What to bring to the office on your first day

The first day of work is both exciting and nerve-wracking. To help you prep for the first day at your new office job, I’ve put together a list of the things I like to bring (or wish I brought) on the first day of the jobs I’ve had.

Lunch and snacks

It’s possible that your new team will greet you with a welcome meal or that your office will have a snack room.

But you’ll want to play it safe on your first day at work because it’s also possible that you’ll have a ton of meetings and onboarding documents to read through. If this is the case, you won’t have time to make a run for food or snacks.

Notebook and pen

You’ll likely be given a notebook and pen, but just in case, it’s best to bring your own.

2 cardigans or sweaters

Being in an office all day can get cold so be sure to bring a cardigan or sweater. For the first day, bring one cardigan or sweater that you can wear on your commute to and from work. And bring a second cardigan or sweater that’s a neutral color that can be left at the office.

This neutral-colored cardigan or sweater is so that you can leave this cardigan or sweater at the office. This will be your back up for the times you might forget a sweater or you spill something on your shirt during lunch.

Breath mints

You’ll be talking to people all day and you don’t want to leave a smelly impression. The reason I don’t recommend gum is that some people think it’s rude to chew gum during meetings.

Filled water bottle

Bring a water bottle so you can stay hydrated. Be sure you leave the house with it filled so you don’t immediately have to go searching for the water fountain when you first get to the office.

Planner

Staying organized is key to doing a good job.

• If you don’t use a planner:
  • You’re going to want to start. Each section in this blog post will show you how you can use planners to your advantage
• If you do use a planner:
  • The tips & tricks in this blog post will help you maximize your planner!

Bonus: three best planners for young professionals

A touch-up kit

Regardless of whether or not you wear makeup, you’ll want to bring anything you need to stay as fresh as when you first walked in the door. You can DIY a touch-up kit with a cosmetic bag filled with any or all of the following:

• Travel-sized deodorant
• Bandaids
• Extra hairpins and ties
  • Pro tip: An empty breath mint tin can be used to store your extra hairpins and ties.
• Travel-sized hand cream
  • Pro tip: Use a refillable container. This helps the environment and can be budget-friendly.
• Eye drops (because staring at a computer screen all day can dry out your eyes)
• Pads/tampons
• Tylenol
• And of course, any makeup products to keep your makeup looking fresh

What are you most excited or nervous about for your first day? Comment below!