Feeling anxious and apprehensive on your first day at a new job is perfectly natural. After all, you are going into the completely unknown. The first day sets the tone for how you will get on for the rest of your work tenure, and therefore, it is important to make a great first impression. Here are some ways to ensure you make a good impression at work.

Dress Professionally

You should dress professionally on your first day and wear an outfit that is in accordance with the company's rules. If you are going into a construction job, you wouldn't be expected to wear a suit on your first day, for instance. However, you should still ensure you are well turned out. The way you dress and project yourself says a lot about the respect you have for yourself, and this can help you make a strong impression on your first day at work.

Be Punctual

Aim to turn up 10 minutes before you are due to start on your first day. Good punctuation will set you on the right foot. If you are late on your first day, your manager may be concerned that this is a sign of things to come during your employment. If you are unsure of the exact location of where you are going on your first day, run a test before your start date to avoid mishaps.

Smile 

If nerves get the better of you on your first day, you may end up coming across as a little rude. When we are nervous, we tend not to smile and can be easily distracted. Try to be mindful of how you are coming across to people, smile, be friendly, and try to remember names. Sometimes, a first impression can be difficult to change. If someone initiates a conversation with you, converse back and show interest in them.

Socialise

If you suffer from anxiety, the thought of going for lunch with a bunch of strangers probably feels crippling. However, if you start off by rejecting offers to go for lunch with your colleagues, it will set you on the wrong foot at work. Once you are settled, you can do your own thing, but at least for the first day, show that you are willing to get to know your team.

Listen

The first day is more about listening and taking in information than doing work. It is unlikely that you will do any work on your first day. Try to absorb as much as possible, and show that you are actively listening. When nerves take over, it can be easy to get side tracked and forget to listen, especially with the volume of information you are given on your first day.

Observe Culture

Every workplace has its culture, and observing that on your first day at work is essential. You will get a good understanding of your colleagues' behaviours so you can replicate them to fit in with the culture. Of course, this can take a while to fully understand, but showing your interest in fitting in with the culture will help make your first day successful and enable you to make a good first impression.

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Managing your workload effectively is critical to performing effectively at work. It can also help you manage your stress levels, and according to Statista, approximately 875,000 people in the UK suffer from work-related stress. If you have a heavy workload, it may feel impossible to manage it effectively, but there are steps you can take to do so. These are some tips to help.

Prioritise Tasks

The first step is to understand your workload and categorise your tasks into urgent and non-urgent. Start with your most urgent tasks and make them a priority. You can then label them in order of urgency. A large workload can seem more daunting if you have people chasing you all the time. Prioritising tasks can make your workload more manageable.

Delegate Where Possible

If you have a high workload, be realistic about what you can and can’t do. There is no point in burning yourself out if you can get some help—delegate, where possible, to your team members who can take on more work. 

Break Tasks into Steps

The next step is to break your tasks into steps. For instance, if your task is to create a social media campaign, your steps include setting up social media accounts, creating content, and compiling a schedule. You can also have deadlines to keep you on track and it will make even the most daunting tasks manageable.

Create a Routine

It is also essential to have a routine in place to keep you on track and motivated, especially if you are working remotely. There is nothing productive about working eight hours straight, as you’re more likely to end up in burnout. Your routine will include breaks, personal activities, etc. It is crucial to take regular breaks to manage your workload effectively.

Reach Out for Help

Reaching out for help is better than feeling overloaded with your workload. If you need assistance, don’t feel you can’t reach out.

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Commission-only jobs are common within the sales industry, including recruitment, which means you are paid for what you sell rather than receiving a guaranteed income. For instance, in recruitment, you would be paid a commission based on the candidates you recruit for jobs, and for other sales roles, it may be based on products or services you sell. There are pros and cons of working on commission, and in this blog, we will delve into these so you know if a commission-only job is right for you.

Pros of Commission Work

If you have been offered a commission-only job, your first instinct may be to reject it. After all, you are not guaranteed an income. However, it is worth a few considerations. For example, are you experienced and have an excellent sales track record within the sector? Are the commission levels high enough to match your lifestyle? Before you even consider it, understand if it is feasible for you. Here are some of the pros of working on commission.

Motivational

If you thrive on working towards big goals, a commission-only role may be the right choice for you. The ability to work harder and earn more is an appealing prospect for many workers.

Higher Income

When you receive a standard pay package each month, there may be only one option to earn more unless you receive bonuses. Commission-only roles are usually much higher paid than other roles where a commission may be part of the overall package. If you are incentivised by money, a commission-only role can be a good option.

