English phrases for your first week in a new job

Short answer

Learn a few phrases for each moment of the first week. You will need to introduce yourself, remember names, ask for help, check instructions and finish the day. Asking questions in the first week is expected, and short, clear questions are enough. The phrases below are grouped by the moment you need them.

Introducing yourself

Keep it to two or three sentences: your name, your new job, and one simple fact. People will ask more if they want to know more.

  • "Hi, I'm [name]. I've just started as the new [job].": Your first line with everyone. "I've just started" tells people you are new, so they expect questions from you.
  • "Before this, I worked as a [job] for [time].": One fact about your experience. Use it when someone asks "What were you doing before?"
  • "Which team are you in?": A simple question back, so the conversation is not only about you. It also helps you understand who does what.

Meeting your new team (customer service adviser)

Hi everyone, I'm Joel. I've just started as a customer service adviser on the phone team. Before this I worked in a hotel reception for three years. I'm looking forward to working with you, and I'll probably have a lot of questions this week.

Names

In the first week you will hear many new names, often quickly. Asking again is normal. It is more polite than using the wrong name for a month.

  • "Sorry, could you tell me your name again?": When you did not catch it, or forgot it. Ask in the first few days, when it is still easy.
  • "How do you spell that?": For names you will need to write, for example in emails or on a rota. Write it down straight away.
  • "What would you like me to call you?": When someone has a long name or a short form. It shows respect and saves you guessing.

Asking for help and where things are

  • "Where do I find [thing]?": For places and things: the printer, the gloves, the stock room, the shared folder.
  • "Who should I ask about [topic]?": When the person in front of you does not know. It helps you learn who is responsible for what.
  • "Could you show me how you usually do this?": To learn the local way of doing a task. "Usually" invites them to show the normal process, not only the rules on paper.
  • "Is it OK if I watch you do it first?": Before you try a new task on your own. It is a normal way to learn in the first week.

Checking instructions

Many mistakes in a new job come from instructions that were understood in a slightly different way. Repeat the important ones back. It is a normal habit at work, not a sign of weak English.

  • "Just to check: first I [step], then I [step]. Is that right?": After any instruction with more than one step. Say the steps back in your own words.
  • "Do you need this today, or is later this week OK?": When nobody said when. In a new job it is easy to guess the deadline wrong.
  • "What does [abbreviation] stand for?": Every workplace has short forms that nobody explains. Ask, then keep a list in your phone or notebook.
  • "Could you send me that in an email, so I don't miss anything?": For long or important instructions. Having it in writing helps you check later.

When you did not understand

Do not nod if you did not understand. Colleagues may then think you know, and the problem appears later. One short question now is better.

  • "Sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you say it again?": When you did not hear or follow. One short "sorry" here is polite; you do not need to apologise for your English.
  • "Could you explain what [word] means here?": For a word or term you do not know. "Here" asks for the meaning in this workplace, which may be different from the dictionary.
  • "Could you speak a bit more slowly? I'm still getting used to the accents here.": When people speak fast or with a strong local accent. It is a fair request, and most people are happy to help.

Small talk and breaks

Short conversations at breaks help people get to know you. You do not need to be funny. Easy questions and short, friendly answers are enough.

  • "How long have you worked here?": An easy first question. Most people like to answer it, and you learn who knows the place well.
  • "Is there anywhere good to get lunch near here?": A useful question that starts a friendly conversation.
  • "Good, thanks. Everyone has been very helpful. There's a lot to learn.": An answer to "How are you finding it so far?" It is positive and honest. You do not need to say more unless they ask.

The end of the day and the end of the week

  • "Is there anything else you need from me today?": Before you leave, especially in the first days. It shows you are reliable, and it stops surprises tomorrow.
  • "Could we have ten minutes at the end of the week to check how I'm doing?": To your manager, early in the week. A short check in the first week helps you find small problems early.

A short check-in on Friday (warehouse team member)

Thanks for your time. This week I learned the picking system and the safety checks. I'm still slow on the scanner, so I'd like to practise that next week. Is there anything you would like me to do differently?

What colleagues and a manager may and may not notice

  • Colleagues may notice whether you ask questions and write things down more than whether your grammar is perfect.
  • A manager may notice if you nod when you have not understood, because the mistake usually appears later.
  • Asking the same question twice may be noticed more than asking it once. Write the answer down the first time.
  • Many new starters feel tired after the first week of working in a second language. That is normal, and it usually becomes easier as the words and names become familiar.
  • Every workplace is different, and people react in different ways. No page and no practice tool can tell you what one manager or colleague will think.

Questions people ask

How many questions is it OK to ask in the first week?

As many as you need to do the work safely and correctly. Group small questions together, and write the answers down, so you do not need to ask the same thing twice.

What if I forget someone's name?

Ask early: "Sorry, could you tell me your name again?" It becomes harder after a few weeks, so it is better to ask in the first days.

Should I tell people that English is my second language?

Only if it helps, and once. For example: "English is my second language, so please tell me if something is not clear." Say it as a fact, not as an apology.

What if I make a mistake in my first week?

Tell the person responsible early, say what happened in one sentence, and say what you did to fix it. Mistakes in the first week are common, and saying so early usually makes them easier to fix.

How do I join a conversation at lunch?

Listen first, then ask a simple question about what they are talking about: "Where did you go?" or "Is that near here?" Short questions are enough.

Related pages

About this page

Published by EnglishJobReady. Last reviewed: 9 October 2026.

This page gives general advice for practice. Every workplace is different, and it cannot tell you what a particular manager or colleague will think or decide.

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These pages describe what interviewers commonly look for. They cannot tell you what a specific interviewer decided, and nothing here guarantees an interview, an offer or a visa. Practising is preparation — it shows you what to fix next.