ONE in 25 workers - four per cent of the UK workforce, has walked out on a job after experiencing a disastrous first day at work, according to new research from recruitment website reed.co.uk.

The survey of more than 5,000 workers and job seekers also found a further one in 12, or nine per cent of the workforce, seriously considered not going back after their first day.

However, 94 per cent of respondents believe first day impressions will either make no difference or will help their performance in the job.

When asked about first day mistakes, almost half the workers questioned (48 per cent), cited forgetting company details or the bosses' name as the most common mistake to make.

One salesman admitted: "I once referred to a new manager as Darling' because she had the same name as my wife." Other well-known mix-ups include turning up late on the first day, and deleting company files.

Three per cent of respondents even claimed forgetting their own name in an important conversation as the most likely first-day mistake.

The top five first day at work mistakes are: _ Forgetting the bosses or company's name: 48 per cent _ Turning up late: 12 per cent _ Deleting vital company documents: six per cent _ Forgetting their own name: three per cent.

More controversial first-day mistakes such as inappropriately kissing the boss or getting drunk at lunchtime, featured lower down the scale, with less than one per cent of respondents saying these were common.

One young telecoms worker after a welcome drinks party laid on for him, said: "My manager let me stay at his house and I proceeded to be sick all over his cream carpets." Over two-thirds of workers (68 per cent) feel excited about starting a new job, while 29 per cent feel nervous.

Women feel more nervous than men, at 35 per cent, compared to 23 per cent of men.

Nervousness is also greatest in the younger age groups (where it rises to over a third), many of whom are about to start their first ever job.

Percentage of people feeling nervous about their first day at work (by age):

-All: 29 per cent

-Under 18: 35 per cent

-18-25: 30 per cent

-26-30: 28 per cent

-31-40: 27 per cent

-41-50:29 per cent

-Over 50: 31 per cent.

The first day in a new job is clearly one of the most important.

More than half of those surveyed (54 per cent), believe impressions (good or bad) made at work on the first day improve job performance in the long term.

Paul Rapacioli, director of reed.co.uk, said: "Confusion and nervousness can cause many people to make embarrassing mistakes on their first day in a new job.

"Indeed, four per cent of those surveyed did not go back to work because their first day was such a disaster.

"More experienced colleagues will usually see the funny side, and our research shows that mix-ups on the first day can endear new workers to their colleagues and actually improve performance.

"The research comes at a time of year when more people are looking for a new start.

"Just last week there were a record number of nearly 400,000 visits to our jobsite at reed.co.uk."

May 7, 2003 16:00