For the purposes of this post, we are going to consider the point of view of a new associate who has been hired for a carpentry/construction job, although the lessons can apply to virtually any new associate.
A few days prior to starting:
- What tools will you need to bring? It is not uncommon to require a hammer, tape measure, utility knife, work boots. If you don’t have those tools, where can you get them? What if you don’t have enough money? There are government programs and initiatives as well as charities that might be able to help, try 211 as a starting place.
- Ask your employer what time you are supposed to be at the site and where it is. Ask where do I park, if you have car? Ask if you can get a ride, if necessary.
- Ask what you should wear? Most employers will ask for utility pants (second hand store may have them at a reduced price; plain t-shirts (summer), preferably nothing that has inappropriate advertising on it; and work socks. If the job involves working outside, consider a hat and sunscreen.
- Have enough groceries to eat a good breakfast, pack a lunch, and have some snacks. A coffee and cigarette isn’t breakfast. What if you don’t have enough money for food? Try 211 and they will suggest food banks and meal programs, these organizations are there to help you up.
The night before:
- If you have to be at work for 7 am, make sure you get a good night’s sleep. Try going to bed by 10pm
- Have your clothes prepared and ready, washed is always good.
The first day:
- Set your alarm, give yourself enough time to get ready, EAT, and arrive at the job site at least a MINIMUM OF 15 minutes prior to the start time. The extra time allows for delays and being early is always a good way to impress a new employer.
- EAT BREAKFAST; you need to eat sufficient food to allow you to do heavy work. Pack a lunch and have some high energy snacks
- Be clean, neat, and presentable, you want to create a good impression.
- It’s okay to be nervous! Starting a new job is difficult for everyone because you are outside your comfort zone, it will get better, each day you will feel more and more comfortable. Everyone feels anxious and uncomfortable on their first day, and just do your best.
HEALTH & SAFETY:
- Workers under 25 are more likely to be hurt in the workplace then any other age category.
- Construction sites are dangerous places. There are vehicles, tools, uneven surfaces, and holes among other things. Part of your first day orientation should be about the hazards on site and dangers to avoid, a few general rules should apply:
- Never use a tool you haven’t been shown how to use
- Never remove safety guards from any tool
- Never use power tools with frayed cords or missing ground plugs
- Always wear eye protection
- Always be aware of your situation and hazards around you
- Remember lengths of wood that you are carrying have TWO ENDS
- Remove hazards that other people might not see, i.e. – protruding nails in wood, debris on walkways
- Keep your workspace organized
- Put tools back when you are finished
- Never mix chemicals, especially cleaning supplies
- IF IN DOUBT, always ask before using something.
How to Act:
- Be polite and listen, even if you know what they are going to say, listen anyway.
- Understand that you will make mistakes, try your best
- If you make a mistake, learn from it and don’t be so worried about it that you make more, remember the lesson, but don’t dwell on it
- If you have a question – ASK IT, your employer would rather you ask than have you guess
- What if you forget something you were told – ASK again, you’re new
- Remember not everyone is going to be nice, especially on a construction site, some people are just like that, hopefully they will be few and far between, but they are like that with everyone that is new.
When do I get a break?
- For most full time jobs, you will get a 15 minute break in the morning and the afternoon and 30 minutes at lunch, always ask the person training you before you go. Your breaks may not always be at exactly the same time each day, depending on the business and what is going on.
- What if I smoke? Ask where the designated smoking area is, if you smoke, you won’t be the only one. Never smoke while you are working and limit the number of breaks, you have 2 fifteen minute breaks not ten 3 minute breaks.
Cell Phones?
- Off. Only use on breaks and at lunch. Trust me on this one.
The second day:
- Make sure you go back and that you are prepared, the first day is always the hardest. It gets better with each passing day.
- Make sure you are just as prepared for the 2nd, 3rd, etc. days as you were for the first.
In the future …
What if I have to call in sick?
- Hopefully they will have given you an “Associate Handbook” but you should always ask your employer for a contact number on the first or second day, just in case there is an emergency
What if I see someone doing something they shouldn’t be doing?
- Report it to your supervisor, there is no such thing as an innocent bystander. If you witness someone stealing and don’t say anything, then your silence makes you complicit.
A last piece of advice, you will not likely remember much about your first day on any job, but keep these things in mind:
- You are vulnerable
- You are outside your comfort zone
- You can be nervous
- You may not know anyone
- You want to create a good impression and do well
Just do your best and try to take that pressure off of yourself. The vast majority of employers understand how you feel and will work with you until you are able carry yourself … just give it a little time.
Postscript:
Just a small note for small and medium sized business owners, the anxiety and pressure on new associates in any form of business is very real. Having on-boarding policies and procedures that evolve are often overlooked by many owners and managers which can greatly affect turnover, morale, and productivity.