tips on how to overcome first day job jitters

Career Tips 101: Overcoming New Job Jitters

Just got your first job? Landed your new job? Or embarking on a new career? Certainly, we all have the same enemy to conquer: new job jitters. Well, guess what: You’re not alone in this battle. According to LinkedIn, 80% of professionals feel nervous before starting their new job, and that’s normal. After all, who doesn’t feel butterflies in their stomachs when going to an unfamiliar place, meeting and interacting with individuals of different backgrounds, and eventually reporting to a boss?

If you’re that someone who has a knack for overcoming new job jitters, congratulations! But if you’re on the other side of the spectrum who gets nervous about a new job, fret no more! We’ve compiled some tips on how to handle these heebie-jeebies. Read on.

a woman feeling new job jitters
Career Tips 101: Overcoming New Job Jitters 1

Tips on How to Get Over New Job Jitters

Remember how you felt when you first started school? The first time you introduced yourself in front of your teachers and classmates? How about the first time you rode a bicycle on your own? And the moment you confessed your feelings to your crush? Nerve-wracking, right? The feeling is similar to the first day you report to your new job or office. The only difference is that a workplace is much more intense wherein things may go beyond your control or measure.

Since we’re still in the pandemic, many companies are continuously enforcing work-from-home and remote setups to help stop the virus from spreading. If you’re a new employee and working remotely on your first day, feeling job jitters is actually normal. Working comfortably at your safe haven and getting nervous at the same time, isn’t it ironic? Well, you won’t be able to meet your manager and colleagues in person for a while and you’d definitely take some time to get familiarized with the company’s environment.

To ensure that everything goes smoothly and your question, “How do I get to work without feeling nervous?” answered, below is a video regarding some tips on how to overcome new job jitters which may be of help to you.

To wrap it up, here are the tips you need to remember:

  • Take a good night’s sleep.
  • Prepare your things and clothes ahead of time.
  • Don’t panic.
  • Bring a small notebook or notepad and a pen.
  • Listen carefully to the instructions and information given you.
  • If you have questions, ask.
  • Familiarize yourself with the company’s culture, workspace, and teammates.
  • Be a keen observer.
  • Be friendly, so your presence will not intimidate your teammates.
  • Act naturally, smile, and be confident.
  • Expect the unexpected, and if anything goes wrong, stay positive.

Your first day of work marks a new phase in your life. The job interview and the subsequent offer are not only the end goals but also for you to do and give your best performance for the job. Be prepared; you are not yet entitled to relax or have your confidence go overboard. You should continue to impress your boss and earn their trust. In addition, you have to build camaraderie and relationships with your colleagues you’ll be dealing with every day as you work.

Believe that you can make it through your first day. Despite these new job jitters, you can eventually become acquainted with the people, culture, system, and other factors in your new job. You just have to learn what it takes to adjust to the changes in your situation and workplace.

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