Dear Ready:

Congratulations on your persistence. Your long journey to achieve your degree is over and your future looks bright. Having already snared a lucrative position, you are ahead of the class of 2000 and very wise to look for ways to start out on a good foot. With the loving advice your parents have given you, I’d like to add my thoughts on preparing for your first job and making the right impression.

Since you have approximately one month to get ready, I’ve decided to give you a four-week count down:

Week 4: First, establish your mental framework. Go to church and thank God for continually blessing you. Remember, you did not make it to this point by yourself. You have much to be thankful for.

Next, if funds permit, go shopping for the kinds of things that working people need to have. Avoid trendy outfits. Shop in a store that specializes in business attire. Ask an experienced sales associate for insight on quality brands in your size and price range. Purchase a good quality business suit and get it properly altered. Try to locate a store that does free alterations. This will give you a suit that says, "I’m ready for business."

Take a look at your shoes, briefcase, purse and other accessories. Polish shoes; get new heels or soles if necessary. Be sure you can walk around for eight to10 hours in your shoes. This is definitely the sign of a professional to have clothes and shoes that fit and can stay crisp looking all day long. Never, never wear new shoes without breaking them in at least a week ahead of time. Clean out your purse or briefcase or planner. Throw away scraps of paper, old college notes and things that are cluttering these accessories. Be sure you have a place to put business cards.

Start a daily exercise program to help you endure long workdays and to relieve stress. Learn to take deep cleansing breaths to manage some of your nervousness. Breath in with your mouth closed as deeply as you can, then breathe out very slowly by mouth. Do this often during the course of the day, when you have a moment alone. Continue this during your workday to reduce tension.

Week 3: Drive past or take the bus or train to your new place of employment. Go at 7:00 a.m.! Determine the best rush-hour route. Locate employee parking. Determine the weekly cost of parking and be sure you have enough money for transportation/parking expenses (and lunch) until payday. Buy tokens if necessary. Observe how your co-workers are dressed. Take your clues from the people that look the most professional. Greet the guards or parking attendants. Let them know you’re a new employee, just trying to learn your way around. They may have interesting insights or suggestions to give you, plus you’ll be seeing these people everyday and it'll be nice to have them know you. Listen, learn but don’t believe everything you hear, so you should reserve judgment!

Week 2: Take this week to enjoy yourself. Take in a few movies. Spend time with family. Have lunch with college friends, etc. It may be a while before you get to do these things once into your "8-5."

Week 1: With only seven days before starting your position, it’s a good idea to organize your work clothes and hang together your outfits for the week and all accessories. This will save lots of time with your morning rituals. Women, especially, need to check their hose supply and be sure to have enough for the entire week. Write down in your planner five things you want to accomplish in your first five days on the job. Contact your supervisor to find out where you should report, at what time, and whom you should see upon arrival. Take notes and put them in your planner. You’ll be amazed at how this kind of personal organization can add to your feelings of confidence and readiness!

Take time to sit quietly and read any company literature you have been provided. Go on the Internet to see what else you can learn about your new company. Also, read current issues of Business Week, Black Enterprise, and The Wall Street Journal to be familiar with current business matters for informal chitchat situations. Check your alarm clock to make sure it’s working and that the wake-up time is set right. Use it everyday, the week before you start work, to see what it feels like to get up at that time. Then enjoy the fact that you have a week before you have to. Fill your gas tank, if you have a car.

The night before, eat and get to bed early so you can get up early. Try taking a hot bath. Read a book on meditation or something very relaxing. Avoid late night TV or telephone conversations. Review your five desired accomplishments that you wrote in your planner. Set your alarm to give you at least 30 extra minutes than it usually takes you to get dressed. Avoid any alcohol, because it can linger the morning after. Get a good night’s sleep.

First Day: Get up when the alarm clock rings. Do not fall back to sleep! Do a few morning exercises to get your blood flowing. Take an invigorating shower. Get dressed in bright light so you can really see yourself. Women need to be sure their makeup is daytime-wear not evening! Avoid too much perfume or cologne; it will overwhelm you if you get really nervous. Have a good breakfast; you’ll need the extra energy. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before you are scheduled to be there. Come to work ready to work, and with a pleasant manner. Greet people; introduce yourself, don’t just wait for others to greet you. Try to remember names of colleagues, if you can.

If you are to report to someone, be sure to address that person by his/her last name, unless invited to do otherwise. If you have an office, find out what the office protocols are, rules for hanging pictures, getting supplies, etc. Review any materials left at your workstation for you. You may be given a formal orientation schedule, or you may have received an orientation manual in advance. You may be taken to lunch or there may be a welcome coffee break with your colleagues, so stay flexible, even if none of these things occur.

Don’t wait to be told what to do. Seek out your supervisor or direct report and ask, "Where would you like me to begin?" This will get you off to a good start. In summary, the most important things you can do on the first day to establish a dynamic and positive impression are:

1. Be on time.
2. Be ready to work.
3. Greet your new colleagues.
4. Get your assignments.
5. Get busy.

If you do these things, you will be viewed as the winner that you are, and you’ll have a great new beginning.

Linda Bates Parker is the director of the Career Development Center at the University of Cincinnati.