New Job First Week Checklist: 50 Items
A first-week onboarding checklist for new employees focused on access, payroll and benefits, role expectations, relationships, communication norms, current priorities, documentation, security, and a clear 30-day plan. The objective is not to master the job in five days; it is to build the context and systems needed to learn quickly without missing important administrative steps.
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📄 HR & Employment Setup
💻 Technology & Security
👤 Meet Your Manager
👥 Meet the Team
🧠 Learn the Work
🗓️ Tools & Calendar
📝 Questions & Documentation
✅ End-of-Week Review
Complete Guide
Prepare the basics before the first day
Confirm start time, location or remote login, contact person and any required identification. Review instructions for equipment and onboarding documents. Do not send sensitive records through unverified messaging links.
Understand your role and first-week priorities
Ask your manager which tasks matter most now, how success will be measured and who approves work. Distinguish urgent assignments from material that can be learned over the next several weeks.
Learn the tools and information channels
Set up accounts through authorized IT procedures, enable appropriate security and learn where projects, policies and meeting notes live. Ask before installing apps or sharing company information externally.
Build useful working relationships
Introduce yourself to colleagues and learn who owns each process. Take notes on names and responsibilities without pressuring others for immediate availability. Clear questions early often prevent repeated mistakes.
Observe team routines and expectations
Pay attention to meeting etiquette, response times, approval rules and how progress is reported. Avoid assuming that customs from your previous workplace apply here; ask for clarification when practices differ.
Document questions and early wins
Keep a short list of tasks completed, blockers, useful resources and questions for your manager. Share concise updates without overstating progress or claiming ownership of work others completed.
Review the first week together
End the week by confirming next priorities, training needs and any unresolved access issues. Reorder the checklist based on your actual position and company policies, not a universal onboarding script.
A related checklist is available in the Send Listy library.
See also: Job Interview Checklist
Frequently asked questions
What should I confirm before starting?
Start time, location, contact person and the documents or equipment requested.
Should I ask many questions in week one?
Ask focused questions, keep notes and check available documentation first.
How do I choose first-week priorities?
Confirm them with your manager rather than inferring them from a job title alone.
Can I use my personal accounts for work?
Follow company IT and security policies; do not share work data through unapproved services.
What notes are worth keeping?
Contacts, procedures, tasks, decisions and unanswered questions.
What should I do at the end of week one?
Review progress, blockers and the next steps with your manager.
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