# What to Say on Your First Day at a New Job: Introductions

On your first day, use one short introduction everywhere: your name, your role, and one personal detail, followed by a question about them. For example: 'Hi, I'm Sara, the new account manager. I've just moved from Bristol. How long have you been on the team?' Then listen more than you talk, and write names down.

By the Speaking Coach team at Sodhera Intelligence. Updated 2026-10-22. Source: https://www.orecci.com/speaking-coach/small-talk/first-day-at-work/

## Your 10-second introduction

You'll introduce yourself ten or twenty times on day one. Have one version ready and reuse it.

**Name + role + one personal detail + a question.**

> "Hi, I'm Sara. I'm the new account manager on the retail team. I've just moved from Bristol, so everything's new. How long have you been here?"

That takes about ten seconds to say. The personal detail (just moved, just finished a degree, coming from a hospital, new to the industry) gives people something to ask you. The question hands the conversation to them, which is what you want on day one: you learn more, and they feel welcomed rather than lectured.

Keep it the same each time. Repetition is what makes it sound relaxed by lunchtime.

## What to say to different people

These are example lines. Swap in your own details.

| Who | What to say |
| --- | --- |
| The person who sits next to you | "Hi, I'm Sara, I'll be next to you. Any tips on surviving week one?" |
| Your team in a group intro | "Hi everyone, I'm Sara. I've come from five years in agency account work, and I'm really glad to be here. I'll probably be asking a lot of questions." |
| Your manager, first chat | "Thanks for getting me set up. What would a good first month look like from your side?" |
| Your manager's manager | "Nice to meet you. I'm Sara, I've just joined Maya's team as an account manager." |
| Reception, security, IT | "Hi, I'm Sara, I started today on the fourth floor. Thanks for sorting my pass." |
| Someone from another team | "I'm Sara, new on the retail team. What does your team work on?" |
| At the coffee machine | "Morning. I'm new. Is there a trick to this machine?" |

Being friendly with reception, facilities and IT pays off. They're the people you'll need most in week one.

## Questions to ask your new coworkers

On day one, questions are better than stories about yourself. They show interest and help you learn how things work.

**About the work**
- "What are you working on at the moment?"
- "Who should I talk to about the client accounts?"
- "What do you wish someone had told you in your first week?"

**About the place**
- "Where do people usually go for lunch?"
- "Is there a team chat I should join?"
- "How do people here usually ask for help, message or just come over?"

**About them**
- "How long have you been here?"
- "Were you on a different team before?"
- "Do you live nearby?"

The "what do you wish someone had told you" question is especially useful. People enjoy answering it, and the answers are often things nobody writes down.

## Your first conversation with your manager

Most managers will set up a first chat. Come with a few questions so it isn't one-way:

1. "What does success look like for me in the first 30 and 90 days?"
2. "How do you like to get updates: messages, a weekly meeting, or something else?"
3. "Who are the three people I should get to know first?"
4. "Is there anything about how the team works that I should know early?"

Take notes. It shows you're listening, and you'll want the answers next week.

## Lunch and breaks

If someone invites you to lunch, say yes, even if you brought your own. It's the easiest place to get to know people. If no one does, it's fine to ask: "Do people usually eat together? Mind if I join you?"

At lunch, follow the group's lead on topics. Light work talk and weekend plans are safe. Let others go first on anything personal. See [what to talk about at lunch with coworkers](/speaking-coach/small-talk/team-lunch/) for more.

## Remembering names

You'll meet many people in one day. A few habits help:

- **Say their name back** when you meet: "Nice to meet you, Daniel."
- **Link the name to something:** "Daniel from finance, the one who cycles in."
- **Write them down** at your desk, with a note about each person. Nobody will mind.
- **Use the org chart** or team page in the evening to match faces and names.

If you forget, just ask early: "Sorry, remind me of your name? I've met so many people today." It's normal in the first week. Waiting longer only makes it harder. More in [what to say when you forget someone's name](/speaking-coach/small-talk/forgot-someones-name/).

## What to avoid on day one

| Avoid | Why | Instead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "At my old job, we did it like this…" | Can sound like criticism | Ask why they do it this way |
| Long stories about yourself | People are busy | Short intro, then a question |
| Complaining about your commute or the tech setup | First impressions stick | Ask who can help |
| Joining gossip | You don't know the history yet | Stay friendly and neutral |
| Pretending you understand jargon | Leads to mistakes later | "Sorry, what does that stand for?" |

## Starting remotely

If your first day is on video calls, introductions still matter, and they're easier to forget. Turn your camera on for intro calls, use the same 10-second introduction, and send a short message to each person you meet: "Great to meet you today. Looking forward to working together." Ask your manager who you should book short intro calls with in week one.

## Practice the introduction before Monday

Say your 10-second introduction out loud a few times before your first day. It's surprisingly easy to stumble over your own job title when you're nervous. The [how to introduce yourself](/speaking-coach/guides/how-to-introduce-yourself/) guide has versions for meetings and events. In Speaking Coach, the Introduce yourself scene lets you practise with an AI partner who asks follow-up questions.

## Questions people ask

### How do I introduce myself to my new team?

Give your name, your role, a line about your background and one personal detail, then say you're glad to be there. Keep it under 20 seconds in a group.

### What should I say to my new boss on the first day?

Thank them for setting things up and ask what a good first month looks like from their side. Ask how they like to get updates.

### What questions should I ask on my first day at work?

Ask what people are working on, who you should talk to about your main tasks, and what they wish they'd known in their first week.

### Is it okay to eat lunch alone on the first day?

It's fine, but say yes to any invitation. If none comes, ask to join a group; most people are happy to have you.

### How do I make friends at a new job?

Learn names quickly, say yes to coffee and lunch, ask people about their work, and follow up on what they told you a few days later.

---
Speaking Coach on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6767124039
Speaking Coach on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sodhera.speakingcoach