Boarding Now: How to Leverage On-Boarding to Your Best Advantage

The sleepless night… The tossing and the turning… You will yourself to sleep, yet somehow remain vividly awake, watching the darkness on your ceiling. There’s nothing to do except worry now that you’ll be too tired to stay alert during the one time you need your self-awareness: your first day of work.

Modern professional culture has coined the term “On-Boarding” to mean the initial training and orientation of new hires to companies. Despite the word originating from the 1970s, onboarding culture is an initial stage of work that allows new employees to complete all the trainings, company policies and initial tasks that are required either by company higher ups or government policies. I’m here to tell you that if you play your cards right, onboarding does not need to be worrisome, boring, or scary, instead it can be a tool in your arsenal for professional advantage, especially as a young hire, or just as much if you’re a new hire transitioning business area.

As a recent college graduate, I’ve perhaps done the most frequent onboard experiences. With three onboards under my belt in the last year and a half, I’ve been on the new-hire side of companies a lot recently, whether for internships or with my most recent position. Here are some of my top takeaways for things that I’ve observed across company cultures to be useful to a newbie on their first day on the job.

I consider the first day on the job to be the taxi onto the runway. You arrive (hopefully early), anxious and excited. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get off the ground. You’ve moved to a new job location and still haven’t seen a paycheck. It’s nerve wracking. Will you fly?

Your Pre-Flight Safety Checks

In a perfect metaphor for a blog about flight, you follow a similar procedure or routine before heading to your first day on the job whether you notice it or not. For some it might manifest as necessary self-care (movies, hitting the weights, painting nails), and for others the calm before the storm looks different. Either way, here are my top tips for preparing yourself for day one in bite sized pieces:

1. Think you’ll forget it? Set it out where you won’t miss it + Sticky Note it out!

A tiny square of orange paper has saved my neck more times than I care to admit. Whether you work for any industry, it’s likely that your manger, HR rep or onboarding specialist has asked you to remember something whether it’s documentation, a resume, notes, or an address. Don’t let it slip.

2. Pre-plan your outfit. And don’t change it.

I’ve fallen prey to the overthinking and questioning. Spend the time trying on all the blouses to figure out what is professional enough or too much. For some industries, like aeronautics, the dress code can be somewhat relaxed depending on where you work. Regardless of your income level, experience in professional clothing, or role you’ll have different requirements. Trust your gut on how to best present yourself. I’ve always believed in being overdressed on the first day, because chances are good that the worst that you’ll do is match your supervisor. You can always take that jacket off.

3. Arrive Early.

Just like professors tell you to walk your schedule ahead of university or trade school classes, I would recommend driving to your workplace at least once. Perhaps you won’t be able to enter your space or building quite yet, but know realistically what the traffic looks like on a Monday morning either by driving it on that day a week early, or checking the maps traffic (red? Leave an extra twenty to thirty minutes!) and make that call in advance.

4. Plan your aftercare before going into your first day.

Care for yourself physically and mentally cannot be stressed enough. Regardless of whether or not you acknowledge the anxiety of a new role, change can mean lots of physical tension and stress. If you’re a runner, chart the three miles for after the day. If you love skin care, pick up that face mask while you’re at Target early and set it out for yourself. You’re a reader? Lay that book out on top of your fuzziest blanket, and save time that evening to release the stress that you haven’t noticed building up for days.

5. Pack a Snack. I mean it!

Mom, dad, or guardian isn’t here to do it for you, but I guarantee that they were onto something. Perhaps your team or manager will take you out to lunch, or that nice coworker will invite you to eat with them. Be sure to pack something to snack on so that your stomach isn’t rumbling. If you’re feeling anxious the morning of, this snack is your key to keeping going through what will inevitably be a long day. Don’t eat it? Leave it somewhere for another day!

6. Have a headshot at the ready. Paparazzi, no photos please!

This will be a case-by-case basis, but texting or emailing an old headshot or professional looking photo will save you time. I guarantee that someone is sending a message about the new hire to someone. If you’re getting added to a distribution list, welcome page, or simply want to set your profile picture so people start recognizing you, have it handy on your phone or top of inbox.

7. You don’t know anything. Embrace it.

Regardless of whether you graduated from any university, trade school, Ivy League, or business, you’ve got something to learn. That’s why you’re there. I believe that we work to improve ourselves and learn. A natural part of the things that challenge you are the feelings of stupidity, insecurity and lack of confidence that come with trying new things. Embrace those feelings because they mean that you’re changing and in the right position to grow. I can also guarantee that nobody thinks you’re dumb. They didn’t hire the wrong person. They saw someone who was teachable, trainable and had the intellect and speed to keep up with a team. Learn to ask questions. The right question shows your intelligence more than any correct answer does.

Take Off! Up and away!

It’s the big day! Never fear, because you’re going to succeed, and I’m here to hold your hand, walk you to the door and wait with you while other people arrive. You don’t look awkward, read this blog on your phone, then look up and follow these steps.

1. Find someone more nervous than you and help to make them comfortable.

I am the biggest proponent of something I like to call professional empathy, which I define on your first day as the extension of finding someone more nervous than you and focusing on helping them feel better. In the process, you both will forget the edge that was making you both feel scared.

T’s Tidbit: Something I learned to look out for on the first day would be a color-coding system, perhaps of HR’s folders, or name tags. Find your peeps and sit with them. Being the one to show kindness in a first move might just form a stronger foundation to a long-term relationship. Partner up.

