view. If I see a job description that says revised 2001 We’re gonna have a conversation about that. We need to have a look Little bit more of an update. You can use. I cannot use a job description that predates Facebook or MySpace.

Pete Newsome  35:07
Myspace again, here we are. Say hi to Tom for me. Okay. Well, I think I think we’ve covered it, Ricky, I think I think we have it. It is, from, say, beating the horse to beat the horse. 

Pete Newsome  35:20
I know we’re not supposed to use it. Graduates use that kind of violent language. But we did it anyway. That but but please refer to zengig.com Go to our checklist. That’s the easiest path. 

Pete Newsome  35:34
To get answers to these things. We quite literally have a checklist. I think it’s called, to what to do for your first day or what to what to check what to cover for your first day.

Ricky Baez  35:45
Before your first day of work.

Pete Newsome  35:47
Thank you. I should know that right there on the site. Perfect. Alright. Thanks for clarifying. 

Pete Newsome  35:51
And we would appreciate you, you rating us as high as you can if you’ve listened to the show and subscribed, but also, we would love feedback. 

Pete Newsome  36:00
So [email protected] If you want us to talk about a particular subject, hit us up this is what we do. 

Pete Newsome  36:09
Ricky and I also go live on Tik Tok regularly so if you don’t already follow zengig on TikTok please do or you can of course follow me Pete Newsome or Ricky the HR guy. 

Pete Newsome  36:20
We all have our own accounts and we will get on live usually once a week and answer questions but if you ask in advance [email protected] We’ll cover them on the on the TikTok live so we look forward to to seeing you there too. That’s all I have Ricky.

Ricky Baez  36:35
TikTok no, same here just I’m excited for Tiktok to engage with us ask us the questions that you want to ask you’re at work but you kind of don’t want to we’ll tell you the real deal so ask us and we’ll just have fun with anonymously is fine too.

Ricky Baez  36:50
Tackle it all. Mask a screen man.

Pete Newsome  36:54
Yeah, we get we get sick of just talking to each other. So um, [email protected]. We look forward to to speak with you good to drive safe everyone. Have a good one.