Ways to Make a Great First Impression on Your New Boss

 Ways to Make a Great First Impression on Your New Boss

 

Your new boss just took the time to learn about you, and now it’s your turn to show him what you’re all about. Use these ways to make a great first impression on your new boss and make sure your transition into the workplace goes as smoothly as possible!

 1) Introduce yourself

The first thing that your new boss will want you to do is to introduce yourself and make it clear who you are. You should state how long you’ve been working in your field, what projects or areas of expertise you have some experience with, why you were excited about taking up a job at their company, and anything else that seems relevant. If you’re nervous about making a good impression, there are several things you can do to ease your nerves. For example, if you know someone at the company already, try getting an introduction from them; if not, look for information online about who works there and read up on people before going into your interview. Also, be sure to dress professionally for any interviews—and even more so when meeting with someone important like your potential new boss!

 2) Follow up quickly with an introduction email

Hi! I’m [your name], and I’ll be working with you as [position] starting [date]. Let me know if you have any questions about my background. Here, your main goal is just to make a solid first impression by introducing yourself. Don’t try to sell yourself too hard here—it can come off as overbearing or even desperate. Just make sure your email is professional, friendly, brief (no more than a few sentences), and quickly gets into contact information in case there are follow-up questions.

 3) Before you meet, find them online

Doing some online sleuthing will not only allow you to see what they’re interested in, but it can also give you an idea of their communication style. Learn how they prefer to be addressed—their first name, first and last name or Mister (or Missus) followed by their last name. Having a handle on these details is essential when introducing yourself.

 4) Think about what they are looking for

It’s important to remember that your new boss is not just judging you as an employee; he or she is also gauging how well you will fit into their office environment. At first, your new boss may be more concerned with making sure you’re competent enough at your job than they are with getting to know you as a person, but once they start working with you regularly, it will become increasingly important for them to see that you fit in well and get along with other employees. The better you can make yourself look from day one, the better off you’ll be down the road. Here are some ways to make a great first impression

 5) Wear comfortable shoes

You’ll be on your feet most of your first day, so be smart and wear comfortable shoes. This is especially important if you’re wearing dress shoes (which you should be), since being comfortable means you can stay productive all day. It also won’t hurt for you to have an extra pair of flats around for days when your feet are tired after hours of walking around in heels—or just plain tired.

 6) Don’t try too hard to fit in

Whether you’re new in town or just made your first big move up at work, it can be tricky to break into your new environment. You want your boss and co-workers to like you, but you don’t want to come off as desperate. The best way to do that is simple: Be yourself. This isn’t high school—if you try too hard, people will see right through it.

 7) Take notes

One way to make sure you’re making a great first impression is by taking notes during your new boss’s initial speech. If they talk about company goals, mention how excited you are to be part of it. If they discuss work environments, ask them more questions so you can get a better understanding of their expectations.

 8) Show up on time

It’s difficult but so important. If you show up late for work, you can’t imagine how it will affect your new boss. In addition, you don’t want to appear as though you don’t respect their time. Making a good first impression is important in any job, but it’s especially essential when starting from scratch at a new company.

 9) Don’t compare yourself to others

It’s hard not to compare ourselves to others. In our careers, it’s easy to look at other people and think we should be where they are or that we’re better off in some way. And, yes, it is good practice—and healthy—to keep an eye on your peers and see how you stack up against them, but don’t spend too much time thinking about others.

 

10) Have fun!

Whether you’re heading into an interview or meeting your new boss for coffee, it’s best to focus on how much fun you’ll have at work and what an awesome culture they have. Even if they aren’t ideal, focusing your energy on all of the awesome things that are going to happen in your future will help them seem like an afterthought.