@mnml

Everyone has 1st day anxiety and I am not any different, but my problem is a little different.

To address your first issue, i don’t think you necessarily have to prove how ‘American’ you are. I should mention that I’m Australian so i’m not quite sure what american culture is like (beyond the stereotypes). If you are only at training for a couple of days then i don’t think it should be too much of an issue. Instead of embracing yourself as the ‘other’ or in the ‘out group’ embrace yourself as a multinational, multicultural person who has acculturated to American way of life. Don’t focus on your skin, race or nationality, focus on your similarities, you are (with the others) a member of the company you are now working at. This is your ‘in group’. Focus on conveying similarities rather than the differences. You never know, everyone at training could actually be from other countries or come from different cultures. In the case of Australia a recent study stated that 25% of of Australians weren’t born here. So we all come from different cultures and homelands. I think you should also understand that even if you are raised in the same country and share the same language, you can be influenced and raised differently. People take for granted how similar yet how very different and unique we all are.

And the second thing is the typical anxiety associated with first day on a new job.

Yeah, don’t fake it. Faking it is basically being defeatist and saying i’m not good enough now, so i will pretend i am. instead of ‘being yourself’ or ‘just relax’, focus on what you are getting out of this opportunity, which you mention a couple times ‘to grow’. You don’t want to mess it up, well try not to. When you think you are messing up, try to take a step back. If this is what you want, then this is your goal, your holy grail, and you got your fingers on it. Hold on to it. If you are driven and find purpose in your job, then this attitude will reflect in your mentality and performance. If you don’t know something, don’t say “I don’t know”. Some people are dicks about this kind of thing, someone will say “i don’t know” and another will say “why not?” etc. etc.They will accuse you of not having proper knowledge when said person might only know the answer because they reviewed it an hour before. Instead just say you haven’t encounter this problem, question, issue before. Because you cannot be expected to know everything without a bit of background knowledge and experience. In regards to being passive and not engaging, think of it more like you are being more sociable rather than trying to kiss ass. The point is more to get to know the others as coworkers, especially if you ever meet again and work together. Ask questions, being interested in the answer. Social understanding 101. Think of it as making connections, not making friends.

Think of your training as a list of small objectives.

I hope this helps,
Good luck
MAtty

@mnml I’m late to party. Here are some stuff that helped me:

1) list of common questions to ask strangers. Since work related, examples include:

– what do you do around here?
– how long have you worked at the company?
– what’s a good place for lunch? would you like to join me tomorrow?

2) list of things you should avoid + list of things to do. For example,

– no complaining
– avoid gossip
– if must get up,

– smile frequently
– listen for what point the other person is trying to make

3) you know Amy Cuddy?

4) bring a notepad + write things down

5) speak up concerns