5 Tips for Managing the Stress of Starting a New Job

Starting a new job can be overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help you get through the first few days.

1. Get organized, plan your day.

Spend some time the night before to plan your day. Choose your clothing, make sure it's all clean and pressed. Pack your lunch. Charge your cell phone. Pack a notebook and pen to take with you. If your job requires special tools or equipment, make sure they are in working order and ready to go.

2. Know your workplace.

You probably did some research about your new company during the job search and interview process. Now is the time for additional research. Prepare the night before by reviewing what you learned in your interview. Take another look at the company website, this time to learn the company's mission statement and philosophy. It's now your mission statement, your philosophy.

3. Know your job.

Keep a copy of the job ad, or job description, with you during the first few weeks. This will help you to learn the functions of your new role. Study the company's policies and procedures. Avoid making too many changes too soon in your new job. You want to learn the culture of your new environment before you try to change it. Don't compare your new employer to your old employer. Forget the probation period. Adjust to the rhythm of the workplace right away. You might have a 90 day probation period, but the truth is, no one needs 90 days to learn their place, and if they do, this may not be the right job for them.

4. Keep calm and carry on.

Relax. No one expects you to remember everyone's names in that first day. Be patient with yourself. You didn't learn everything about your last job in one day. You're not expected to know everything about your new job, but you are expected to be a positive contributor to the workplace.

You might want to review our post, "6 Topics to Avoid Discussing at Work".

5. Review your accomplishments.

You were hired for a reason. Keep your résumé with you during the first few days, and read it. Review your accomplishments throughout the day. Stay positive.

If your stress level is becoming too much for you to handle, visit the Canadian Mental Health Association. They can help.

Additional Reading:

* Starting a New Job: How to be Comfortable

* Four tips to overcome fear and anxiety in your new job

photo from flickr commons

How safe are you at work?

In 2010, 3.86% of all insured workers (or 154,862 total workers) were reported to be injured on the job based on statistics provided by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Reported incidents of injury are down for 2010 as in the previous year, 4.21% of workers were injured on the job 9 or 165,495 total across all insured workers in Ontario. The trend towards more stringent Health & Safety measures for employers and workers to follow has demonstrated a statistical decline in Reported incidents since 2006 when the WSIB reported an injury and illness rate of 5.38%.

It is important to note that While statistics indicate a decline in injury rates that lead to time off the job, the numbers could actually be worse because of accidents in the “underground economy” and “under-the-table paying” jobs that companies and workers never report.

Despite the push for better job safety and a decrease in injury rates, an alarming trend shows that workplace deaths have jumped 16 per cent in Ontario during the last year. A breakdown of the figures from the Ministry of Labour and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board reveals that job fatalities alone climbed by 11 in the latest year or 15 per cent to 84. It is important to note that although in the last year this jump in workplace deaths is significant, overall workplace fatalities since 2006 are down from a 5 year high of 101 in that fiscal year.

Data sourced from from the Toronto Star and the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board websites (WSIB) | www.thestar.com | http://www.wsib.on.ca

Rural Workshops

Live in the surrounding areas of City of Kawartha Lakes. We have many workshops lined up to help you find that summer job. Click here for information and for the July calendar click here and here for August.

VCCS hosting Open House for Student Centre

VCCS Employment Student Centre is having their open house July 14, 2011. Click here.

July Employer Presentations

Register for our FREE employer presentations. Call 705-328-0180 or e-mail scolville@careerservices.org

Learn about employment and career opportunities.

Total Cable Inc. July 19, 2011
RCMP July 25, 2011

Can social media really help you find a job?

More and more social media is entering our lives, our workplaces and our homes. Enquiries to "join my network" pop into our inboxes everyday. But can social networking really help in your job search? More than ever businesses and workplaces are tweeting, linking in and setting up facebook pages as ways of marketing their services. For the job seeker this can provide a wealth of information. What is the company's social media presence, what topics are they presenting and how current are their posts. Having a good understanding of a company gives you valuable information that you can use in your job search. It can help you target who to contact for informational interviews and identify a company's mission, beliefs and values that can help you tailor your resume and coverletter. How to use social media in your job search efforts is just one way that VCCS can help you. Come in and see us to find out more.

RCMP Employer Presentation!

VCCS will be holding an employer presentation from the RCMP on July 25^th at 10am. Be sure to check out this great opportunity! You will learn about career opportunities, basic requirements, the recruiting process, cadet training pay and will be able to meet the recruiter for the Central Region! Please call 705-328-0180 or visit VCCS Employment Services at 370 Kent St. West in Lindsay to register.