prepare-for-your-first-day

name	prepare-for-your-first-day
category	start
description	Prepare practical logistics, questions, boundaries, and a learning plan for a new role. Use when an employee, intern, apprentice, or contractor is approaching their first day.

prepare-for-your-first-day

Reduce avoidable uncertainty while leaving room to learn how the workplace actually operates.

Procedure

1. Confirm start time, location or link, contact, dress or equipment guidance, accessibility needs, and required documents through a verified channel.
2. Review the role description, accepted offer, known team context, and any pre-start material.
3. Prepare a short, truthful introduction covering role, relevant background, and what the person hopes to learn.
4. List first-week questions about priorities, success, communication, decisions, tools, security, schedule, and support.
5. Set up a private note system for people, terminology, commitments, questions, and follow-ups.
6. Plan travel, workspace, meals, medication, connectivity, and a backup contact route.
7. Decide what personal information and availability boundaries the person is comfortable sharing.
8. After day one, record access gaps, assignments, owners, due dates, and questions to confirm.

Failure plan

• Do not send identity, banking, tax, or credential data through an unverified request.
• Never install software, bypass security, or use personal accounts unless authorized.
• If instructions conflict with the accepted terms or create a safety concern, pause and contact the appropriate person.
• Avoid promising expertise or availability that has not been agreed.

Done

• Logistics, access needs, documents, route, and backup contact are confirmed
• Introduction, questions, and note system are prepared
• Day-one commitments and unresolved access issues are recorded before the next work period