Preparing for the First Day

9 THINGS SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO IN THE FIRST WEEK OF A NEW JOB

JENNA GORDREAU, BUSINESS INSIDER*

Be a geek about introducing yourself

Take the initiative to meet people. Say hello in the halls, in the elevator, in the kitchen. It will pay off in the end!

Befriend a veteran who can help you navigate the office culture

Learn who the players are and who's been at the company for a while. Find a veteran who has a good handle on what works and what doesn't and can show you around. Plus, you'll need someone to go to for the silly things. Asking your boss where to find the pencils is a bit below their pay grade.

Set expectations with your boss and co-workers

If you're not already, get on your boss's calendar and use that first meeting to establish what they believe success will look like in the first week, month and three months. From communication style to office hours, that first week sets the tone.

Figure out the coffee situation

Learning where the coffee is will always be a good strategy for success. It's also important to figure out the unwritten rules of the office that, if violated, make people go ballistic. Who washes the dishes? Which shelves are communal? "In our office, there are several refrigerators, and people get upset if you use the wrong one," says career expert Amanda Augustine. "Be a sponge, and watch how people are doing things. There's nothing wrong with asking how to use the coffee maker."

Start demonstrating and documenting what you sold the company on

"Whatever you sold them on in the interview, make it your mission to demonstrate that you're going to do it," Augustine says. If you said you were a social media whiz or good with numbers, immediately start revamping the social accounts or making sense of the company's analytics. And start a brag sheet. Keep track of all your accomplishments, major contributions, and when you get positive feedback. You want to get in the habit early and have the information at the ready for future performance reviews and salary negotiations.

Get organized to set good habits

Especially since a lot of new information is coming your way, setting good habits and getting organized from the start will make your life easier down the line. It's also a good time to improve your bad habits. "It's a great opportunity to overcome any challenges or weaknesses from your past," says Augustine. If you've struggled with time management, for example, use that first week to map out how you'll spend each day and begin putting it into practice.

Reinforce your new connections on social media

Once you're officially on the job, it's important to update your title across your own social media platforms and also start following your new company and colleagues. As you meet new people, cement the relationships by finding them on Twitter or LinkedIn. Augustine advises identifying the platform that makes the most sense. Facebook, for instance, is viewed by many as personal, so use discretion.

Find your go-to pharmacy and take-out lunch spot

Learn your new neighborhood. Do you know where the nearest CVS is? What about where to get a sandwich, take people for coffee, or have a nice business lunch? "Logistically, you need to know where to go get a Band-Aid when you need one," Augustine says.

*Read the full article featured in the Business Insider