Everyone has to start a new job every now and then. Tomorrow, i will be starting a new position for the baseball off season. From April to October, I am an athletic trainer for a professional baseball team. From November to April, I will be working as a wellness coach for a physical therapy office. I didn't think I could have been more nervous to start a job as I was for the baseball team. It was something I have never done before. There were going to be 30 professioanl athletes working for the team, and they were all under my care. I was the one who needed to get them healthy very quickly so they could get back to doing their job. It was the most terrifying thing I have ever done. Until now... I start working as a wellness coach tomorrow. I've never done something like this before, and I couldn't be more nervous. I don't really know what to expect. Thinking back, though, I guess I was always nervous to start new jobs. From child care to servifng at a restaurant to my very first athletic training job at a high school, it was always so nerve wrecking. Going into work tomorrow won't be any different. I'm a ball of nerves right now! But here are the rules I try to follow to keep me a little more calm:
1. Prepare yourself. Don't go into the job blind. Research about the company you're going to be working for. Research the position you will be working in. The more you know, the more impressed your boss will be and the more comfortable you will be in the position.
2. Get enough sleep! I cannot stress this enough. You do not want to be groggy the first day of your new job. This will make your boss think you are not serious about the job. Make sure you go to bed early so you can get the adequate amount of sleep. I know I don't sleep well normally, so when I'm nervous, I know I have to get to bed a bit earlier.
3. Stay confident! You were hired into this position for a reason! You clearly impressed in the interview, so keep that confidence going! You went to a great school for this and now it's time to show what you've learned. You got this.
4. Communicate with your supervisor. Use them as a tool to help you grow. I know with I got the job I have now my supervisor is always there for me. I was fortunate enough to have two people I made relationships with when I started, even though one of them no longer works for the company. I know if I needed her, I could always call. The other person is just as great. He always encourages me and tells me how great I am doing. He tells me there is never a dumb question, even though I feel like I'm constantly asking dumb questions. When you get a good relationship with your supervisor, you know that they are not there to watch you fail. They are there,to help you and keep you going.
5. Make connections with other people in your field. Network like crazy. Go to conferences. Make new friends. The more people you know before you start your job, the easier it is to make those connections after you've been inthe career. I was i, college wondering what I wanted to be when I grew up, and i thought about my athletic trainer when I was an athlete in high school. When I figured out I wanted to be an ATC, I contacted him to ask where I should go to school and what other advise and expertise he could give me. Those connections are important.
6. Have FUN! You got into this profession because you love it
Have fun with it, especially on your first day. Day one of a new job is of course hard and you learn a lot, but go into it with a high head, a good attitude, and just have a good time learning everything. The knowledge you will learn with this job is going to make you a better athletic trainer, and that should be a great feeling!
I hope you all enjoyed my steps to not be nervous. I know I'll be thinking about all of them tonight! Let me know if you have any steps to shake off the nerves. I would like to hear your input!
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