The anticipation's been building. You've been through the first and second round interviews and the phone rings. As the first day of the new job starts you are excited and ready to go to work.

As much as employees need to take advantage of this situation employers have a lot to gain or lose as well. Several places I've started it's been clear that they just plain weren't ready for me. If the job involves more than flipping hamburgers it's worth spending some time planning out the first days and weeks of a new hire's work with some care.

1. Make the tools available - Nothing is more unsettling than going in to a new company and not having the basics. At the minimum a phone, email and office or cubicle need to be ready to go on day one. Make sure the employee has keys or whatever things are necessary to get in so they can come in early or stay late (which they will often want to do).