Half of workers make bad first impressions when starting new jobs

Others arrived completely over-dressed, spilled tea everywhere or got lost en-route to the office

Full-time employees in this country worked an average of 42 hours a week last year (Shutterstock)

Arriving late, wearing inappropriate clothes and bumping a colleague’s vehicle in the car park are among the biggest blunders made by employees on their first day at work, a new poll has found.

The survey of almost 3,000 workers revealed almost half have made a bad first impression after having a terrible or humiliating start to a new job.

Others arrived to find they were completely over-dressed, spilled tea everywhere, got lost en-route to the office and said something inappropriate because they were nervous.

In total, 95 per cent of respondents said they felt it was important to make a good first impression on others when starting a new job, with 82 per cent believing they’re more likely to make a positive impact on their first day if they know they have got their clothing spot on.

Turning up wildly over or even under-dressed was among the mistakes new workers do on a first day, with more than seven in 10 wishing they had a uniform for work, in a bid to make their first day – and consequently first impressions – easier to manage.

Other first-day include finding there was no allocated desk or computer to work at and being late due to traffic.

Having a wardrobe malfunction and accidentally sending a sensitive email as a ‘staff all’ also feature in the list.

Meanwhile, one in three British workers have been introduced to someone on day one at work, then immediately forgotten their name.

One fifth have also been so nervous they’ve ended up blurting out something inappropriate or stupid - leading to quizzical looks from colleagues.

Others have accidently damaged company property, been over-friendly and had to ask how to turn the computer on.

But researchers found those who excelled on their first day put it down to being fully prepared and sufficiently knowledgeable about the company.

When it camesto making a good impression, 58 per cent say arriving early works wonders while 57 per cent try to ask intelligent questions.

“Starting a new job can be intimidating for a variety of reasons," said a spokesperson for 4imprint, which commissioned the study. "From not knowing who you’ll be working with, not being 100 per cent sure how to get to your new workplace and worries over what to wear can make for a nerve-wracking first day.

“Our study found the importance of what you wear to work can make you feel as comfortable as possible on a first day and help create a great first impression.”

“A decision can be made about a person within 26 seconds of meeting them – which is why appearance is so important. Corporate work wear can provide reassurance to new starters and if your organisation operates in the service or retail sector then staff uniforms can also be vitally important for customers.”

SWNS