Your First Day Experience - Employee

20 Steps for a Successful First Day.

Welcome to NASA! We are working diligently to ensure that your first days with NASA are successful and result in you quickly becoming an effective, fully contributing member of our workforce. It is critical that we provide you with the foundation tools, resources, and organizational perspective that ensure your rapid inclusion within our workforce and our NASA culture. Your supervisor, sponsor, organization and your Center’s functional areas all have a role in your successful orientation. So do you. The following tips are provided to help you make it through your first days as easily and as stress-free as possible: 

1. Put on your happy face! You were selected and are about to begin work with one of the premier aerospace organizations of all time. Each day you will be participating in the making of our Nation’s history. The people you meet today will be your co-workers for many years to come. Now’s the time to start building those positive, friendly relationships that make for great teams and successful careers.



2. Contact your sponsor and supervisor before your first day to confirm your arrival and to ask any last minute questions.



3. Arrive on time. You may be inprocessing with a number of other employees and you don’t want to either delay them as they await your arrival or to wait until they’re finished. Plan for possible delays due to traffic or large groups at the Security Office.



4. In most locations when you arrive at Security, you will be provided an employee badge, map, safety, traffic, and parking instructions, and directions to the in-processing location. If they are not provided—ask for them if you need to.



5. Pay attention to your initial briefing from Security. Don’t park in reserved spaces; follow the traffic rules. Like all vehicles entering NASA facilities, your vehicle may be subject to search. Do not bring weapons, hazardous materials or pets.



6. All employees including transfers and detailers must in-process. If you’re a new civil service employee, in-processing will take a little longer. Be prepared, follow the instructions, and ask questions if you have them.



7. If you’re getting dropped off by a family member, remember that at some locations your family member may not be allowed on site without clearance and a visitor’s badge. If necessary, please pre-arrange with your new organization, supervisor or sponsor for transportation from the Security/Badging Office to the in-processing location.



8. Plan on spending the day in-processing. It is your first work day. Please don’t bring your family or schedule other appointments or plan to do other personal business.



9. Dress appropriate to the weather and location. Also, remember that you may be introduced to senior members of your new management chain.



10. Ensure that you have completed or provided the items that were requested in your offer letter. (e.g. proof of degree, etc.) If you have not submitted them, you may not be able to start work.


11. Ensure that you have completed any security forms that were requested. This could slow or delay your starting work.



12. Ensure that you have generated your personal checklist on this website. Complete the items that are listed under “before you arrive.”
    + My Checklist Builder



13. Fill out your forms online; Print them and bring the completed forms to in-processing--- unless you’ve been requested to submit them before arrival. If you do not, it may delay your in-processing significantly.



14. Bring two forms of personal identification or a US Passport.



15. Prior to arrival, review the Federal Health Benefits Plans if you plan to enroll. There are many plans to choose from and we cannot recommend or chose one for you. The plan information is available on line at http://nasapeople.nasa.gov. You will have a short period to make or plan choice or you will have to wait for the annual open enrollment period.



16. Bring information needed for Direct Deposit of your pay check. This will include your account number and your bank’s routing code on the bottom of your personal check.



17. Familiarize yourself with the Federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). You will be asked to make decisions about you investment options and investment amounts. Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)



18. When you report to your new organization become familiar with the office area and your new co-workers. They’ve all been where you’re at today and will be more than willing to help you get settled in.



19. Participate in required Center First day activities. Get involved in meetings, projects, tours, and organization activities—right away.



20. Meet with your supervisor to close out the day. Ask for any additional assistance that you need. If you need to, contact your Center Employee Orientation Manager. Let us know what we did well and where we need to improve.

Welcome to NASA!  We look forward to working with you.