How to Overcome Your New Job Anxiety (Answered!)

Nervous about your first day of work at a new job?

Regardless of where you are in your career, the first day at a new job or even returning to work after a long break can make you feel a little anxious.

In fact, having new job anxiety happens to everyone.

And, let’s face it, who never experience “first day of work jitters”?

Feeling nervous at a new job is normal. But remember that you were hired because your new employer has faith in your abilities.

Here are some tips for making your first day more enjoyable, less stressful, and making a good first impression with your new coworkers.

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How to Overcome Your New Job Anxiety On Your First Day of Work

Feeling nervous on your first day of work in a new job is common. Most people share a similar experience as well.

Sharing your worries with a trusted friend or family member can help to normalize these jitters and help you feel less stressed.

Here are some ways you can do to overcome anxiety on your first day at a new job.

1. Know Your Job Scope

When you are too caught up with your first-day jitters, it can be easy to lose focus of why you’re there.

Take a few minutes to go through your job description for your new job. This is especially important for you if this is your first job.

By doing this, you will be able to go into your new job with a sense of purpose and have a rough idea of what to expect as the weeks’ progress.

Sun Tzu, Art of War says,

“Know thy self, know thy enemy.”

Knowing what to expect will allow you to prepare better for your first day of work.

2. Remember You Won’t Be New Forever

A new job, new skills, or even a new school always makes us nervous. Everyone will feel jitters when we are experiencing something new. But remember: it will pass.

It is in our human nature that we feel scared of something we’ve never experienced before. It’s also our ability to adapt that allows us to survive for millions of years since the stone age.

Being a new employee can be scary.

But understanding what to expect during your traditional or remote onboarding can help.

You have the ability to change the way you think.

According to a research article by Psychology Today,

“When you feel excitement, the hypothalamus triggers the same physiological reaction. There is very little physiological difference between fear and excitement.”

So, convert your anxiety to excitement and welcomes your first day of work with gee!

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3. Prepare Your First Day of Work Outfit

Getting to know what to wear on your first day of work always help to make a good first impression.

If you are unsure of what to wear, just keep it conservative.

What each company allows you to wear to work is very different.

Some companies allow their employees to wear smart casual to work, while others require you to wear formal.

In either case, avoid wearing anything that is too fancy, too tight, or too short.

Keep your attire conservative and if possible, check with HR on what’s the company’s dress code.

By doing so, you can prepare the appropriate attire for your first day of work.

Outfit for Men

Outfit for Women

4. Get Enough Sleep

Lack of sleep can cause anxiety and cause first-day jitters. Getting enough sleep can help you show up fresh and alert on your first day of work.

Making a good first impression doesn’t need much effort. For a start, try not looking like a zombie on your first day will definitely help.

National Sleep Foundation recommends the following for a good night’s sleep according to your age.

Get at least 7 hours of undisturbed sleep, if you are a working adult.

Sleeping an hour more or less may not have much impact, but having enough sleep for your first day of work is always ideal.

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5. Arriving to Work on Time

Getting to work late on your first day can be the worst way to make a first impression.

Sometimes traffic issues can happen which can lead to an unexpected delay in your plan of reaching work on time.

You want to arrive at work calm, cool, and confident, not running 5 minutes late, sweaty and feeling lost.

The first day is already stressed enough, you don’t want to add to the stress you are already feeling.

Instead, try to map out your commute and take into consideration of any possible traffic issues.

Give yourself at least 30 minutes extra when planning your commute to work.

Worst mistakes to make on the first day of work

HQHIRE.com has conducted an interview with 83 employers and see what they say about some of the worst mistakes people make on their first day of work.

The results aren’t surprising, but the amount the top 10 mistakes to avoid, one of them stood out the amount the rest.

47 out of 83 employers interviewed said,

“Late for the first day of work is one of the top 10 reasons why they fire a new employee.”

Why?

If you can’t even be on time for work on the first day, how can your hiring manager expect you to do well in your job?

6. Practice Productivity Rituals

We probably had experienced lots of different situations which can make us nervous. The first day of school, the first time talking to your crush, the first time going for an interview, and finally, the first day of work.

Everyone has their own rituals to calm themselves from feeling nervous.

Productivity rituals that can help you calm down fast on your first day of work

• Waking Up: Do morning stretches or yoga to relax your body and soul.
• Hygiene: Taking a hot shower will keep your mind refreshed and your body free of unpleasant odor.
• Breakfast: Prepare your morning with a nice cup of earl grey to relax your mind and energize your body.
• Mental Health: Listen to relaxing classical music on your way to work.
• Stress Relive: Taking some deep breaths before entering the door will help to increase the oxygen level in your blood and oxygenate your brain to prepare you for your first day.

Structure your workday properly can help improve your ability to calm your nerves.

7. Don’t Worry About Not Knowing Everything

You are having your first day of work, no one will expect that you’ll know everything. You’ve already passed the hardest test of going through your interview and have been rewarded with the job.

All you’ll need to do now is to keep a good level of confidence. Be humble and learn quickly so that you may become an asset to the company.

“Your willingness to learn is much more important than being a know-it-all.” 

So, don’t be afraid to ask questions, because you’re expected to.

You may make some mistakes as you are new to the company. But remember, mistakes are all part of the learning process. 

Just make sure you take account of your actions.

Honesty is always the best policy.

8. Make New Friends

Introduce yourself to your new colleagues and make friends. Although most companies have great onboarding processes or orientation programs where it helps you to know more people in the company, some companies don’t have such programs.

Don’t wait for your peers to come to you and introduce themselves. As a new member of the team, you can show your confidence by extending your hand of friendship and introducing yourself to the team.

With a firm handshake and a warm genuine smile, using only your first name makes you appear more approachable and friendly.

Just keep your introduction as brief as possible.

“Hi, my name is Jane. This is my first day with the company. I am the new software engineer. It’s great to meet you!”

Making more friends will make you feel less like an outsider, but more of an insider. With friends around you, you will feel less stressed and less nervous on your first day.

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9. Just Be Yourself

Everyone has a different personality, and trying to be someone else can be really stressful.

But “being yourself” doesn’t mean being rude or self-centered. Being yourself is to be the real you while being courteous and friendly.

People can smell ‘fakes’ miles away, but in contrast, authenticity attracts.

“You’ll be working closely with them and enjoy building the relationship, so why not start now?”

An article by World Economic Forum says,

“A truly authentic person, by Maslow’s theory, will be open to new experiences and be empathetic, non-judgmental, and non-hostile towards others.

On the other hand, overt hostility or aggression suggests that a person is not truly at peace with his or herself.”

How Long Does New Job Anxiety Last

Typically, anxiety at a new job will last about 2 to 3 months before an employee can be comfortable enough to be themselves in the new workplace.

While 1 in 5 employees may take up to a year before they become less anxious about being in their new job.

It’s normal to miss your old job for the first couple of weeks, even when you might not like your old job that much.

Adjusting to the new job can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months before the memories of the previous job become a distant memory.

Thus, don’t get discouraged if you don’t feel settled into the new workplace right away.

The key is to face these changes with a positive attitude and good things will eventually come your way.

Read Also:

• How to Introduce Yourself at Work on Your First Day (with Examples)
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• How to Evaluate a Startup Job Offer (4 Powerful Steps)
• 20 Best Practices For Onboarding Remote Employees (Why & How)