What to expect on your first day at an industrial placement

The first day of a placement sets the tone for everything that follows — including whether a temporary role becomes a permanent one. Here is how to make it count.

Before you leave home

• Confirm the address, entrance, and supervisor's name the night before — plants often have separate shipping and staff entrances.
• Plan to arrive 15 minutes early. Late on day one is the single fastest way to end a placement.
• Bring your safety boots, any PPE you were told about, your SIN and banking details for payroll, and a lunch — not every site has food nearby.

Your first hours

Expect a site orientation: safety rules, emergency exits, washrooms, break times. Listen carefully and ask questions — supervisors consistently rate "asked good questions" as a sign of a keeper, not a burden.

The habits that get you invited back

• Put your phone away except on breaks. It is the most common complaint we hear.
• When you finish a task, ask for the next one instead of waiting.
• Report problems early — a jammed machine reported at 10am is a fix; hidden until 3pm it is an incident.

If something feels unsafe

You have the right to refuse unsafe work in Ontario. Raise it with the site supervisor and call your recruiter immediately — we would always rather move you than have you take a risk.

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