Brought to you by Citizens Information.
You’ve done it!
After toiling away for what seems like an eternity, you’ve finally managed to get a new job. Countless interviews and even more job applications and it’s finally paid off.
There’s nothing quite like that week before you start a new job. You can enjoy sitting back, safe in the knowledge that there’s nothing more you could do than wait to start.
But as your start date draws closer, a couple of thoughts start to float around your head. It might be the nerves of starting over or you might feel like you haven’t adequately prepared.
Don’t fret, there are a few steps you can take to put yourself in the best position for when you start.
1. Get your paperwork sorted
First things first, new job, you’re going to want to get paid properly for it. There’s nothing quite as sickening as opening your payslip to find that you’ve been emergency taxed.
To prevent this from happening, there are a few steps that you’ll need to take.
You’ll want to get a P45 from your previous employers. This document contains details of your pay as well as Income Tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge that’s been deducted by your employer and paid to Revenue up until the day you left their employment.
If you have trouble getting your P45 you should get in touch with your tax office. Finally, once you accept a new job you should register it on Revenue.ie, to ensure that your employer and the tax office have everything sorted before your first payday.
2. Read up on the job
If you’ve been given a job, hopefully, you’re pretty up to speed on what it entails. All the same, there’s no harm in brushing up on the day-to-day inner workings of the place.
It’s worthwhile getting a detailed job description from your new employers. You’ll be able to hit the ground running if you have a clear idea of what’s expected of you.
3. Read before you sign
The induction period in a new job can be very valuable if it’s done right. Otherwise, it can be a bit of a waste of time.
In the best-case scenario, you’ll be given a contract, job description and maybe even a staff handbook in advance of your start date. However, it’s not uncommon to be handed your contract on your first day and be expected to sign it then and there.
Take this paperwork home and give it a good read over before you commit to signing it. You should also be able to take a few days to get an impression of the place before you sign on the dotted line.
In fact, it’s no harm asking whether you’ll be given a proper induction day when you start off. If your employer provides you with adequate training and support during this period, you can probably assume you’ll be working in a professional environment.
4. Keep an open mind
It’s exactly like starting in a new school. You might not love it from the very first moment. You might be nervous. It might take you a while to get talking to the other kids.
A week or two later, you’ll struggle to remember how you felt in those first few days. Don’t make any rushed judgements about the place. Everybody needs time to settle in.
5. Speak up
Apologies in advance but we’re going to use a school analogy again. It’s a bit like when you were in maths class. The teacher explains an equation to the room. They ask “Do you all understand that?” Everyone nods. You nod along thinking you’ll be able to figure it out tonight. No luck. If only you’d insisted on further explanation in class.
We’ve all been there. If you’ve just been shown something in your new job that you haven’t fully grasped the first time around, make sure to let someone know. Your employer wants you to succeed in the job. There’s no point sitting on your hands for a week before revealing the gap in your knowledge way down the line. Bite the bullet and speak up.
For more information on your rights and entitlements check out the Citizens Information website.
Brought to you by Citizens Information.
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