Your first day of a new job can be both exciting and scary. You want to create a good first impression and ensure you have everything you need to start strong. One often overlooked aspect of starting a new job is forgetting to ask the right questions on your first day. By asking the right questions on your first day, you are letting your new employer know that you are eager to start on the right foot but you’re also setting yourself up for success by getting the answers you need to do your job effectively.
Use these 15 questions on your first day of a new job during your onboarding. These questions have been divided into three sections to help you navigate where and when to ask.
Important First-Day Questions for Human Resources
- What Important Company Dates Do I Need to Know About?Asking about important company dates helps you to prepare for any big events or busy seasons, and to know the best times to take time off. You can ask a follow-up question and see if the company has any “blackout dates” so you and your family can plan accordingly.
- What Budget Policies Do I Need to Familiarize Myself With?The topic of budgets can sometimes feel sensitive. However, it’s important to ask how the budget policies work. Some companies have strict spending policies that require approval, while others leave it to the employee’s discretion. You will also want to ask how to reconcile purchases and get familiar with the software and processes the company uses to manage budgets.
- What Is the Pay Cycle?This question is practical but very helpful for you. Knowing when you will get paid helps you to manage your personal finances and prepare accordingly. Some companies pay weekly, every 2 weeks, twice a month, or monthly. Knowing what pay cycle the organization operates on helps bring peace of mind so that you can focus on your new position.
- What Do PTO and Sick Time Look Like in My Role?This is another important question that helps you stay organized in your personal life. Some companies have unlimited PTO while others offer a set amount. Some organizations accrue PTO and sick time throughout the year while others mix both PTO and sick time together. Knowing these guidelines will help you plan your life with this in mind.
- What Benefits Are Available and How Do I Enroll?What benefits come with your role? Things like health care, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and gym memberships are all common benefits organizations offer. Some companies have a lot while others are unable to afford any. Find out what you qualify for, get all the information, and enroll as soon as possible so that this important item is checked off your to-do list.
Important First-Day Questions on Work Culture and Communication
- What Is the Meeting Structure and Cadence?Finding out the meeting structure and cadence will allow you to set your work schedule. To be effective in any role, you need to know what meetings you’re expected to attend and the frequency. You may have weekly staff meetings or monthly department strategy meetings. Whatever the structure, ask this question to be prepared.
- What Software Programs and Systems Do I Need to Familiarize Myself With?Finding out the different software programs and systems you will be using allows you to start strong and get familiar with these systems. You can do some extra homework outside of work hours so that you can come in your first week and really impress your boss and colleagues.
- What Are the Preferred Methods of Communication?Finding out the preferred methods of communication helps you avoid any rookie mistakes on the first day or week of a new job. Some companies prefer email while others use systems like Slack. You can also ask what the expected response time is when receiving messages, and how these communication preferences differ for internal and external communication.
- How Do You Deal With Conflict in This Work Environment?Conflict is inevitable at any job or workplace. Some companies prefer a direct approach while others want you to include a supervisor or someone from HR during a crucial conversation. Find out how this specific culture deals with conflict and follow those guidelines.
- What Does a Win Look Like for the Organization?
Knowing what a win looks like for the organization will allow you to understand from the first day what is most important to this specific company. This also gives you a head start on how you can focus your role and work to contribute towards that win. Employers will love hearing this question because it shows leadership initiative.
Important First-Day Questions Regarding Your Specific Role
- What Are the Three Most Important Things I Should Focus on in This Role?
Asking what the three most important things you should be focusing on in your role helps you to find out where to focus your time and energy in your first few weeks on the job. It also helps you to align your schedule and tasks to aim for those three important things. You will get a strong start by knowing where to put your focus and energy.
- What Is Something My Predecessor Did Well That You Want to Keep?
When there are transitions in roles, it can sometimes be uncomfortable to bring up former employees. However, there is a good chance that whoever was in this role before you did some things really well. Find out what those strengths, strategies, and qualities were and attempt to keep them.
- What Is Something My Predecessor Did Poorly That You Want to Change?
In the same vein as the last question, it would be helpful to know if there were any strategies or practices your predecessor focused on that need to be eliminated. Change is scary but necessary. Find out what needs to go so that you can bring in the right kind of change.
- What Projects Are Most Urgent and Important?
In any organization, there will inevitably be some projects that are important and urgent that need to be tackled. Find out what those are and begin to develop strategies to accomplish this project right away.
- Are There Any Metrics You Are Trying to Achieve? If So, What Are They and What Is the Expected Timeline?
This sets up the expectation on what metrics are important and helps you to aim for those right away. Knowing a timeline will also help you assess if you have time to work towards attaining it or if you need to move on things quickly to accomplish such metrics.
Start Your First Day of a New Job on the Right Foot
Asking the right questions on your first day will help you be successful from day one, bring you peace of mind both in the workplace and at home, and allow you to find the right rhythm in your new role. You want to be successful and your employer wants you to be successful. Ask these questions and by the end of your first day, you will feel inspired and prepared.
