Intermediate · B1 / B2 · Work

Your First Day at a New Job

Your goal: introduce yourself, ask about routines and tools, and clarify expectations without over-apologising.

Survival Phrases

Introducing yourself

Hi, I'm Marina — it's my first day in the marketing team.
I'll be working on the social media side of things.
Lovely to meet you — what's your role here?

Asking about routines

What time do people usually get in?
Where's the best place to grab lunch?
Is there a dress code I should know about?

Tools & logins

Could someone set me up with the email and the shared drive?
Which chat tool do you mainly use?
Is there a wiki or handbook I should read first?

Clarifying expectations

What would be a good goal for my first week?
Who should I go to if I get stuck?

Model Dialogue

Read the dialogue aloud twice — once for each speaker. Notice how B picks up A's words and adds something.

Ravi: Hey, you must be Marina — welcome. I'm Ravi, I look after content.

Marina: Thanks, Ravi! Marina, marketing — I'll be on social. What's your side of things?

Ravi: Mostly the blog. Listen, a couple of us grab lunch around one — want to come?

Marina: I'd love to. Quick question — is there a handbook or wiki I should read first?

Ravi: Yeah, the onboarding doc's on the drive. I'll share the folder with you now.

Marina: Perfect. And who's the best person if I get stuck on logins?

Ravi: That's IT — ticket through the portal, they're quick. Anything else, just shout.

Marina: Got it. What would be a realistic goal for my first week?

Ravi: Honestly? Just settle in, meet people, and ship one small thing. Don't overdo it.

Register: formal vs informal

Situation	More formal	More informal / natural
Introducing yourself	I'm Marina — I've just joined the marketing team.	I'm Marina, new in marketing.
Asking a favour	Would it be possible to set me up with access?	Can you sort my logins?
Asking for priorities	What would you suggest I focus on this week?	What should I prioritise?
Not understanding	Sorry, could you just go over that bit again?	Sorry, run that by me again?

At B1/B2 the line between formal and informal is often tone and softeners (just, a bit, possibly), not different words. Soften requests when the stakes are higher.

Typical Mistakes (B1/B2 & Portuguese interference)

I am working here since Monday. → I've been working here since Monday. ((present perfect, não present))
I have doubt. → I have a question. / I'm not sure about… ((doubt ≠ pergunta))
What is your function? → What do you do here? / What's your role? ((function soa frio))
I will do my best effort. → I'll do my best. ((effort desnecessário))
Can you explain me the system? → Can you explain the system to me? ((explain + to + person))
I am agree with that. → I agree with that. ((agree é verbo, não be + agree))

Culture Note

On a first day, asking smart questions reads as keen, not clueless — people expect you to ask.
Small talk over lunch is how trust is built in many English-speaking workplaces; skipping it can look distant.
Saying 'sorry' for every little thing (over-apologising) can sound less confident — use 'thanks' instead ('Thanks for bearing with me').
A 'handbook' or 'onboarding doc' is the real source of truth — read it before asking the same question twice.

Practical Task

Rebuild the dialogue for your real field (design, finance, support).
Record both roles, sounding keen but not nervous.
Write three questions you'd ask a manager on day one.
Real-life mission: find a real onboarding/handbook page in English and note three terms (PTO, OKR, NDA).

Before you finish, can you…

☐introduce yourself and your role naturally?
☐ask about routines and tools?
☐clarify a first-week goal?
☐ask for help without over-apologising?

Bring your dialogue — the teacher plays a busy manager and answers briefly.