First Days at Work	
First Days at Work (Page 1 of 2)	
Getting hired for a new job is exciting, but excitement may turn to 
worry as you face the first days of your new job.  Being worried and 
slightly scared are normal feelings as you are entering a new world,  
the U.S. work world.  To help you relax, remember that the employer 
selected you as the person to hire and wants you to succeed.  
To help you learn and feel comfortable at a new work site, the employer 
will provide New Worker Training (or introduction) to the company 
which may include the following:	
You will be shown your work site and job task	.  Work sites range from simple areas with no equipment 	
to big areas with computers and tools.  Your employer wants you to understand your work site so that you 
can do the best job possible.  As your job and work site is explained, take notes so that you can look back 
to remember what you were told.  You may need to read your notes as you try to do the job the first time.  
If you are unclear about how to do a task, ask questions.  It is better to work slow and accurate during your 
first days on the job.
You will be introduced to your coworkers and supervisor.	  Be sure to listen to learn if coworkers and 	
supervisors want to be called by their first name (for example, Tom) or last name (Mr. Johnson).
You will be told the company rules.  	As your supervisor 	tells you the rules	, take notes to help you 	
remember.  	Read all the rules	 in any booklets you are given.  You are responsible for following all 	
company rules — those told to you, and those listed in booklets.  The supervisor may give you a small 
computer (or iPad) that explains the rules	 in a New Worker Training Lesson with questions to answer.  	
What does the employer want of you, the new worker?  	Employers were asked what young workers 	
need to do to make a good start at a new job.  Here are the answers from employers:
1) First.  	New workers must ask questions if unclear about something.  This is because employers would 	
rather answer questions from a new worker than have the job done incorrect.  Since employers know 
the job, steps may be left out when the job is explained to the new worker .  Employers cannot read 
your mind, so you, the new worker, need to listen, then speak up and ask 
questions to understand all steps in the job or to understand directions that 
are unclear.  	
2) Second. 	 New workers need to listen and take notes.  When the employer 	
speaks, you are paid to listen and remember.  Because there is a lot to learn, 
the employers want new workers to take notes on what is said to help the 
new worker remember instructions.  New workers can use the notes later to 
help remember how to do the job.  Also, all directions are to be followed.

Permission to use allowed with usworkworld.com subscription.	First Days at Work (Page 2 of 2)	
3) Third.	  New workers need to be confident and think of each new job duty as a learning experience.  	
What is meant by confident?  1) Confident is not afraid to speak to customers, coworkers, supervisors.  
2) Confident is to look relaxed and greet others with a smile. 3) Confident is doing a good job.  	
 Confident workers want to learn new tasks and things about the job — and enjoy learning.  Confident 	
workers may make mistakes.  But, confident workers know that mistakes happen, and that mistakes can 	
be corrected.  
4)   Fourth.  	New workers need to prove a positive attitude.  Workers shows positive 	
attitude by 	enjoying	:  a) job duties;  b) job site — such as store or restaurant; 	
c) different people at the job — customers, coworkers, and supervisors.  Workers 	
show positive attitude when 	speaking kind, good words	 about:  a) job duties;  b) people — customers, 	
co-workers, supervisors;  c) company.  A worker with a positive attitude is thinking about how to 	
 give better customer service, how to earn a raise, and how to get a promotion — rather than complain 	
or gossip.	
5) Fifth. 	 New workers need to plan ahead and be prompt (act at once without delay).  Employer want 	
workers to make an effort to work when scheduled and to give as much advance notice as possible if 
unable to work because of sickness.  Time off for special occasions such 
as family events and school dances need to be requested at least two 
weeks or more in advance so that a replacement worker can be found.  	
6) Sixth:  	New workers need to value customers.  Who brings money into 	
the business?  Customers do!  Where does the business get money to give 
you a paycheck?  Money comes from customers spending money in the 
business.  Customers are special people valuable to survival of a business.   
Customers are to be treated with respect, politeness, service, and a smile.  	
QUICK CHECK:
1. To help you relax during your first days at work, 	
what should you remember?	
2. a) To help you learn and feel comfortable at a 	
new job, what does the employer provide?  	
 b) Why does the employer want you to 
 understand your work site?
3. a) What should you do as the job and work site 	
is explained to you?  b) Why?	
4. As you are introduced to your coworkers, what 	
do you need to learn?	
5. List 3 ways that you learn the company rules.  
6. a) What is the first thing that employers say is 	
important for new workers to do?  b) Why?	
7. a) When the employer speaks, what are you 
 being paid to do?  b) What do employers want 	
you to do to remember instructions?	
8. a) List 3 things that confident is.  b) What do 	
confident workers know about mistakes?	
9. List 3 things workers with positive attitudes: 
 a) Enjoy.  b) Speak kind and good words about.   	
c) What does a worker with positive attitude 
thinking about rather than complain or gossip?     	
10. Define prompt.   
11. a) Why do workers value customers?  b) List 4 	
ways customers are to be treated?	
12. You are an owner of a bike shop.  a) List 5 	
things you will show or tell new workers on 
their first day at work.  b) Why do you want 
new workers to ask questions if unsure how 
to change a bike tire?  c) What will you say if 
the new worker is late the first day?  d) In your 
opinion, how you will know if the new worker 
likes this new job?