Research reveals why first impressions matter in engineering and manufacturing sector

Turning up late wearing the wrong attire and bumping a colleague’s vehicle in the car park are among the worst first impressions made by new employees working within engineering and manufacturing, according to new research.

A study* carried out among people working within engineering and manufacturing environments revealed that the first day at work can be a humiliating affair if things don’t go to plan.

Other blunders include arriving to find you are completely over-dressed, spilling tea everywhere, getting lost en route to the working environment and saying something inappropriate because you’re nervous. More than two fifths of people working in engineering and manufacturing (43%) have had a terrible first day at a new job, with 93% stressing how important it is to them to make a good first impression on their boss, colleagues and customers. Almost three quarters (73%) of people working in engineering and manufacturing believe they’re more likely to make a good impression if they know they’ve got their clothing spot on.

The study was commissioned by 4imprint, as part of its ‘First Impressions’ campaign, having recently released a new range of corporate clothing to help UK manufacturers and their employees working within the sector create a strong and lasting impression. A spokesperson for 4imprint, said: “Starting a new job can be intimidating for a variety of reasons. From not knowing who you’ll be working with, not being 100% sure how to get to your new workplace and worries over what to wear can make for a nerve-wracking first day. Our study found the importance of what you wear in engineering and manufacturing can make you feel as comfortable as possible on a first day and help create a great first impression.”

According to the research, people working within engineering and manufacturing admitted to having turned up on their first day either being wildly under or overdressed.

More than two thirds (69%) of employees within the engineering and manufacturing sector wish they had a uniform for work, claiming it would have made their first day – and consequently first impressions – easier to manage. Other first-day nightmares to appear in the top 30 list include finding there was no allocated desk or computer to work at and being late due to nasty traffic. Having a wardrobe malfunction, accidentally sending a sensitive email as a ‘staff all’ also feature in the list. Meanwhile, one in three British workers have been introduced to someone on day one at work, then immediately forgotten their name. One fifth have also been so nervous they’ve ended up blurting out something inappropriate or stupid – leading to quizzical looks from colleagues.While others have accidentally damaged company property, been over-friendly and had to ask how to turn the computer on.

However, those who excelled on their first day put it down to being fully prepared and sufficiently knowledgeable about the company. And when it comes to making a good impression, 58% say arriving early works wonders while 57% cent try to ask intelligent questions. The spokesperson from 4imprint, added: “A decision can be made about a person within 26 seconds of meeting them – which is why appearance is so important. Corporate work wear can provide reassurance to new starters and if your organisation operates in the service or retail sector then staff uniforms can also be vitally important for customers.”

TOP 30 FIRST-DAY NIGHTMARES

1. Learned someone’s name then immediately forgotten it

2. Got someone’s name wrong

3. Was just too nervous

4. Finding I had no computer / desk to work at

5. Said something stupid due to nerves

6. Arrived at the wrong work address

7. Turned up completely overdressed compared to everyone else

8. Worn shoes that ended up being agonisingly painful by the end of the day

9. Had to have something simple explained numerous times

10. Got there late due to traffic

11. Being told I wasn’t the ‘first choice candidate’

12. Forgotten the code to get in or out of the office

13. Got there late due to public transport problems

14. Put your foot in your mouth during a conversation with someone

15. Turned up completely underdressed compared to everyone else

16. Been over friendly

17. Accidentally sent a sensitive email as a ‘staff all’

18. Made someone’s tea wrong

19. Said something inappropriate to a new colleague

20. Got there late due to other reasons

21. Damaged company property

22. Spilled tea everywhere

23. Took too long on a lunch break

24. Got the company name wrong

25. Went to the wrong address

26. Asked how to turn your computer on

27. Had a wardrobe malfunction like trousers splitting

28. Took a personal call that was frowned upon

29. Worn a tie when nobody else was wearing one

30. Had to leave early due to a family emergency.