How early should you arrive to orientation? (2023)

How early should you show up for your first day of work?

You should always try to get to work on time, especially on your first day. If you want to make an especially good impression, aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.

Many experts believe a good (translation: informative, yet concise and effective) employee orientation program should last approximately three hours, but definitely no longer than one full work day.

Different industries require different levels of training and briefing before new employees can fully participate in their responsibilities. However, the widely accepted general standard for a new employee's orientation duration is around three hours or no longer than a full workday.

Orientation starts on the first day of work and is more general in focus, welcoming new employees and introducing them to their new work environment. Onboarding is a much longer process, typically a few weeks or months, and is more job and department-specific.

Being an early arriver sends a positive message to your coworkers as well as your boss. It shows that you are dedicated and able to sacrifice for the sake of your career and the company. Your superiors will notice your drive and work ethic, and this can only serve to benefit you down the road with future projects.

A suit and tie is always a safe choice. If you don't own a suit, you can wear slacks, a button-down shirt and a tie. Be cautious with fragrances: Your colleagues might be allergic to fragrances, so be careful about how much perfume, cologne or scented lotion you wear.

A job orientation occurs on the first few days of a new hire's employment. It involves introducing them to their team, showing them their workspace and administering new hire paperwork. Employees will usually spend a portion of their job orientation reviewing onboarding information like dress code, benefits and salary.

Orientation does not mean you got the job. It means you can be selected at random to come in to work. If you have not yet received any notice that you are hired it is best to call HR to see the status of your application.

What usually happens on orientation?

What will you do at orientation? The most important task you want to complete at orientation is to get acquainted with college life. You will attend “getting to know you” sessions, informational sessions, and advising sessions. You will learn about school policies, general rules, the honor code and more.

If you don't attend orientation, it may be difficult to get academic advising. It can affect your course registration and limit the selection of classes available to you. The major departments set aside these dates/times to specifically meet with new students.

Bring a pen and a small notepad to jot down all the necessary details you might forget later. Since it's the day of orientation, there's a high possibility that you would have to fill out a lot of basic paper work. Therefore, it's smart to carry certain documents that prove your identity or your social security number.

You fill out your paperwork and start you work week. As part of the hiring process, after the orientation was completed, the next step was to start at training at the position you would be working.

Being on time helps you be cool, calm, and collected, and you make a great impression by showing the other person you respect their valuable time. By arriving early, you allow yourself a few extra minutes to think through your argument, and you appear more confident, poised, and in control.

It's important to arrive early because it can improve your performance during the interview, which may help you attain your target position. If you arrive early, you may also have time to get a drink of water, use the restroom and register with the office manager or receptionist before your interview.

It gives them a bit of peace of mind to know that everyone is present and accounted for before the shift starts, and if everyone makes an effort to get in the door a little early, it lowers the chances of stragglers coming in late.

Yes. It would be a great idea to bring money for meals, snacks, and beverages during the program. Even though vouchers will be provided for lunch and dinner during Orientation, it's still a good idea to have extra money on hand in case you need it for additional food or refreshments during your time here on campus.

What should I do when I arrive at work on my first day?

It's a completely normal — and necessary — thing to ask. There's no point in coming early; whoever's in charge of orienting you might not be there yet. And you don't want to risk coming late.