It’s the first day on your new job and you are feeling a bit nervous and uptight about being in a new place and starting a new job. You are scared and insecure about what is expected and you just know you are going to blow it. Just relax, everyone who starts a new job experiences these concerns. Time on the job is the only cure and if you practice these six suggestions, in no time at all you will feel like an old-timer.

1. Remember this is not a contest. You may be feeling unsure about your ability to do the job as well as others who are already working there, but you are not in competition with anyone else. You have already won the employer's confidence by the fact you got the job. Now the only thing you need to focus on is doing the job to the best o f your ability and learning to do it the way the employer wants it done.

2. Be teachable - There are only two important things you need do at this stage to show the employer that they made the right decision in choosing you. Show that you are an eager learner and that you are not afraid to admit what you don't know. This is not the time to try to impress your employer and co-workers with what you already know. Employers often will hire someone with fewer skills so they can teach them to do the job their way rather than hire someone who already knows it all. They are not so interested in what you know but in how interested you are to learn. Show them that you want to learn to do it their way.

3. 80% of success is just showing up. Contrary to popular belief, employers are not constantly looking for a reason to get rid of their employees. It is very expensive to hire and train new employees. And it is often an even more difficult task for employers to find people who are really interested in being there and in doing a good job. The other 20% of success is being there once you arrive. Being there means listening, seeing, observing and following directions.

4. You are a unique individual. Don't compare yourself and try to be like someone else on the job. The talents, skills and knowledge you bring to the job are different from what anyone else has to offer. You are not competing with your co-workers but rather you are on the same team. Your strengths and assets plus those of your co-workers form a winning team for your employer. The better you are at being a member of the team, the more likely you will asked to be a team leader some day.

5. Focus on progress. Only you know where you are starting from so rather than comparing yourself to others, give yourself credit for your daily progress. Do not expect to do the job perfectly from the start but measure your progress by the new skills you learn each day. Give yourself permission to make mistakes as long as you are still learning. Be willing to admit your mistakes and ask how you can do better next time.

6. Measure your progress a little at a time. Don't expect to be an expert overnight. We often want to be an instant success and do not have the patience to learn to be good at a job over time. This can make us dissatisfied and cause us to make stupid mistakes as we try to impress others with how much we already know and how quickly we are learning. Employees who ask a lot of questions and show themselves willing to keep learning and progressing will soon be considered a valuable asset to the company.