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Phrasebook

English Phrases for Your First Day at Work

Your first day at a new job is full of names, systems and questions. These phrases help you introduce yourself, learn how things work and make a good first impression with your new team.

34 phrases · By LearnLingo Team · Updated

Tap to hear a phrase. Levels follow the CEFR scale. American English is the default; British variants are noted.

Introducing yourself

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Hi, I'm Deniz. I just started today.

A2
Merhaba, ben Deniz. Bugün işe yeni başladım.
  • Welcome! I'm Chris.
  • Oh, nice to meet you! Which team are you on?

I'm the new marketing assistant.

A2
Yeni pazarlama asistanıyım.
  • Great! You'll be working with Anna, then.
  • Welcome aboard!

I'll be working on the design team.

B1
Tasarım ekibinde çalışacağım.
  • Oh, they're a great bunch.
  • Nice. I sit right next to them.

Nice to meet you. What do you do here?

A2
Tanıştığımıza memnun oldum. Burada ne iş yapıyorsunuz?
  • I'm in sales.
  • I manage the finance team.

Sorry, could you tell me your name again?

A2

Completely normal on the first day. Everyone forgets names.

Pardon, adınızı tekrar söyleyebilir misiniz?
  • Sure, it's Priya.
  • No worries. It's Ben.

I'm still learning everyone's names.

B1
Hâlâ herkesin adını öğreniyorum.
  • Don't worry, it takes a while.
  • There are a lot of us!

Before this, I worked at a software company.

B1
Bundan önce bir yazılım şirketinde çalıştım.
  • Oh, interesting. Which one?
  • So you know the industry already.

Getting set up

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Where should I sit?

A1
Nereye oturmalıyım?
  • Your desk is over by the window.
  • We hot-desk, so any free spot is fine.

I haven't received my login details yet.

B1
Giriş bilgilerimi henüz almadım.
  • I'll ping IT for you.
  • Check your personal email. They sent them yesterday.

Who should I contact about my laptop?

B1
Dizüstü bilgisayarım için kiminle iletişime geçmeliyim?
  • Send a ticket to the IT help desk.
  • Talk to Mark. He handles equipment.

How do I get access to the shared drive?

B1
Ortak sürücüye nasıl erişim sağlarım?
  • Your manager has to approve it.
  • I'll add you now.

Where do I pick up my ID badge?

A2

UK offices often say "pass" or "security pass".

Kimlik kartımı nereden alacağım?
  • At reception on the ground floor.
  • HR will give it to you this afternoon.

Is there anything I need to sign?

A2
İmzalamam gereken bir şey var mı?
  • Just your contract and the IT policy.
  • HR will send you everything by email.

Asking for help

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Sorry, who should I ask about this?

A2
Pardon, bunu kime sormalıyım?
  • Try Sarah. She knows everything.
  • Ask me anytime.

Could you show me how this works?

A2
Bunun nasıl çalıştığını gösterebilir misiniz?
  • Sure, pull up a chair.
  • Of course. It's easier than it looks.

Just to make sure I understand, I should send this to the client first?

B2

Checking your understanding is a good habit, not a weakness.

Doğru anladığımdan emin olmak için soruyorum, bunu önce müşteriye mi göndermeliyim?
  • Exactly.
  • No, send it to me first so I can check it.

Is there a guide or document I can read?

B1
Okuyabileceğim bir kılavuz ya da doküman var mı?
  • Yes, it's on the wiki.
  • I'll send you the onboarding pack.

Sorry to bother you. Do you have a second?

B1
Rahatsız ettiğim için kusura bakmayın. Bir saniyeniz var mı?
  • Sure, what's up?
  • Give me five minutes and I'm all yours.

What's the best way to reach you?

B1
Size ulaşmanın en iyi yolu ne?
  • Just message me on Slack.
  • Email is best.

Understanding the job

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

What are my priorities for the first week?

B1
İlk hafta için önceliklerim neler?
  • Mostly getting to know the team and the tools.
  • I'd like you to shadow Tom on a few calls.

Who will I be working with most closely?

B1
En yakından kiminle çalışacağım?
  • Mostly with Jess and the product team.
  • With me and the two other analysts.

How often do we have team meetings?

A2
Ekip toplantılarını ne sıklıkla yapıyoruz?
  • Every Monday at ten.
  • We have a quick stand-up every morning.

What time do people usually start and finish?

B1
İnsanlar genellikle saat kaçta başlayıp bitiriyor?
  • Most people are in by nine.
  • It's flexible, as long as you're here for core hours.

Is it okay to work from home sometimes?

B1
Bazen evden çalışmak sorun olur mu?
  • Yes, two days a week is fine.
  • After your first month, yes.

What does success look like in this role?

B2

A great question for your first one-on-one with your manager.

Bu pozisyonda başarı nasıl tanımlanıyor?
  • Good question. Let's talk about goals.
  • Mainly hitting your monthly targets.

Office life and breaks

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Where's the kitchen?

A1

Many US offices say "break room".

Mutfak nerede?
  • Down the hall on the left.
  • I'll show you. I'm getting coffee anyway.

Where do people usually go for lunch?

A2
İnsanlar öğle yemeğine genellikle nereye gidiyor?
  • There's a great sandwich place around the corner.
  • Most of us eat at our desks.

Mind if I join you for lunch?

B1
Öğle yemeğinde size katılsam sorun olur mu?
  • Not at all!
  • Of course. We're leaving in five.

