How to get your new coworkers to like you from the moment you meet them

Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/flickr

First impressions are everything.

And they're especially crucial when you start a new job and you're meeting your new coworkers for the first time.

These are the people you'll spend a majority of your waking hours with — the people you'll team up with on projects, sit next to at meetings, each lunch with on the regular, and maybe even someday work for or manage.

"You only get one chance to make a first impression, and like it or not, it counts for a lot," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job." "How you conduct yourself in the first few minutes – or even seconds — of meeting someone can have a profound impact, and when it's your first day at work, you're being evaluated with a microscope."

So, it's imperative that you do whatever you can to make a great first impression to win over your new colleagues.

Here are some easy ways to do that:

Arrive on time (or early)

Show respect for your new colleagues by being on time. This will show them you're dependable and responsible.

Don't be antisocial

The first day can be overwhelming. If you're shy, you may be tempted to just hide behind your computer screen all day — but don't!

Introduce yourself

Don't wait for your new coworkers to approach you. Take the initiative and introduce yourself to everyone you can. They'll appreciate the effort and it's a great way to meet people right off the bat.

Try to remember their names. Go back to your desk and write them down if you have to. Everyone will be impressed if greet them by name in the elevator the next day.