Your First Week at a New Job

Starting a new job is stressful for anyone. Starting one in a second language, in a country whose workplace rules you have never been taught, can feel overwhelming. The good news is that most of the difficulties Spanish speakers face in their first week are not about grammar at all. They are about small cultural habits, and once you notice them, they are easy to learn.

Let us begin with small talk. On your first morning, people will probably ask you questions like "How was your weekend?" or "Did you find us all right?" They are not expecting a detailed answer; they are trying to be friendly. A short, positive reply followed by a question of your own is ideal: "Great, thanks. I went to the coast. How about you?" If you want to build good relationships with your colleagues, it is worth getting used to these little conversations, because they are how trust is built.

Be prepared for a certain kind of indirectness. Many Spanish speakers are used to saying things quite directly, which is perfectly polite at home but can sound rude in English. Instead of "Send me the report", try "Could you send me the report when you have a moment?" Instead of "That is wrong", you might say "I am not sure that is quite right." It may feel like a lot of extra words, but those words do important work. Similarly, when an English-speaking manager says "You might want to look at this again", they usually mean "Please change it."

Emails follow similar rules. Most workplace emails are shorter and less formal than you might expect. "Hi Sarah" is a normal way to start, even when writing to someone senior, and "Thanks" or "Best" is a normal way to finish. However, never forget the softening phrases. A message that simply says "I need the figures today" may offend, whereas "Would it be possible to get the figures by the end of the day?" will usually get a better result.

Do not be afraid to ask for help. In the first week, nobody expects you to know everything, and asking questions shows that you care about doing things properly. If you are worried about interrupting someone, begin with "Sorry to bother you, have you got a minute?" It is also a good idea to ask your manager who you should go to with everyday questions. Many companies give new employees a "buddy" for exactly this reason.

Watch out for a few false friends, too. If a colleague says that a meeting was "quite good", in Britain that often means it was only fine, not excellent. If someone says "We should grab lunch sometime", they are being friendly, but it is not necessarily a real invitation until a day is suggested. And if you want to say that you are "embarrassed", make sure you do not mean that you are pregnant.

Workplace culture also varies in other ways. In some offices, people eat a sandwich at their desk instead of taking a long lunch break. In Britain, offering to make tea for the people around you is a simple way to make friends. Punctuality matters a lot, so if you are going to be late for a meeting, even by five minutes, send a quick message to warn people.

Above all, be patient with yourself. You will make mistakes, everyone does, and most colleagues will be far more understanding than you imagine. By the end of the first week, you will probably have stopped translating every sentence in your head. By the end of the first month, you may find yourself saying "Sorry" when someone else bumps into you, which is the surest sign that you are fitting in.