The night before
Confirm three things in writing if nobody has told you: what time to arrive, where to go, and whom to ask for. Do a trial run of the commute at the hour you will really travel, or at least check it, and plan to arrive ten to fifteen minutes early. Dress one notch above what you saw people wearing at the interview, since you can always relax it by Wednesday.
The paperwork you will be asked for
Federal law requires every new hire to complete Form I-9, which verifies that you may work in the United States. You fill in your section by the first day and must show original documents within three business days. A valid US passport satisfies it alone. Without one, you need an identity document such as a driver's license plus proof of work authorization such as a Social Security card or a birth certificate. Photocopies are not accepted. You will also complete a Form W-4 for federal tax withholding, often a state version, and a direct deposit form, so bring your bank's routing number and your account number.
What to carry
- You need the original identification documents described above.
- You need a notebook and a pen, because typing notes on a phone looks like texting.
- You need your banking details and an emergency contact's phone number.
- You need a lunch or the money for one, in case nobody has planned anything.
Getting through the day
Expect badge photos, a laptop that is not quite ready, passwords, a building tour and an afternoon of mandatory training videos. None of it is a test. When you are introduced to someone, repeat their name, ask what they work on, and write both down afterward with a note about where they sit. If anyone invites you to lunch, say yes. Before the day ends, ask your manager one question: what you should focus on for the rest of the week. It gives you a target and shows you came to work.
Small things that get noticed
Keep your phone out of sight. Hold your opinions about the software, the office and the coffee for a few weeks. Do not be the first to leave, and check with your manager before you go. That evening, spend ten minutes reviewing the names you wrote down.
Tip Save every login, policy link and contact you are given in one document from the first hour. You will be handed thirty pieces of information and nobody will remember which ones they gave you.
