Job Transition in the UK: First Days, New Rules & Finding Your Place
- Halyna Skvortsova
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
Starting a job in the UK isn’t just about work — it’s about learning a new culture. Patience, curiosity, and proactive communication are your best allies.
On June 19th, we had an honest and insightful conversation about one of the most challenging moments in any career — starting a new job, especially in a new country.
Our session Job Transition in the UK with Zoryana Burmas help we focused on navigating workplace culture, understanding onboarding processes, and finding your footing during those crucial first days at work in the UK.
🔹 First Impressions Matter — But Stay Authentic
We explored how to make a positive first impression without losing yourself. In UK workplaces, politeness, punctuality, and proactive communication are highly valued — but there's no need to pretend to be someone you're not. Curiosity and openness go a long way.
🔹 Induction & Onboarding: What to Expect
Participants learned about typical British induction processes, including:
Health & safety briefings (a legal must!)
Company values and structure
Access to tools and systemsWe also discussed the importance of onboarding — a longer-term process where you gradually learn your role, meet colleagues, and adapt to internal workflows. Many companies assign a buddy to help new hires settle in.
🔹 Cultural Differences: UK vs. Ukraine
One of the most engaging parts of the session was discussing key differences in workplace culture:
Communication: UK workplaces may seem indirect or overly polite at first, but this doesn't mean there's no honesty — it's just more subtle.
Hierarchy & Initiative: British companies often have clear structures, but personal initiative is welcomed, especially after onboarding.
Work-life Balance: Respect for personal time is taken seriously in the UK, and overtime isn't automatically expected.
🔹 Emotional & Practical Self-Support
We also touched on emotional wellbeing:
Keeping realistic expectations for yourself
Not being afraid to ask questions — in fact, it’s encouraged
Taking time to observe before fully diving in
What Participants Said:
“I now understand why I felt lost during my first weeks here — no one explained these ‘unwritten rules.’”
“It’s such a relief to know that asking questions isn’t seen as incompetence here!”
PRESENTATION
VIDEO
PHOTOS
Comments