How long have you worked here?

A2
Ne zamandır burada çalışıyorsunuz?
  • About three years now.
  • Only six months, so I'm pretty new too.

Is there a dress code?

A2
Bir kıyafet kuralı var mı?
  • It's pretty casual.
  • Smart casual, but suits for client meetings.

Ending the first day

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

Thanks for all your help today.

A2
Bugünkü tüm yardımların için teşekkürler.
  • No problem at all.
  • Anytime. You did great.

Is there anything else you need from me today?

B1

Ask your manager before you leave. It shows you care.

Bugün benden ihtiyacınız olan başka bir şey var mı?
  • No, that's it. Go home and rest.
  • Just fill in the HR form when you can.

It was great to meet everyone.

A2
Herkesle tanışmak harikaydı.
  • Likewise. Welcome to the team.
  • Glad to have you here.

See you tomorrow!

A1
Yarın görüşürüz!
  • See you!
  • Have a good evening.

Sample dialogues

Meeting a new colleague

Chris
Hi, I don't think we've met. I'm Chris.
Merhaba, sanırım tanışmadık. Ben Chris.
Deniz
Hi Chris, I'm Deniz. I just started today.
Merhaba Chris, ben Deniz. Bugün işe yeni başladım.
Chris
Oh, welcome! Which team are you on?
Ah, hoş geldin! Hangi ekiptesin?
Deniz
I'm the new marketing assistant. What do you do here?
Yeni pazarlama asistanıyım. Sen burada ne iş yapıyorsun?
Chris
I'm in sales, so we'll probably work together a lot.
Satıştayım, yani muhtemelen çok birlikte çalışacağız.
Deniz
Great. Sorry, where do people usually go for lunch?
Harika. Pardon, insanlar öğle yemeğine genellikle nereye gidiyor?
Chris
A few of us go to the cafe downstairs. Want to join us?
Birkaçımız alttaki kafeye gidiyoruz. Bize katılmak ister misin?
Deniz
I'd love to, thanks.
Çok isterim, teşekkürler.

Getting set up with IT

Deniz
Hi, sorry to bother you. Is this the IT help desk?
Merhaba, rahatsız ettiğim için kusura bakmayın. BT destek masası burası mı?
IT
It is. What can I do for you?
Evet. Size nasıl yardımcı olabilirim?
Deniz
I started today, and I haven't received my login details yet.
Bugün başladım ve giriş bilgilerimi henüz almadım.
IT
No problem. What's your full name?
Sorun değil. Tam adınız nedir?
Deniz
Deniz Aydın, in marketing.
Deniz Aydın, pazarlamadan.
IT
Got it. I've just sent a setup link to your personal email.
Tamam. Kişisel e-postanıza bir kurulum bağlantısı gönderdim.
Deniz
Thanks. How do I get access to the shared drive?
Teşekkürler. Ortak sürücüye nasıl erişim sağlarım?
IT
Your manager needs to approve it. I'll send her a request now.
Yöneticinizin onaylaması gerekiyor. Ona şimdi bir talep gönderiyorum.

Common mistakes Turkish speakers make

I started to work here from today.

I started here today.

"From today" comes from Turkish "bugünden itibaren" and does not fit a finished action. Say "I started here today" or "Today is my first day".

I am working here since Monday.

I've been working here since Monday.

With "since" and "for", English uses the present perfect, not the present continuous as in Turkish "-iyorum".

Can you give me an information about the system?

Could you show me how the system works?

"Information" is uncountable, so never "an information". Asking someone to show you is also more natural and specific than "bilgi verir misiniz".

My chief is very kind.

My manager is very kind.

Turkish "şef" is not "chief" in an office. Say "manager", "boss" (informal) or "team lead".

Kolay gelsin! Have an easy work!

Have a good day!

"Kolay gelsin" has no direct translation. Use "Have a good day", "Hope it goes well" or "Don't work too hard".

Quick quiz

Eight questions to check what you remember. Pick an answer to see if it is right.

  1. 1. You forgot a colleague's name. You say...

  2. 2. Complete: "I've been working here ___ Monday."

  3. 3. In an office, "şef" is usually...

  4. 4. Your computer password has not arrived. You say...

  5. 5. A natural way to say "Kolay gelsin" to a colleague is...

  6. 6. "Welcome aboard!" means...

  7. 7. A US office kitchen is often called the...

  8. 8. Which question is best for your first meeting with your manager?

0 of 8 answered

Show all answers
  1. Sorry, could you tell me your name again?
  2. since
  3. manager
  4. I haven't received my login details yet.
  5. Have a good day!
  6. Welcome to the team.
  7. break room
  8. What are my priorities for the first week?

See what the B1 English course covers, or test your level first.

People also ask

How do I introduce myself on my first day at work?+

Keep it short: your name, your role and that you just started. For example: "Hi, I'm Deniz. I just started today as the new marketing assistant."

Should I use first names at work?+

In most US and UK offices, colleagues and managers use first names. If you are not sure, listen to how others address people, or simply ask.

Is it okay to ask a lot of questions on the first day?+

Yes. Nobody expects you to know everything. Asking good questions shows interest. Group small questions together so you do not interrupt people too often.

What should I say at the end of my first day?+

Thank the people who helped you and ask your manager if there is anything else they need. "Thanks for all your help today. See you tomorrow!" is perfect.

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