Special Tip: On some on boardings, I’ve had the HR representatives color code the materials that they distribute by department. So, for example, I was in communications. All of our comms or arts team members had purple, whereas engineers got red, and operations got blue. It is not fool proof, but could be good to keep in mind.

2. Do NOT go anywhere without a notebook and something to write with!

I cannot stress this enough! You need to have something on you to take down notes, write reminders and (you’ll see later) record your observations. I usually try to begin drawing an org chart of who works where. Typically, you can look this up once you get your work computer and access to the network, but having those names and interactions will be tremendously advantageous starting out and remembering who you’re talking to. Other people have only one person/name to remember when they meet you, but on your first day, you could be encountering twenty or thirty different people. Write it down!

3. Prepare small talk topics.

I’m a chatty person naturally, but even for me, repeating the same conversations over and over can become dry. In addition, the first impression of being likable and fun to work with can make all the difference. I would recommend spending some time, either on the drive into work or while you’re zoned out during orientation presentations to prepare three or four questions to ask someone.

T's tidbit: I also practiced my pitch. “Hi, I’m Teresa. It’s so lovely to meet you. [I had so much fun interacting with you online/experience if already met them]. I just graduated this December from Syracuse University. [Connection if they’re from the north as well]. I’m in this role.

i. A. What has your experience been like here at Lockheed?

ii. B. Do you have any advice for a newbie like me?

iii. C. Did you go to grad school? What was that like? Where did you go to school?

iv. D. I’m nervous about these three things… Can you help?

4. Express your anxiety.

My stomach was doing fits during the first day. I had doubts as to whether or not my coworkers would like me and feel stuck, or the move, or doing something where results aren’t constantly reinforcing your behavior as grades do. So, I think the strategy of speaking openly about some of your nerves and concerns can really humanize you to other people as well as comfort you. In my experiences, my coworkers were agile and tactful in helping talk through solutions that calmed me down and really didn’t put a rift on our professional relationship.

a. Listen. Everyone is nervous on their first day, and even your manager might have some hardship making the small talk. At the end of the day, it’s in everyone’s best interest to support you and make you feel welcome.

Flight: The Days Following Take Off

1. After you get onboarded, you should absolutely make a mental list of learning items and questions that you can research while work is slow. This will demonstrate your initiative and drive, as well as help you catch up.

I had online trainings that I did my best to get through as quickly as possible (with comprehension, of course). Once those are out of the way, you can start working on materials that you’ll start for your job, but it’s also an easy way to show that you’re a conscientious employee who is happy to be there.

Explore. During your introductory meetings, write down your questions and things that you don’t understand. Spend the time after the meetings being curious and either asking your coworkers or looking them up online in the organization’s websites internally.

Learn, learn, learn. I work at an aeronautics company. There are so many different types of airplanes, jets, cover, and bombers. Each has a different function. The better you understand these items, the better you can conversate and communicate (even if comms isn’t your job). Learn everything you can about the history, people, organization, product, object, and your team. It can only help you.

Go above and beyond. If you’ve got additional opportunities to leverage your free time, such as extra trainings, setting goals, or preparing materials, DO IT. Ask your coworkers if you can take any work off of their plates while you start. I organized folders and drawers. It helped my coworkers had clear minds and meant that I wasn’t sitting and staring at a wall. Be helpful, and it will show initiative as well as keep your feet on the ground during your first week.

2. Become besties with security

I learned this tip from a dear friend of mine. He told me that security was the number one crew that you need to become friends with. If you forget your credentials one day, or need help in any way, being kind and friendly with the team can make going into work easier, as well as begin building trust and a positive relationship that will help you if ever, you’re in a bind.

3. Keep perspective:

For my December Graduates especially, you will likely be the youngest on your team. In my case, I was far younger than some of the senior members on my team (they had kids in college that are my age). For managers and coworkers, it can sometimes be a natural stage of the workday to forget the age gap, and assume that you’re older than you are. For others, they might remember explicitly how young you are and treat you according to whom they’ve encountered in their life experience. Either way, these reactions are okay, and you’ll need to be prepared to take them in stride. For me, this reaction caused the first day to be extremely grueling and challenging for me.

Here’s how I solved that problem: You are young. Yes. But you’ve also done something that nobody gets to do. You’re the youngest in a position that others are at the peaks of their careers in. You’re with the best of the best. Your youth is only a tool with which you can use the things that you’re learning to leverage. Your youth in this position is a tool that will only exponentially grow. Time is on your side. Use it.

You’ll also see people during onboarding that perhaps you don’t vibe with immediately. Keep in mind that this is a snapshot of their personalities. You’ve got years ahead of you to develop working relationships. If they’re not the warmest in a group setting or the beginning, keep in mind that you’ll show off more of your intelligence and personality when tacking problems together. Make a good first impression, but don’t worry about it.

4. Keep track of every little thing.

Since my internship this summer, I’ve kept a notebook where I detail all the projects, advice, and lessons that I’ve learned. Whether you’re going from an internship to job or even from one project to the next, keep the advice and structures that you’ve learned. They’ll only help you. Write it all down for accuracy and ease of the brain.

You’re never going to land. It will just be up and up and up from here. This is just a first step in a tremendous journey. You can do anything that you set your mind to. Lean on those who have done it before you, and enjoy the process. Be helpful, active, agile, and smart, because you are. Never give up trying. Never lose the passion and excitement that led you to accept that job. It is one in a million and you will reach that career goal if you start acting today.