If you’ve just started a Kickstart Job or are due to start one, here are five tips that will help you make a great first impression and make that daunting first week a bit more manageable.
Arrive Early
If you’re anything like me, then you can ignore this tip altogether. I’m chronically early, to the point where I turned up half an hour early for my first day as a Kickstarter. You definitely shouldn’t be that extreme, but turning up even five or ten minutes early is a great sign to your manager that they hired the right person. It also gives you a chance to set up and prepare for the day ahead.
Smile
They lyric goes; “you’re never fully dressed without a smile,” and honestly, I tend to agree with that sentiment. It can (understandably) be quite nerve-racking starting a new job. You’re in an un-familiar environment, meeting new people for the very first time. That’s enough to make anyone nervous. The brilliant thing is though: nobody cares! They’re not trying to catch you out, or make you look silly. I promise the majority of people you’re going to be working with for the next six months just want to see you do a good job. You may not be best friends with everyone, but turning up on day one with a smile on your face will go a long way to making a great first impression.
Bring A Pen & Paper
This tip is more circumstantial, and really only applies if you’re working in an office environment, but you should bring a pen and paper on your first day. There’s usually a lot of information to digest and if you’ve got the memory of a sieve (like me), then you’re going to need to take some notes. It also shows to your employer that you’re prepared and eager to learn, plus it’s great for doodling if you ever get bored.
Bring Your Own Lunch
It might seem thrilling and fancy to step out of the office and go for lunch at some chic local café, but no amount of artisanal sandwiches and iced oat milk coffees will make up for the hole you’re about to burn in your wallet. Its fine every once in a while, of course – but going for lunch everyday costs more than you might think. You also might not have very much time allotted to you for your lunch, so by the time you’ve got to the front of the queue and are about to order your break will already be over. It’s better to bring a pack up most days – trust me, your bank account will thank you.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
The Kickstart Scheme is your opportunity to learn new skills and try out a potential career path. You should use this time wisely. Those six months pass by quicker than you’d expect, so learn as much as you can and ask as many questions as you need to. There’s no such thing as a stupid question – so ask away. You’d be surprised by how much you could learn by asking even the simplest of questions and most people will be happy to answer them. Why? That’s because they were in that position before you. They were the “new kid” and had to ask those questions too. They’ll be sympathetic and answer all the questions you’d otherwise be too afraid to ask.
If you’re 16-24 and looking for the opportunity to kickstart your career, then have a look at our vacancies below and apply today!
