Things you should do on your first day of work

THE first day of work at your new job may be among the most memorable - and perhaps stressful - of your career.

"Most of us remember our first days at every job because of the heightened pressure to impress," Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant; How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job". "But you can reduce your anxiety by being as meticulous in planning your first day as you were in securing your new position."

Here are a number of things successful people do on the first day of a new job: 1. Prepare and ask

questions Mark Strong, a life, career, and executive coach based in New York, told Business Insider that although the first day really is more about listening, you can and should ask questions when necessary.

"Generally, you're trying to demonstrate your curiosity and desire to learn. Beware of asking too many questions on the first day, though. You have plenty of time to master the job," he said.

Taylor said it's a good idea to prepare by writing down both practical and general questions about how you can be most successful in the role. 2. Show up early Get there at least 15 minutes early, suggested Teri Hockett, chief executive of What's For Work?, a career site for women.

"If you haven't done the commute before, practice it a couple of times during rush hour a week before so that you're at least somewhat prepared for the unknown," said Hockett.

3. Relax While you're being strategic, also remember to relax on your first day so that you can optimize your productivity.

"Make sure you're well rested, prepared, and have every reason to be on time. This is a visible milestone, and you want to be at your best," Taylor said.

4. Smile "It may have taken awhile to reach this point, after searching, interviewing, and landing the job, so don't forget to be happy and enjoy the moment," Hockett said.

Strong agreed, saying: "We all know that first impressions matter. Smile when you meet new people, and shake their hands. Introduce yourself to everyone, and make it clear how happy and eager you are to be there. Your co-workers will remember." 5. Don't try too hard

The urge to impress can take you off-track, so remember that you're already hired - you don't have to wow your new colleagues, Taylor said.

It's every new employee's dream to hear that people noted how brilliant and personable they are, or how they seem to "get" the company so quickly.

But that can be a lot of wasted energy; you'll impress naturally - and more so once you understand the ropes.

Source: Aine Cain, Business Insider | www. msn.com