Starting a new role can be nerve-wracking, especially if you're coming into your first corporate job from an academic environment. After finishing my first week at The Data School, here's what I wish I'd known before I started.
Everyone's a little more casual than you might think.
A lot of people I've spoken to have said the same thing: they arrived on their first day dressed up in full businesswear, and quickly realised that this wasn't necessary. And it's not! Yes, you'll need to dress up sometimes during training (particularly Fridays, when there are clients in the office, as well as some Mondays), but most days there are a lot of jeans and graphic tees around the office. Your coaches can answer any specifics about when and why you'll be expected to dress more formally, but at the very least you don't need to buy a full wardrobe of suits or fancy blouses before joining.
You'll be talked at. A lot.
You might think that after joining, you'll be jumping in feet first learning all the softwares you'll be trained in. And in some ways, yes, you'll definitely be hitting the ground running with some practical work towards the end of your first week! But most of that week will probably be a lot of "onboarding": talks explaining what the company is, what you'll be doing, what a consultant should be, overviews of certain company policies, et cetera...
I'm definitely someone who struggles much more to listen to theory than to do practical tasks. So if you're like me, take advantage of the coffee machine - and don't be afraid to ask for breaks if you need one! As your coach will probably tell you, it's more important that the information actually goes in than that everyone blasts through the material at mach speed.
This is a very social company, so plan accordingly.
Both within and outside of office hours, the various employees of both the core team and the Data School will do a lot of socialising. There are plenty of opportunities to get to know your fellow Data Schoolers and the core team members, and you're encouraged to build connections within the company so you have a network of people you can ask for help as you learn and grown your skills. Be warned that if you schedule a lot of fun evening plans in your first week, you might miss out on opportunities to get to know people at the company. Fridays after work is an especially social time at the company, so that's a great chance to chat to people!
That said, meeting lots of new people can be stressful for anyone! Your first week will be pretty exhausting, both workwise and socially. Especially if you're someone with a small social battery, try to factor in some time to recharge as well.
Conclusion...
I was nervous about what to expect coming into The Information Lab, but I really didn't need to be, given how friendly and welcoming everyone is here. May your first week go as well as mine did!