5 Encouragements You Need for Your First Week on the Job

 

New clothes? Check! Cute office supplies? Check! Paperwork completed? Check! Encouragement?…

Your first week of work is such a whirlwind! You practically sign your life away on paperwork up to your nose, get introduced to a million new faces with names you’re expected to remember, and get handed all of the files the last person in this position never finished. The learning stage commences almost immediately and everyone is waiting on you to cross those i’s and dot those t’s…wait… This is exactly my point.

Work is hard. That’s a given. But your first week of work is not just hard- it’s challenging, stretching, daring, frustrating, and definitely a test of patience, endurance, kindness, and sleep deprivation. You wake up at a new time, there’s new flow of traffic to conquer, and all you can think about for the first two hours is coffee. Clearly, I have a little experience in the world of changing jobs.

But ya know what? That’s how I know it’s going to be okay. No eye rolling or scoffing (does anyone even use that word anymore?). The bottom line is: You can do this. Here is how I know:

1. Everyone understands there is a learning curve.

As if anyone would ever question it, you should know: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Learning new things takes time. If you were expected to walk in knowing every aspect and idiosyncrasy of the job,  then either it’s not challenging you enough or you are a genius (congratulations!). As my boss says “This is a career. You don’t have to learn it all at once. It’s going to take time.” Not every boss will say it, but they understand it’s unrealistic to demand a flawless high work output during your first couple of weeks.

2. Everyone in your company has had a first day.

Whether someone has been in their job 45 years or one month, at some point they had a first day. They had the same hand-shaking, name game, struggle-is-real nerves that you do right now. They get it. Let yourself relax a little. Tension is not going to help those nerves, but a little self-confidence should do the trick.

3. You have what it takes.

There was something about your resume, interview, past experience, or relationship with the employer that made them say “That’s the one!” They have legitimate faith in you. You are not a quitter or else you wouldn’t have followed through with the painstaking application and interview process. Deep breaths. In the employer’s opinion, you are the perfect candidate for a job well done.

4. You will “own” this.

It might take some time, but eventually you will own this job. Do you remember learning to walk? Nope! Sure there are some scientific elements to memory development when you were at that stage in life, but the point is: There will come a day when your day-in-the-life becomes muscle memory. One day you will look back and realize that you do actually know what you are doing. Even though there may be new things to learn, you will own the core facets of the job.

5. It’s all true: You’re going to do great!

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that everything written above sounds familiar to you. That’s likely because what you are feeling right now is not abnormal. All of us in the work force have been exactly where you are now. Everyday people around the world are starting a new job. You are not alone, and you are going to be great!

All that being said, the only thing that can hold you back is you. You’d be surprised what a little belief in yourself will do. Encourage yourself like you would encourage your best friend. Write Bible verses on sticky notes and leave them by your computer, in your car, or on your bathroom mirror. Walk into your new job with attitude of bringing the light and servant heartedness of Christ. Be unashamedly you. You got this!