New Job? Here’s 18 Questions to Ask Before Your First Day of Work

Overview

• Learn what questions you should ask your hiring manager ahead of your first day at a new job so you can arrive prepared and ready to succeed.
• Ensure you know when and where to arrive for your first day and what to expect from your daily routine while training.
• Prepare for onboarding with your new employer by inquiring about any legal documents, identification, and other paperwork needed on your first day.

There’s nothing more exciting than starting a new job and taking the next step in your career. It’s normal to be a little nervous, though, especially if you’re not sure what to expect in a new workplace alongside co-workers you’re meeting for the first time.

Once you’ve nailed the job interview, prepare for your new position to ensure your first day goes as smoothly as possible. This means you should email or speak with your company’s hiring manager, the recruiter, or even your new boss with any questions you might have. If you’re unsure what you should ask them, here are the right questions to ask before your first day of work.

To make sure your first day with a new employer goes well, you should gather as much information as you can about training, onboarding, your routine, and the basic logistics of the role. This means contacting the right people with any questions you might have about the position. Here are some questions that will make for a smooth transition as you start your new job.

• When should I start my workday? It’s important to make a good first impression on your first day at a new organization. The first step is being on time — or better yet, early. Ask your boss what time you should arrive on your first day. Also, be sure to ask if this differs from your regular workday. This question is also important for those working remotely. Make sure you know when you should be logged into your computer. If they set you up with a virtual training session, try logging in five to 10 minutes early.

• What entrance should I use? If you’re working at a physical office, ask your hiring manager which entrance you should use when you arrive. Should you go directly in the front door, or is there another area where you should enter the building?

• Where should I park? Ask where you should park on your first day. Does your new job provide assigned spots or is it first come, first serve? Also, remember to ask if you need a parking pass.

• Where should I go first? As a new hire, where are you expected to go first once you arrive? Should you report to the human resources (HR) department or directly head to your new team’s section of the office? If you’re working remotely and your supervisor or hiring manager wants to meet with you virtually, make sure you have the correct links and passwords for your virtual meeting.

• What is the dress code like? Ahead of your first day of work, inquire about the dress code. Is the company culture casual, or does the type of work require more professional dress? This question is important even if you’re working remotely. You should know in advance how to dress for virtual meetings with videos.

• How does the company communicate? If you’re working remotely, how does your new team prefer to communicate? Do they use tools like Asana or Slack? Do they prefer email? Is it the norm for them to call someone if they have a question? Even if you’re working in a physical office, it’s good to know how your new colleagues tend to communicate.

• How frequent are meetings throughout the day? Some offices meet more frequently than others. Does your new role have you in multiple meetings throughout the day or are they infrequent? Knowing this will help you manage your daily schedule and workload.

• Do I need to provide any legal documents? At most jobs, a portion of your first day will be dedicated to filling out paperwork. Ask in advance if there are any legal documents you need to fill out or provide, including any tax documents, proof that you’re eligible to work, nondisclosure agreements, health care benefits forms, employment agreements, non-compete agreements, and non-solicitation agreements.

• What identification do I need to provide? It’s important to know which forms of identification — such as your Social Security card, driver’s license, or passport — new employees should bring with them during onboarding. Some employers will require secondary proof, such as bills with your name on them or other paperwork, to verify your legal status to work.

• Who will be training me? During your first day or days at a new job, who will be training you? Some companies might have you train with a member of your new team. Larger employers might have dedicated training departments. You might also find yourself training with several people in various areas.

• How long is my training? Every new position will require some form of training. Some employers have a rigid training schedule that could last weeks or even months, depending on the job, while others might have you working on tasks on your own within a few hours. It all depends on the nature of the position and the employer.

• What are my responsibilities? How will they progress in the coming weeks? This is something that will likely also come up during the interview process, but it can steady your nerves to understand your responsibilities and expectations for your first week on the job. As you train in your new position, what will be expected of your progress within a week or several weeks? Understanding your company’s training benchmarks in advance can help you assess how well you’re doing.

• Who are my team members? Who will you be reporting to? Who will be reporting to you? What does your new team look like? Who are you working closely with on this team? And just as importantly, what is the reporting structure? Who is your direct supervisor? Who is above them? If you’ve been hired as a manager, you’ll also need to understand who will be reporting to you.

• Are there bonus opportunities for sales or other achievements? Your salary would have been told to you when the company made their initial offer, but you also want to make sure you fully understand the commission structure and bonus plan if you’re in sales. If you’re not in sales, are there any opportunities to earn bonuses based on achievements? If so, these are goals you’ll want to keep in mind as you learn more about your new position.

• When do benefits like health insurance become active? Some employers offer health care benefits starting on the first day of work. Many have a waiting period, though, and some can even require you to work up to a year before your coverage begins. (But don’t fret, many employers don’t make you wait that long.) In this case, you might consider a short-term policy to fill that gap.

• Should I review any training materials or online classes before I start? Before your first day, some employers might send you training materials or suggest online courses for you to take. Also, ask if your employer compensates you for any time spent on training, even if you’re doing it on your own. Labor laws vary by state and other factors come into play, as well.

• What if I have personal health-related concerns? If you have a health condition that your employer should know about, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires them to offer a reasonable accommodation in the workplace if they have more than 15 employees. It can be nerve-wracking to disclose this information to an employer, especially on day one. Don’t overshare. Just give them enough information about your condition so they can work with you to accommodate your needs.

• Do they have any questions for me? If you’ve exhausted all of your questions for your new employer, make sure they don’t have any additional questions for you. If there’s any additional information your employer needs, this will help you arrive better prepared for your first day.

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