Getting your first job is an exciting and stressful time. Kids don’t always know what to do or how to act. Giving them some advice can help them get off to a good start. 

Explain that they’ve already gotten through the hard part. They made it through the interview and someone decided they had the qualities they wanted in a new employee. Now, they just need to get through the first day. Below are some tips you can give them to make their first day more successful. 

Plan Your Arrival

It never hurts to make a practice run before the start date arrives. Make sure you know what to expect from traffic and get to know the area if you aren’t familiar with it. If you went for your interview at 2 p.m. you don’t want to find out the difference in the time it takes to commute at 8 a.m.

When the big day arrives, get there at least fifteen minutes early. This allows for surprises like road construction or accidents. You don’t want to make the wrong impression on your first day by showing up late.

Ask Questions

It’s going to be someone’s job to show you around and teach you what is expected in your new position. No matter how qualified you are, you’re going to have questions. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this will make you look less professional or knowledgeable. The more questions you ask about what you don’t understand, the better you’ll be at performing your job duties from the start.

How to Interact with Your New Boss and Co-Workers

Most work environments have various cliques made up of like-minded people. If you want to succeed and advance in your position, look for the co-workers who mingle with management. People tend to stick with the same groups of people that they get to know first. Make sure you start by getting into the right crowd.

Your First Encounter with Superannuation

You might think your superannuation isn’t important when starting out on your first day of a new job. The decisions you make today will determine how well your super fund grows. Many new employees choose a balanced super fund which combines different investment types. This means combining savings, property, and equities to make your investment more secure. If you don’t have a lot of financial obligations, consider putting more in your super to increase your payoff.

If you earn under a certain amount, the government pays a co-contribution for any additional contributions you make to your super. Find out if you qualify and take advantage of the additional funds to your superannuation.

Managing Your First Pay Packet

Make sure you provide your tax file number when you are hired. Otherwise, you will be taxed at the highest rate. Also, check every paycheck to make sure you are being taxed in the right bracket. If you’ve worked on holidays or overtime, make sure that’s included too. Once you have an idea of what you will get paid, you can come up with a savings/spending plan.

Make a list of all your expenses and compare how much money is coming in and what’s going out. Don’t look at the difference as “free money” that you can spend on anything and everything. Set priorities for where you want your money to go.

Save something first and then spend what you have leftover. Look into different types of savings accounts to find the best way to get interest added to your money. Make this payment to yourself a priority. You’ll be prepared when financial emergencies or other expenses arise in the future.  

You only have one chance to make a good first impression. Help your kids make the most of their opportunity to fit in and become a part of their work environment. 

If you need help getting started on your investment journey or require expert financial advice, please get in touch with your Financial Adviser. They’re there to help you secure your future no matter what stage of life you are in.

General Advice Warning:
The information in this App is provided for information purposes and is of a general nature only. It is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other advice. Further, the information is not based on your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You are encouraged to consult a financial planner before making any decision as to how appropriate this information is to your objectives, financial situation, and needs. Also, before making a decision, you should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement available from your financial planner.