We hate to break it to you, but summer is over. Gone are the long sunny days, the warm air and the sound of children playing. Often the approach of autumn means change, and whether it’s a new job or a new term, you need to prepare yourself. Take some time before you start your new daily grind to be mentally ready for your next step.
Lizzi Hart, Marketing Assistant at the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, shares her top tips to prepare for a new job.
1. Sort out your sleeping pattern
Let’s face it, you’re going to have a big culture shock when your wake-up time shifts from pm to am. To prepare, train your body clock into thinking that morning is when you go to work and not to bed. Set yourself a bedtime and be sure to let your brain wind down 60-30 minutes before sleepy time (that means no computers, TVs or phones) to ensure you can drift off when you want. Ease yourself into the early alarm clock each day and soon enough your body will be used to the sound of the bin men.
2. Research everything
What should you research? Everything. Have you moved to a new place? If so, go and explore. Find a good lunch spot and learn more about the culture and the tourist sites – a nice talking point for your new colleagues. If you haven’t moved, go and explore anyway – or at least the surrounding area for your new office. Also, look over the company’s website and anything you can find online about them to better prepare yourself for the work environment that you are about to enter. The more you know, the more comfortable you will feel on that first day.
3. Plan and organise
Not sure how long the commute will take? Go for a test run, or leave half an hour earlier than you think you need to. Scope out the dress code of your new office and plan enough outfits for your first week. If you’re a list person, make a list of your new routine. With everything planned, you will feel far less nervous because there shouldn’t be too many surprises.
4. Budget
Spreadsheets are your friends when it comes to budgeting. Take some time to work out exactly how much you’ll earn per month, and after the essentials, how much you can put into your savings account or chip away from those looming student debts. It might even be worth checking out the company’s pension plan. With your finances loosely planned, you will feel both eager to start earning some cash, and calmer about the future in your new role.
5. … Aaaand relax
Don’t forget, this limbo period between jobs won’t last long. So as well as mentally preparing, you should also take some time to relax. Enjoy some quality time watching Jeremy Kyle on a Tuesday morning, or take a nice long bath to calm your super prepared brain… Now where did I put that gigantic bar of Galaxy?
By Lizzi Hart, a Marketing Assistant at the Graduate Recruitment Bureau www.grb.uk.com
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