A change is as good as a holiday, they say, but going to a new school or to varsity, applying for an internship or starting your first job can be very scary too. Different people, piles of books to work through, a mean manager or a bossy colleague … chances are you’ll be confronted by one or more of these challenges. But don’t worry: there are ways you can overcome these obstacles and make a good impression at the same time.

PLAYGROUND BLUES
So many of us don’t look forward to the start of the school year, so just imagine having to combine that with going to a new place where you don’t know anybody.

Kirsten Long, a life coach from Coach4Life in Joburg, says that the easiest way to make friends is to use every opportunity to strike up a conversation with someone.

‘When you’re filing into class, or in the queue at the tuck shop, be friendly and you’ll attract people,’ she says. Arrive at classes or school gatherings early. ‘It’s much easier walking into a nearly empty room than a full one,’ she says.

‘When someone else walks in, smile and make small talk and invite them to join you. This way you’ll be chatting to people when the room fills up.’

But what if you feel as though you don’t fit in with the crowd? Kirsten advises you sit with different groups every day during break. ‘You should find friends you’re comfortable with.’

The most important thing is not to try too hard, and to be yourself. Trying to fit in also means there will be times you’ll experience peer pressure. To overcome this, befriend people with similar values. ‘Know what your boundaries are,’
advises Kirsten.

STUDENT LIFE
If you’re starting varsity, the easiest way to get to know your fellow students is by attending orientation week and any other social events. Kirsten says this will help you make friends with a wide range of people. ‘At lectures and tutorials you’ll meet people with similar interests to yours – be open and friendly with them.’

Key to any student’s survival is achieving a good balance. ‘Studying too much will leave you without friends and without the ability to take much-needed breaks.

Socialising too much will result in failure, which ultimately will affect your relationships and your self-esteem,’ says Kirsten. She advises you make sure you keep up with coursework on a daily basis, because once you get behind, the pressure builds and it’s difficult to catch up. It’s extremely important that you set aside a reasonable amount of time for some exercise and for having fun.

To cope with being away from all your loved ones, make friends with people who are also away from home for the first time. That way, you can support each other. ‘It’s important that you take it one step at a time. If possible, find an
older student whom you trust to be your mentor,’ says Kirsten.

LEARNING THE ROPES
Getting an internship is one of the best steps you can take to achieving future successful employment. Cathy Sims of the University of Cape Town’s Career Service says it is important to remember that an internship is a learning  experience. ‘Be a sponge and soak up as much as you can,’ she says.

The biggest challenge first-time employees face is settling into the routine of work. ‘While you may be used to getting up at a regular time to go to classes, now you’re also confronted with all sorts of decisions in the morning – what to wear often being the most challenging.’

Cathy says it’s important to remember that you’re probably used to attending school or lectures for part of the day, and now you’re on the go for at least eight hours, so managing your time properly becomes really important. Also, starting at the bottom means you’ll probably have to do mundane work such as getting people coffee or seeing to the office stationery, but don’t let this get to you. It’s very important to complete each task on time and with a positive attitude to impress your employers and get a good reference.

ON THE BOTTOM RUNG
According to Cathy, your first job is the foundation for your career. ‘Think about building a house. If the foundations aren’t stable, every brick you add will not help with the stability. The same goes for skills development. Build
a solid foundation – if you plan well, are organised, communicate effectively, are supportive in a team and have a “can do” attitude, who wouldn’t want to work with you?’

Making a good first impression is critical and starts with arriving at work on time. ‘Make sure you have planned in advance how you will be getting to work, taking into consideration what the traffic is like or things such as the reliability of public transport,’ she adds.

The reality is that everyone will judge you on your first day and what you choose to wear is a really big part of the kind of impression you make.

‘Some companies have a conservative culture in their dress, and it’s absolutely imperative to know this before you start. A good idea is to visit the company before your first day. Or, at the very least, take note during your interview
process of how people dress in the organisation. Will you be dealing with clients? If so, how will you be perceived based on how you dress?

First-day-of-anything survival guide

• Be on time.
• Get to varsity a few days early so you can find your way around. If you get lost on campus, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
• Make sure you have all your books and stationery before classes start.
• At a new job or internship, get into a routine of keeping a to-do list and making notes of what you’ve learnt so you can remember who you need to speak to and how things need to be done.
• Always be friendly and courteous.