First week at a new job: what to say, ask and write down on a trade site

The most useful first week at a new job tips are about a few conversations, not about your trade skills. You will go through an induction, meet the team, stand in a morning safety meeting, ask for help, report a problem and hand over at the end of the day. Have one short sentence ready for each moment and a small notebook in your pocket, and the first week on a new site or in a new workshop gets much easier.

Why the first week is mostly about talking

Your new boss already believes you can do the trade. That is why they hired you. In the first week they watch something else: do you listen, do you ask when you are unsure, and do you speak up about safety?

In Australia, many jobs start with a probation period. The Fair Work Ombudsman describes it as a time the employer uses to decide if you suit the job, and says it often runs for 3 to 6 months. You can read the details on the Fair Work Ombudsman's probation page. Week one is the start of that period, so small conversations count.

Before day one: get the simple answers early

In Australia, the Fair Work Ombudsman says a new employer can ask for details such as your bank details, emergency contact, superannuation fund details and tax file number. Superannuation (super) is money your employer pays into a fund for your retirement. Keep them ready on your phone. Our guide from job offer to first day explains the checks that happen before you start.

A short message is enough: "Hello, this is [your name], the new panel beater starting on Monday. Could you please confirm the start time, where to go and what tools and safety gear to bring?"

Day one: the induction

The induction is your first training at a new workplace.

The model Code of Practice for construction work says workplace-specific induction covers things like site hazards and how they are controlled, the site safety rules, first aid and emergency procedures.

If you work in construction in Australia, you also need a white card before you start. Safe Work Australia says workers must have this construction induction card before they can start work on a construction site, and must show it when the business running the site, or an inspector, asks to see it. The details are on Safe Work Australia's page about working on a construction site.

Do not try to remember all of it. Before you leave the room, make sure these four things are in your notebook:

• Where the first aid kit is, and who the first aider is.
• Where to go in an emergency (the assembly point).
• Who you report to, and how to contact them.
• Any area, vehicle or machine you must not use without permission.

Useful phrases at the induction:

• "Sorry, could you say that again a bit slower? I want to write it down."
• "If I am not sure about a job, who should I ask?"

Meeting the team

Keep your introduction short: your name, your trade and one line about your background. A simple version could be: "Hi, I'm [your name]. I'm the new diesel mechanic. I worked on trucks and buses back home for a long time. Good to meet you."

Say each person's name back when you hear it: "Nice to meet you, Sam." If you forget a name the next day, just ask: "Sorry, can you tell me your name again?" Nobody minds in the first week.

You will also hear everyday Australian words. Smoko is a short break. Arvo means the afternoon. Knock off means finish work for the day. A sparky is an electrician and a chippy is a carpenter. Our list of Australian trade words that confuse new arrivals has many more.

The morning meeting: toolbox talks and pre-starts

On many sites the day begins with a toolbox talk (a short safety meeting before work starts), also called a pre-start. The model Code of Practice for construction work says these meetings are used to give information to workers and to receive feedback from them. It adds that keeping a record of the topic, who attended and any feedback is best practice, so you may be asked to sign a sheet.

So the meeting is not only for listening. Raise problems here.

For high risk construction work, such as work where a person could fall more than 2 metres, there must also be a safe work method statement (SWMS). A SWMS is a written document that lists the risky tasks, their hazards and how the risks will be controlled. If your task needs one, ask to read it before you start.

Phrases for the morning meeting:

• "Is there a SWMS for this job? Can I read it first?"
• "I noticed the extension lead near the wash bay is damaged. Can someone look at it?"

Asking for help without feeling small

Many new arrivals stay quiet because asking feels weak. In most Australian and New Zealand workplaces it is the opposite: a guess can damage a part, or hurt someone.

Use a three-part question: say what you know, say what you are unsure about, then ask.

• "I have done brake jobs on this model before, but I have not used this hoist. Can you show me how the locks work?"
• "The drawing shows one height, but the wall is out of level. Do you want me to follow the drawing or the wall?"

When you get an instruction, repeat it back in your own words: "So you want the bench cleared, the old filters in the oil bin and the car down off the hoist by smoko. Is that right?" This is called checking back, and it catches mistakes early.

Reporting a problem or a hazard

Safe Work Australia defines a hazard as a situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person. A frayed lead, oil on the floor or a missing guard are all hazards.