Flexibility

A commission-only role will offer you much greater flexibility. You will be able to work the hours you want and that you find to be most successful. For instance, you may prefer to get started early and finish early, or you may prefer to work in the evenings. The 9-5 schedule is only suited to some, so this can be a good alternative.

Cons of Commission Work

Although there are many advantages to working commission-only, there are also downsides to working on this kind of contract. These are some of the potential disadvantages.

Lack of Security

Working on commission can be risky, both in terms of job security and money security. Although there is a good earning potential, it is not guaranteed, which can make people feel uneasy about working in this manner.

Longer Hours

To earn a decent commission, you are likely to work much longer hours than you would with a regular 9-5 role. Longer hours suit some but not others, depending on how much time you will put into your working day. However, there is the bonus of working more and earning more.

No Holidays or Sick Pay

With commission-only roles, you will not receive holiday pay or sick pay. Quite simply, if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. It is one of the most significant constraints associated with working only on commission.

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The HR industry has grown over the years, with a 42% increase between 2011 and 2021, which compares to only 10% for the general workforce. As a career, there are lot of options for progression. For example, you would usually start your career as an HR administrator, you can then move to an HR generalist role. You can then progress to an HR advisor and HR business partner. You may also decide to move into a more recruitment centered role. If you want to start a career in HR without experience, there are many options.

HR Qualification

If you have no experience in HR, one of the best options is to obtain an HR qualification. You can either do this at University, college or even find a course you can complete at home, such as those available from ICS Learn. An HR qualification will not only give you a good base of knowledge to kick start your HR career, but it will also show potential employers that you are serious about a career in HR.

Foot in the Door

Another approach to finding a job in HR without experience is to target companies that have a large HR function and get your foot in the door, even if it’s not in an HR role. Once you are hired into a company, it can be much easier to progress into different roles. For instance, a general admin role, receptionist, customer service or similar. You can then keep your eye out for HR roles or make it known that you are interested in eventually progressing into such a role.

Tailor CV

There is a high chance that you already have skills that are relevant to a role within HR. The key is to ensure you have a CV that is tailored to HR roles. You can use professional CV writing services to ensure your CV passes through an Applicant Tracking System for those roles you wish to apply for. The recruiter should be able to pull out some key information that makes you relevant to the role, even if you have no direct HR experience.

Increase HR Network

It is also worth linking up with people that might be able to help you find a role within HR. For instance, you could connect with relevant HR Managers/Directors on LinkedIn or join HR networking groups. If you reach out and let them know you are available for HR work, you never know what could happen!

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Some people are happy to do their work and leave at 5 pm, while others want to climb the career ladder. There is nothing wrong with either approach, as we all have different goals in life. However, if you're going to climb the ladder, you will need to get noticed at work—for the right reasons. Here are some tips for getting noticed at work.

Avoid Gossip

There are toxic people in every workplace who like gossiping and putting others down. If you want to stand out for the right reasons, avoid toxic people and conversations. They will reflect poorly on you and likely damage your mental well-being. Conversations should be light-hearted or work-oriented. The workplace is not a place for drama or for sharing personal information.

Improve Value

You can continue to improve your value through professional and personal growth. Spending time on yourself and learning new professional skills will help you grow as a person and professionally, and subsequently, you will be able to offer more to your employer.

Reliability

Your employer wants to be able to rely on you to undertake the duties of your role. If you show up on time for meetings, for instance, and communicate with your employer, they will likely hold you in strong regard.

Understand Expectations

When you start a job, your manager should sit with you and give you an extensive structure to follow. This should include their expectations of you. You can only deliver results in any job if you understand the expectations. If your manager still needs to set these, make sure you speak to them about it and ensure they provide this.

Support Colleagues

If you are prepared to get your hands dirty and help out your colleagues, even if it's not your job, you will get noticed at work. Some people do their work and will happily sit without anything to do rather than ask if their colleagues need help. These are not the types of employees who are likely to get ahead at work. Offer support to your colleagues, and you will stand out.

Set Goals

Like anything in life, it is difficult to achieve anything if you don't set goals. If you have a career goal, write it down and describe the steps you need to take to reach it. Doing this will motivate you in the workplace, and it will not go unnoticed.

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Your CV is the first thing an employer knows about you, so it must make a great first impression. Create your CV or use professional CV writing services to ensure it hits the spot. Whatever option you choose, your CV can make or break your job prospects. It is crucial that your CV is professional and shows that you have invested time and effort into it. Here are some tips for structuring your CV.

Contact details

It may seem obvious, but some candidates must include their contact details, or they may leave off their contact number or email address. You can't expect a recruiter to try to find you via other means, so ensure you have your email address and contact telephone number on the top of your CV. You may also wish to include your LinkedIn profile and portfolio.

