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What should I take to work with me on my first day?

By Monster Contributor
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Your first day at work is like your first day at school, but instead of a brand new pencil case you might have a shiny new briefcase. Knowing what to bring with you on your first day of work will help you feel more prepared for the challenges ahead.

You'll be seeing and meeting people you've never seen before and first impressions count. Despite having met a few people within the company, you still want to repeat some of the steps which got you through the job interview such as getting your attire right and turning up on time. Packing your bag for your first day can be a difficult task. You want to be prepared, but you don't want to have to take a suitcase to cover every possible opportunity.

As well as your knowledge and a smile, there are a few important items you bring with you on your first day at work.

Documents

A portion of your first day will probably be spent filling in a few necessary forms to get you into the company system so you can be paid and will receive all the benefits that are due to you. You probably won't need all of these, but you should aim to have:

  • Your passport
  • Your National Insurance Number details
  • Your Driving License
  • Proof of your address (eg. electricity bill)
  • Your UK visa (if appropriate)
  • P45

If you don't have these to hand, don't spend too long searching through your house to find them as you can always bring them in later.

It might be worth emailing your new employer a couple of days before you begin to check if anything will need to be produced. Read through your offer of employment letter to make sure they haven't already asked for something.

Equipment

Chances are that your new employer will give you everything you need to do your job, but there's no harm in being prepared with:

  • A pen (or two)
  • A notepad

And that's it. Staplers, scissors, hole punches and all the other items that regularly feature on desks can be gained over time - don't be tempted to weigh yourself down with unnecessary stationery. It's best practice to go into any meeting ready and able to take notes.

A light, smart folder is also a handy thing to have with you. You're likely to be given something to read through, and a copy of your contract and rather than shoving it in your bag, putting it neatly into a folder will mark you out as someone who likes to take care of things.

There's no harm in keeping a spare shirt at work if you can: or a jumper. Just in case of accidental spills, you won't feel self-conscious for the rest of the day.

The Essentials

Don't forget your wallet or purse and some money. A nice employer might treat you to lunch on your first day, but that isn't something that should be expected. You might also be invited for a drink to welcome you to the team, and you should at least offer to get in the first round. If mobile phones are allowed, keep them on silent so you can concentrate on the job, rather than a TikTok notification!

And finally, remember your house keys. With so many things going through your head when you're going for a new job it may be the last thing on your mind. The last thing you want to do is have to turn up for the second day at work wearing the same outfit after a night sleeping on your doorstep.

Feel More Confident

Now that you know what to bring with you on your first day at work, you can focus on the tasks at hand. Want some more advice? Make a free profile on Monster. We can send you helpful career advice, job search tips, workplace insights, and much more.