15 Ways to Impress Your Boss on Day 1

15 Ways to Impress Your Boss on Day 115 Ways to Impress Your Boss on Day 1No one expects you to know everything on your first day- or your first month- on the job. But that doesnt mean you cant learn how to impress your boss and co-workers even while youre still figuring things out.So, if not expertise, what exactly do employers want to binnensee from new hires on day one?To find out, we asked a panel of 15 successful entrepreneurs from the pYoung Entrepreneur Council(http//theyec.org/) Whats one thing you expect all new hires to start doing on their first day of work to ensure their long-term success?And heres what they had to say.1. Get an Early Win Raoul Davis, Ascendant GroupConsider ways you can build momentum right away. Try to identify an immediate contribution you can make to the team. People who do this generate a positive perception and tell me we have a long-term winner within the company.2. Bring One Big Idea Clay Hebert, SpindowsDont be worried getting your boss coffee o r ordering the team lunch accurately. Instead, propose an audacious new idea to improve the business every week. Bring these ideas to your boss or (even better) post them publicly, and offer to lead a team to execute the new idea. Compliance isnt scarce. Leadership and initiative are.3. Get to Know People Shenan Reed, Morpheus MediaIf you sit at your desk for the first few days and spend little time interacting with other people in the company, itll take longer to figure out how to navigate the bro and find answers to questions. Walk around, eat lunch in the kitchen, ask people what they do, what they work on, and what gets them excited about being here every day4. Put in the Extra Hours Derek Capo, Next StepThe first thing we notice about new employees is the time that they clock out- mentally or physically. If we notice that someone is out the door by5 PM, we know the type of person we will get. If we see the person makes the extra effort and time to learn mora about what we are t eaching and stays a bit later, we know this is the person we want.5. Make Jokes Claus Moberg, SnowShoe StampWe are very proactive in evaluating the cultural fit of candidates for full-time positions. By the time weve actually hired someone, we expect that he or she knows our current staff well enough to start cracking jokes and having fun from day one. If you arent comfortable enough to laugh a little, thats a sign of a problem.6. Express Curiosity Reid Carr, Red Door InteractiveOn the first day, work to identify all of your internal customers, introduce yourself, and schedule time with those customers to interview them on a broad range of subjects. Be curious, thoughtful, and open.7. Understand the imagination Doreen Block, PoshlyTo ensure long-term success, understand the long-term vision of the company on day one. Asking questions to fellow team members about strategy and key performance indicators is critical to getting acquainted on the first day. As you master the long-term vi sion, youll be able to ensure that your day-to-day work aligns well. 8. Be a Sponge Robert Sofia, Platinum Advisor MarketingBefore you try to change the game, you must first learn how to play it. Rather than worrying about socializing or making an impression, focus on learning how the organization and the people within it operate. First learn, then do, then teach.9. Remember Everyones Name Alex Chamberlain, EZFingerPrintsMy main goal for a new team member is to have him or her remember everyones name. Nothing helps a new team member more than walking in on day two and saying, Hey John. It instantly builds credibility and relationships with the team.10. Research at Home Kelsey Meyer, Contributor WeeklyThere are a lot of things that need to be learned on the job, but some things can be learned by reading and researching at home. When a new hire asks me what he or she should be reading to get up to speed, I know that person is devoted to adding value from day one.11. Understand Everyon es Roles Chuck Cohn, Varsity TutorsIts critical to understand how you fit into the larger organization and what each part of the company actually does. It will help ensure that your team works more effectively and that information is communicated to the right area of your organization.12. Ask Lots of Questions Dave Smith, TekScapeIt says a lot when a new hire comes to work with a long list of questions, inquiries, or comments that demonstrate not only his or her understanding of the job and the expectations of the position, but also a projection of where he or she is capable of taking the company.13. Organize and Prioritize Work Jay Wu, Forever RecoveryThe first thing I expect new hires to do is organize and prioritize their work responsibilities. This is important because it gives direction and determines the priority based on the deadlines and importance of each task. It can be overwhelming when you are in charge of executing multiple tasks, but creating a to-do list can help you focus and accomplish more.14. Interact With Others Aron Schoenfeld, Do it in PersonShow that you arent shy and that you want to be part of the team. Introduce yourself to people who work near you, and make sure you meet some new people each day. Your long-term success, as well as the companys, depends on the team, and you need to become part of that as soon as you can.15. Have Energy Henry Balanon, Protean PaymentOne way to ensure a bad start is to show a lack of enthusiasm on your first day. Show people you want to be there. Give them no doubt from the start that you are committed to the team and your role.