Starting a new job is nerve-wracking for almost everyone. You don’t know anyone yet, you’re unsure what to expect, and your main goal is simply to get through the day without embarrassing yourself. Most people assume that the safest moves are the obvious ones, like being eager, agreeable, and punctual to the extreme, but career experts say some of those instincts can actually work against you. Rob Phelps, a PR professional and founder of DigitalPR.co.uk, put together a list of ten things people should steer clear of during their first days at a new job.
One of the more counterintuitive pieces of advice on Phelps’ list is about arriving too early. While leaving home with extra time to account for traffic makes sense, showing up significantly before your start time can put the whole team in an awkward position. As Phelps explains, “Often on the first day, things start a little later so the team can prepare your workspace. If you arrive too early, they might not be ready for you, so you’ll be standing around while they scramble to finish preparations.” The first day is about making a good impression, not creating pressure for people who haven’t even had their morning coffee yet.
Another trap many new employees fall into is trying too hard to please everyone around them. Phelps warns against saying yes to every extra task, laughing at jokes you don’t find funny, or constantly putting other people’s needs ahead of your own. While it might seem like a good way to get people to like you, it isn’t sustainable in the long run. “It’s a recipe for burnout and can blur the lines between your professional and personal life from the very beginning,” he notes. People respect boundaries, and establishing them early actually signals confidence rather than indifference.
On the flip side, Phelps also cautions against going completely quiet out of fear of saying something wrong. Many new hires hold back too much, avoiding questions because they don’t want to look clueless. “No question is stupid if you don’t know the answer, so don’t be afraid to ask,” he says. His advice is to strike a balance between listening and speaking up: “Say enough to be noticed, but listen enough to learn.” Making yourself visible in a thoughtful way goes a long way toward being accepted into the team dynamic.
Even if you’re highly experienced in your field, assuming you already know how a new company operates is a mistake. Every workplace has its own processes, internal culture, and unwritten rules that take time to understand. Phelps points out that jumping in without grasping those internal workflows can lead to errors that set you back from the start. On a similar note, it’s important to remember that even after being hired, you are still being assessed. Phelps suggests avoiding behaviors like yawning visibly, staring at your phone, rushing out the door at exactly five o’clock, or requesting time off in your very first week.
First impressions also extend to how you dress. If the dress code wasn’t made clear during the hiring process, Phelps recommends asking beforehand or defaulting to slightly more formal attire until you get a feel for the office culture. Taking notes is another habit he strongly encourages, since the first day typically floods you with information about systems, seating arrangements, and procedures. “Instead of pretending you have a perfect memory, write down important things, from colleagues’ names to where the bathrooms are,” he advises. There’s no shame in it, and it saves you from repeatedly asking the same questions.
When it comes to talking about where you came from professionally, Phelps urges people to avoid badmouthing their previous employer, even if they left under difficult circumstances. It might feel like you’re complimenting your new workplace by contrast, but the effect is usually the opposite. Colleagues start to wonder how you might talk about them if you ever leave. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Phelps says the best thing a new employee can do is simply be themselves. “If you decide to play a character on your first day, it will be hard to maintain that role in the long run,” he warns, adding that authentic professional relationships are built gradually and honestly.
Starting a new job is considered one of the most stressful life transitions adults regularly face, ranking alongside moving to a new city or going through major life changes. Research in organizational psychology consistently shows that the onboarding period, typically the first 90 days, is critical for long-term job satisfaction and retention. Studies have found that employees who feel welcomed and psychologically safe during their early days are significantly more likely to stay with a company beyond the first year. The concept of “impression management,” the process of controlling how others perceive you in a social or professional setting, is well-documented in workplace research and plays a central role in how new hires are ultimately evaluated by their peers and supervisors.
If you’ve recently started a new job or are about to, share what worked or didn’t work for you on that first day in the comments.
