How not to Vomit your First Week of Work

Do you know how to prevent an anxiety attack during your first week of work?

Starting a new job is never easy. No matter how prepared we are, there will always be processes, procedures, and small details that will be new to us. We will also be dealing with a whole new group of people, which can be tricky. The quiz below and the answers at the end will give you some tips on how to survive this period and even enjoy it.

Select “Right” or “Wrong” for each of the following statements about first-week scenarios and then compare your answers with the recommendations included at the end.

1. It’s better to learn things slowly rather than to bother everyone with questions.
a. Right
b. Wrong

2. It’s good to offer to do the work of others to demonstrate how diligent and helpful you are.
a. Right
b. Wrong

3. If someone is friendly and you get along well, you should begin to develop a friendship right away.
a. Right
b. Wrong

4. If your coworker explains something and you forget it, don’t ask again because he/she will think you weren’t paying enough attention the first time around.
a. Right
b. Wrong

5. If someone makes a comment that offends you, let it go, because you don’t want to start making waves your first week.
a. Right
b. Wrong

Recommended Answers

Scenario 1.
Wrong. Your fellow coworkers will expect you to ask questions when you first start. If you are polite, respectful of their time (don’t interrupt a phone call with questions), and grateful, they won’t be offended. Ask everything you need to ask. If someone does become annoyed, know that it is his/her problem and not yours.

Scenario 2.
Wrong. Even though it’s great to be helpful, it is not recommended that you take on tasks you don’t know if you’ll be able to handle in the future. You will also run the risk of running into someone with no qualms about abusing your generosity. You don’t want to establish habits that may have negative consequences later. Be helpful but wait a bit longer before doing this type of favor for your coworkers.

Scenario 3.
Wrong. It is not a good idea to start making friendships at work this quickly. Consider the fact that if the friendship ends, you will have to continue seeing this person every day, and this may be uncomfortable. Be friendly and reserved when making comments about yourself and others. Do not appear to be receptive to gossip or criticism if others make this type of comment. If they insist, it’s OK to say “I’m sorry but I don’t like to talk about people when they are not around.” This will signal to others that you do not want to be part of that type of conversation.

Scenario 4.
Wrong. You can ask again. There is much to learn your first week at work and no one will think it strange that you need to ask the same thing twice, or need help using a certain tool. Even then, don’t expect you will do everything right in your first week. Do your best and forgive yourself for your mistakes. If we were all perfect, the words “novice” and “rookie” wouldn’t exist in either the English or Spanish language.

Scenario 5.
Wrong. If a comment is offensive, you should not let it slide. Be polite but explain what offended you and that you hope that it doesn’t happen again. Sometimes situations like these may arise from a cultural misunderstanding or from a generalization. Clarify it if you believe that was the case. If your coworker is not receptive or takes it as a joke, let him/her know how serious the issue is for you. Then if this happens again, warn your coworker that if the behavior does not change, you will have to report it to a supervisor. Then if it happens one more time, speak to your supervisor about it.