Worrying fails to accomplish anything, yet that doesn't stop people from doing it, especially when they start their first-ever full-time job. Here are some tips to make your first few days and weeks on the job as stress-free as possible:
Know that your worries are normal, but probably irrational
Everyone experiences doubts before they start a new job, and -- unfortunately -- those worries might be amplified for the first few days after you start. It would be unusual if you didn't ask questions of yourself like, "Am I right for this job?" "Can I handle these responsibilities?" and "Do my co-workers think I'm a fool?"
If you find yourself asking these questions, remember that your company hired you for a reason. As you are probably well-aware, companies do not take hiring someone for a full-time job lightly. They've reviewed your résumé, dissected your interview and decided that they want to pay you to work for them. Yes, you're going to make mistakes. Just try to learn from them and not make them again. As long as you put forth an effort during the workday and don't slack off, you should be fine.
If you feel overwhelmed, prioritize
You'll probably feel overwhelmed in the first few days or weeks of your job, because everything will be new to you. You'll probably have a number of things to get done that have been handed down to you by your supervisor, and possibly by several different people.
When you feel overwhelmed, prioritize. It's perfectly acceptable to go to your and say, "I have this, and this and this on my plate. I'll most definitely be getting them all done, but I wanted to know from you which task is the most important, and how I should prioritize these tasks." You will most likely have some tasks that take several hours, days or even weeks to complete. The people around you know this and, unless there's a specific deadline, aren't expecting you to get everything done in the first day or week.
Be on time
Be on time in the morning and don't make it a habit to leave early. If you have a doctor's appointment or another conflict, that's fine, but let your know as early as possible. If you know on Monday morning that you have a doctor's appointment on Thursday afternoon, tell your supervisor on Monday morning, not late Wednesday, and certainly not on Thursday. Also, before you leave work each day, go to your and ask him if there's anything else you can do before packing up your stuff. Sometimes you just want to get out, but your manager will really appreciate if you check in with him before you leave.
Gather a crew for lunch
On one hand, you can save a lot of money and eat more healthfully by bringing your lunch to work. Still, when you start out, try gathering a crew of fellow co-workers to eat with once or twice a week. Lunch break is a social time, and building relationships at your workplace is important. Not only will you be happier during the day if you like the people around you, it's also important for your job security; you want people to care about you and "have your back." As long as you act genuinely and give people a chance to get to know you, developing friendships should not be a problem.
