No matter what orientation program your organization offers (or doesn’t), it is your responsibility to gather the information needed to get up to speed quickly and make a contribution early on in your employment.

Take notes! You won’t be able to remember everything you were told on those first few days.

Before you start work, find out about:

• When, where and to whom you should report

• Your working hours

• Parking locations; inquire about parking passes if applicable

• Where to obtain relevant keys and the protocol for security procedures

• Required documentation to bring that might be required (i.e. a void cheque for payroll)

• What to wear; is there a dress code?

On your first day, find out about:

• Location of lunchroom, microwave, refrigerator, washrooms, mailboxes

• When to take designated breaks

• How to treat overtime or lieu time

• How to use telephone system (how to record your outgoing message and retrieve messages)

• Information about relevant codes, passwords for computers and/or printers

• The pay schedule and process for submitting timesheets and attendance

• Office roles (introduce yourself to your colleagues, ask for an organizational flow chart if in a large company)

During your first week:

• Continue to introduce yourself to others to get a bigger picture of how the organization functions

• Start to learn company lingo and customs

• Find out about projects that are in process that you will be involved in

• Clarify questions about your portfolio, your responsibilities and/or committee involvement

• Increase knowledge of the company (values, mission, customers, competitors, etc.)

• Find out about HR procedures (vacation scheduling, calling in sick...)

• Learn where the supplies are and the procedure for getting them

• Make a list of needed extensions, phone numbers and emails that you will need in your daily activities