Summary

A summary should also be at the top of your CV, including crucial information about your current profession and desire. It must only be a few sentences long and highlight your main career achievements. You want the summary to capture who you are so that the recruiter will instantly take notice.

Experience

The following section under your summary should include your experience. However, if you are a recent graduate with little work experience, education should be given before experience. In this section, you should include dates of employment, job title, and company name, together with the main duties of the role. There is no need to go further than ten years with your experience section and try to avoid copying from the job specs. Where possible, highlight and summarise any main achievements with facts and figures.

Education

If you are an experienced person, your education would usually be listed under your experience. However, if you prefer to highlight your education more, you can switch them around. Your education section should contain the subject, dates of course, and the education institution. If you completed courses at University or college, you can mention the other key details.

Achievements

It is always worth highlighting any main achievements in a separate section if they are relevant to the role you are applying for. Doing this will draw the recruiter's attention and, hopefully, impress them.

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A common consideration when creating a CV or using professional CV writing services is whether to add achievements to it. The achievements section is part of your CV and highlights your contribution to the organisation. It can also set you apart from candidates who often just list their responsibilities. Your achievements can show the employer exactly what they can expect from you.

Where to put achievements on your CV?

You have various choices when incorporating your achievements into your CV. If space is limited (CVs should only be 2-3 pages long), you should incorporate them into your primary responsibilities. However, add a separate achievements section if you have space available.

Types of achievements

You might consider adding various types of achievements to your CV. It may depend on the role you are applying for, and you may tailor these to suit different roles. Here are some types of achievements you should consider.

Awards

If you have received any awards at work, such as ‘employee of the month,’ you should incorporate these on your CV—regardless of the role you are applying for. Awards and recognition show that you have excelled in your job, and therefore, it is key that you highlight these.

Achieving Targets

Your achievements or exceedances are particularly relevant if you apply for a target-based job, such as one in customer service or sales. Your targets should contain facts and figures. You want the recruiter to know exactly what you achieved and how long it took you to achieve these.

Examples:

Exceeded outbounds sales targets by 50% for three months consecutively

Increased social media sales by 100% from January to March through targeted Facebook marketing campaigns.

Reducing Costs

All employers want their costs to be reduced, and you can achieve this in many different roles. It may not be part of the job, but if you have shown the initiative required to support the business financially, it will be viewed positively.

Examples:

Reduced recruitment costs by 20% by enhancing recruitment strategy and recruitment agency usage.

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If you are taking the leap and moving into a management role or seeking a career change, you must understand your responsibilities to be successful in the role. A manager's role means you move away from the day-to-day tasks on the 'ground' and instead, you coordinate team members so they can successfully undertake these tasks. A strong team will work productively and happily.

The fundamentals of a good manager

Reports reveal that as many as 1 in 3 employees have quit jobs because of bad management; such is the importance of a manager's role. To be successful as a manager, your team should have adequate training to fulfil their role's demands; they should understand their goals and support to do their job successfully. Positive affirmations are also crucial for employees to be able to fulfil the needs of their job.

Tips for an effective team manager

The main issue with poor managers is that they have not received adequate training for the role. For instance, they may be knowledgeable about the employees' roles but might find it challenging to manage people. No one goes into a management role to be unsuccessful, but some managers don't consider how they will approach their role. These are some tips for being an effective team manager.

Positive Communication

Communication with employees should be positive, both individually and as a team. It is essential for new employees as they settle into the role. Negative communication can quickly deflate, demotivate, and affect productivity with employees. The last thing you want is for employees to dread speaking to you.

Clear Structure and Goals

Employees should know what is expected of them and their daily and overall goals. You must be transparent with employees to expect them to fulfil the role's demands. For instance, when they start, they should have a complete induction program, which includes their tasks and training for the first few months. Too many managers don't provide guidance and expect employees to hit the ground running as soon as they start.

Delegate and Trust

You should trust the employees on your team to get on with their jobs. Micromanagement will result in resentment and make the employee feel that they do not have ownership within their role. Employees shouldn't have to catch up with their managers every day; it should be based on whether the employee needs support from the manager or if there are any concerns.

Listen to Concerns

A manager and employee relationship is a two-way street, and listening to employee feedback and concerns is essential. For instance, if an employee is unhappy with how you speak to them or the level of support you provide, you should listen and take it onboard. The only way you will ever become a good manager is by listening to employee feedback. Ask for employee feedback so you can make positive changes to your leadership.

If you are looking for career progression and wish to move into a management role, the first step is to ensure you have a CV aimed at a higher-level role. At Inspired CVs, we provide CV writing services in Glasgow. You can order your CV directly here or contact us for information. Our CV writing services are available to candidates globally.