The interview process is over, your resume has been selected, and now you’re counting down the days to the first day in your new role. But the road doesn’t stop here. Navigating your first day – the culmination of your hard work in the hiring process – is just the beginning. We got the scoop from Medpace Recruiter Ashely Neugebauer on how to crush your first day and leave a lasting impression.
What can new hires expect on their first day at Medpace?
First days can look different depending on which location you’re joining. If you’re onboarding at our Cincinnati campus, your day will be split into two parts: orientation in the morning and a team meet and greet in the afternoon.
During orientation, you’ll meet members of IT, HR, Facilities, and Training & Development to learn about Medpace as a whole and get a feel for the structure of the organization. Then, you’ll get set up with your laptop and other essential tools. Afterwards, you’ll meet your “Friend for the Day.” This is typically a team member within your department who will show you around, introduce you to the rest of the team, and grab lunch with you. Your Friend for the Day will be your point of contact for anything you’ll need during your first day, week, month, and even throughout your tenure at Medpace.
What is an unspoken rule of first days that recent graduates may not be aware of?
Ashley suggests this core rule that covers everything from dress code to arriving on time to remembering to pack a pen that new grads and seasoned professionals alike should remember: be prepared. Prepare for traffic on your morning commute. Prepare your outfit the night before, prepare a breakfast in the morning. Taking an extra step towards making sure all your bases are covered will help you not only feel more prepared on your first day but actually be prepared.
What are some essentials that new hires should bring on their first day?
You’ll typically be asked to bring some required paperwork for HR purposes, but Ashley recommends packing a notebook and pen for anything you want to jot down before you get assigned a laptop. New hire orientation can be overwhelming, so there’s no harm in taking a few notes during presentations. Don’t worry – you’ll also be given copies of everything that’s covered during your first day.
How can new hires deal with overwhelm and push through their first day?
“Keep an open mind and realize that there are others going through it as well,” Ashley says. At Medpace Cincinnati, new hires go through orientation with a large group that frequently consists of new hires within the same departments. You will likely have colleagues starting at or around the same time as you, so you’ll have a built-in support system as you move through the early stages of your tenure. “Oftentimes, there will be a lot of people feeling the same way,” Ashley explains.
Don’t feel pressured to pick up everything on your first day. Feeling overwhelmed with information and anticipation is normal, but each day will begin to make more sense. Our leadership team , from executives to managers, understands how you’re feeling and will provide the support you need to succeed. You can also take this opportunity to ask your manager and coworkers any questions to figure out how your position fits in within the bigger picture of your department and even the company as a whole. Getting a grasp on the organizational structure can help you get a head start in your role, especially when it comes to cross-departmental collaboration.
Onward and Upward
First days are just as exciting as they are nerve-wracking. Regardless of job title or where you are in your career, there are always opportunities to learn. Try to remember to take advantage of the opportunity of starting a new job and, as Ashley says, “be a sponge.” Take a second to soak it in. You made it!
Medpace careers