Under the model work health and safety laws, workers must take reasonable care for their own health and safety, and for others who may be affected by what they do or fail to do. In some situations, Safe Work Australia says a worker has the right to stop or refuse unsafe work if they have a reasonable concern about a serious risk to their health and safety. They must tell the business as soon as they can.

In New Zealand, WorkSafe says a worker should tell someone at the workplace, such as a supervisor or a health and safety representative, if they have a health and safety concern. Treating a worker badly for raising a safety issue is an offence there. Read WorkSafe's page on workers' rights and obligations.

Use the same five steps every time you find a problem:

1. Make the area safe, if you can do that safely. Stop using the tool, keep people away, and put up a sign if there is one.
2. Tell your supervisor straight away. Do not keep it for the end of the day.
3. Say what, where and why it matters. "The guard is missing on the bench grinder in bay two. A broken disc could hit someone."
4. Ask what happens next. "Do you want me to tag it out, or will you do it?"
5. Write it down. Note the day, what you saw and who you told.

Report your own mistakes the same way, early and plainly: "I cross-threaded the drain plug on the blue van. I stopped before it got worse."

The end-of-day handover

The handover is a short talk at the end of your shift. You tell your supervisor, or the person on the next shift, what you finished, what is not finished and anything they need to know.

Keep the same order every day: done, not done, problems, tomorrow.

A simple handover could be: "I finished the service on the white ute. The van in bay three is still waiting for brake pads, and they arrive tomorrow. I found a small oil leak under the forklift and told Sam. Tomorrow I can start on the van first thing."

Your first-week phrase sheet

Copy this into your notebook and change the words to suit your trade.

Moment	A sentence to use	What to write down
Induction	"Could you say that again a bit slower?"	First aid kit, assembly point, your supervisor's contact
Meeting the team	"Nice to meet you, [name]."	Names, and what each person does
Toolbox talk	"Is there a SWMS for this job?"	Today's tasks and any new hazard mentioned
Asking for help	"So you want... Is that right?"	The instruction, in your own words
Reporting a problem	"The guard is missing on the grinder in bay two."	What you saw, where, and who you told
Handover	"Done, not done, problems, tomorrow."	Unfinished jobs and parts you are waiting for

Common mistakes in the first week

• Saying "yes" when you did not understand. It feels polite, but it leads to the wrong job being done. Say "Sorry, can you show me?" instead.
• Staying silent at the toolbox talk. If you have seen a hazard, the morning meeting is where it belongs.
• Comparing everything with home. "Back home we do it like this" can sound like criticism in the first week. Ask instead: "Is it OK if I do it this way, or do you prefer another method?"
• Using slang too early. Wait until you hear the team use it. Plain, polite English is always safe.

Practise these conversations out loud

Reading a phrase is not the same as saying it with a supervisor waiting. Say each sentence aloud before your first day, changed to fit your trade.

The Living and Working Here practice section has questions about workplace culture and everyday life at work. The real-life scenarios section lets you practise what to say when something goes wrong, like a safety risk or a mistake you made. If tool and site words are your weak spot, try the picture quiz. Moving to Australia? Start from our Australia page.

Rules and requirements can change. Check the official government website before you act.

Frequently asked questions

What should I say on my first day at a new job?

Keep it short and friendly: your name, your trade and one line about your experience. Then ask who you report to.

What should I ask on my first day at work?

Ask who your supervisor is, who to go to when you are unsure, what you are working on today and whether there is anything to sign. On a building site, also ask whether the job needs a SWMS and where you can read it.

Is it OK to ask a lot of questions in the first week?

Yes. Supervisors expect questions in the first week, and a quick question costs less than a job done twice. Repeat the answer back so you only need to ask once.

What is a toolbox talk?

A toolbox talk, also called a pre-start meeting, is a short meeting before work where the team hears about the day's jobs and safety issues. Workers can also give feedback, so it is a good time to mention a problem you have noticed.

Key takeaways

• The first week tests how you listen, ask and speak up, not your trade skills.
• Write down the first aid kit, the assembly point, your supervisor's contact and the names of the team.
• Use the toolbox talk to raise problems, and ask to read the SWMS before high risk work.
• Check back every instruction in your own words, and report hazards and mistakes straight away.
• End every day with a handover: done, not done, problems, tomorrow.