Everything You Need To Know About Your First Day Of Work At A Startup
Starting a new job is always nerve-wracking, but it's especially true when it's your first day working at a startup. You know that the company you're joining is small, young, and growing fast—and the stakes can seem high. You want to make a good impression on your co-workers and boss, and you want to feel like you're contributing to something worthwhile.
So how do you get off on the right foot when you start your first day of work at a startup? Here are 4 tips to help you make the best out of your first day:
Get To Know Your Colleagues
People are the product of a startup, so you should be excited to meet them. You'll be working closely with your team, so you want to make sure they're all as lovely as you think they are. Don't feel like you have to wait for an introduction—walk right up and say hello.
While you're at it, ask them questions about their role in the company and how they came to work there. Remember that everyone is in the same position and that no one will expect you to know everything right away, so use this time to learn more about the people around you.
Get to know your coworkers using these tips:
Take advantage of happy hours and company outings
Share what you know
Eat lunch together
Don't Over Plan or Overthink Things Too Much Ahead of Time.
It's easy to fall into overthinking things when working with a startup. As we all know, startups are a high-risk/high-reward endeavor. The feeling of risk can keep you up at night, and thinking about reducing that risk is what you want to do. The problem is that it often doesn't lead anywhere.
First, there are some things you can't predict. You can try, but as soon as you start working on your idea, you will learn something that will change your assumptions and make your early planning obsolete anyway.
Second, it comes at the cost of working on your product and iterating with real users. That is the only thing that matters at this point. If you don't have any users interacting with your product, none of your plans or ideas matters anyway. Working on the product helps you learn what you need to know to succeed in the long run.
The best way to deal with this is to avoid doing detailed planning whenever possible and instead focus on short-term goals you want to achieve in 1 to 2 weeks and get there by taking small steps every day while learning what you need.
Go the Extra Mile, but Know Your Limits
You may have to go the extra mile to make your job work in a startup. That can mean picking up tasks that others don't want to do or spending time on projects that aren't in your job description. This is because the company is growing fast and needs someone who can get things done quickly and efficiently.
However, before you bow out, there are a few things you need to know:
Don't Feel Pressured.
There's a fine line between being helpful and feeling like you're being forced into something that doesn't fit your skills or interests. Be wary of any requests that seem too good to be true (and usually are), like working for free or spending the weekend at the office instead of going home (unless there's a clear benefit).
Get It in Writing
If someone asks you to take on additional responsibilities, ask them to put it in writing outlining what they expect from you and when they wish it done. It will help keep everyone on the same page and protect both parties if there's ever a dispute.
Remember, there is a difference between going the extra mile and working yourself into exhaustion. If you're not careful, it's easy to burn yourself out by taking on too much work.
Here are some common scenarios that might lead to burnout:
You're Expected To Do Everything
Even if it's not in your job description, you might be asked to take on more responsibilities than you can handle. For example, if your job is a copywriter, you may be expected to do everything from writing blog posts to creating presentations for clients' meetings. If you take on more than you can handle, you will be forced to quit.
You're Doing Work Outside Normal Business Hours
Many startups expect employees to work longer hours than they should, especially when under pressure.
Be Open-Minded and Embrace Everyone's Differences
When you work at a startup, you get surrounded by different people. Diversity is an asset, and appreciating the different perspectives around you will help you be a better employee.
Everyone has their strengths, weaknesses, and quirks—but that's okay! Some people might not even be your type or someone you'd necessarily want to be friends with.
But if they're doing their job well and helping the company reach its goals, accept them for who they are. The more comfortable you feel in getting along with people different from you, the more productive you get as a team.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Your first day at a startup is less scary than it might seem. You will do fine as long as you remember that the startup community is a small (but energetic and welcoming) world.
As days pass by, your experience at a startup will get better. You will master the dos and don'ts within a short while, and this will create more motivation to keep going.
Remember, you can only do enough. So as much as there are expectations to wear many hats, it helps to take breaks and mind your mental health.
Also, take a look at the steps to take after accepting a new job in this article.
