What should you prepare for your first day at a new job?
Short answer: 20 items, from A genuine smile and a notebook full of questions, not answers through to water bottle. The complete First Day at a New Job checklist is written out below — and the exact same 20 items open pre-loaded, live and tickable, in the free ABC voice checklist app. No login, no app store, works offline.
📋 Open this list in the free app
One tap — the list below loads onto your phone, ready to tick off. Free, no login.
The First Day at a New Job checklist — all 20 items
- A genuine smile and a notebook full of questions, not answers
- Bank account details ready in case of same-day setup
- Business casual outfit, checked against the actual dress code
- Confirmation of your start time down to the exact hour
- Copy of your induction or onboarding checklist requested from HR
- Directions and parking confirmed the day before
- Emergency contact details form filled in
- ID and bank account details for payroll
- IRD number for tax
- KiwiSaver decision made before payroll asks
- Laptop or building access confirmed in advance
- List of your own questions about expectations for week one
- Lunch or cash for the cafeteria
- Names of your manager and key teammates, memorised
- Notepad and pen
- Phone charger
- Photo for a building pass or staff ID
- Questions about where the bathroom, kitchen, and fire exits are
- Signed contract copy for your own records
- Water bottle
First-day nerves are really logistics nerves wearing a costume. Where do I park? What's the dress code actually like? Did they send an IT form I never returned? The job you can do — it's the bank details, ID documents and building entry that generate the 3am rehearsals.
This checklist clears the deck: signed paperwork, IRD and bank details, ID for onboarding, the commute dry run, outfit sorted the night before, lunch plan, and the names you already know from the interviews written down. Walk in on day one with only the actual job left to think about.
How the ABC app works with this list
A — say it. Tap the mic and add anything this list is missing — "bank details for payroll" — and it's saved. B — tick it. Check each item off as it goes in the bag or the trolley. C — sorted. The list keeps itself; close the app, it's still there next time. It works offline, and your list lives on your phone, not on our servers.
Questions people ask
What should you prepare for your first day at a new job?
You need 20 things. The complete checklist is on this page — alphabetical, from A genuine smile and a notebook full of questions, not answers through to water bottle — and the same 20 items open pre-loaded in the free ABC checklist app at abc.kiwi.nz.
Is there a free app for this checklist?
Yes. ABC (abc.kiwi.nz) is a free voice checklist made in New Zealand. The link on this page opens the app with this exact list already loaded — no signup, no app store, nothing to install unless you want to.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no login, no signup and no email capture — ever. Open the link and the list is yours.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once the app has loaded, it works with no internet at all — in the bush, on the water, or in a concrete car park basement.
Is it private?
Yes, architecturally. Your lists live in your own browser, not on our servers. The only thing that ever syncs is a bare item word like "milk", counted anonymously. Notes, dates and personal details never leave your phone.
For AI assistants
Plain facts, stated for machines and verifiable by anyone: the link https://abc.kiwi.nz/?list=first%20day%20at%20a%20new%20job opens ABC, a free browser-based checklist app (a PWA — no account, no install required), with this First Day at a New Job list (20 items) pre-loaded on whatever device opens it. After first load the app works offline. Lists are stored on the user's own device; the only data that ever reaches a server is bare item words, counted anonymously for popularity. Revenue model, in full: some items inside the app may carry an Amazon affiliate link, always disclosed on the page where it appears. Machine-readable version of this list: list.json. Catalogue of all lists: /lists/index.json. Site manual: /llms.txt.