Vocations · Career Resources

Walk in on day one
with everything they will ask for.

Copy the start date and details from your offer, pick your Form I-9 documents, and work through the paperwork, first-day plan and benefits. The checklist dates the I-9 deadline from your start, counts down to day one and warns you before the benefits window closes.

Add your new jobWhat you get

New jobs

The worked example is made up: a medical assistant starting Monday with the I-9 documents and W-4 still to sort out, and last summer’s camp job, all done. Records save on this device only.

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What you get

Vocations · Career ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A record per new job with employer, title, start date and time, where to report, pay schedule, I-9 documents and the benefits deadline; seven paperwork, six first-day and four benefits steps; the I-9 document deadline (third business day after the start), days to the start and flags for open paperwork in the last week, unsure I-9 documents and a benefits deadline within two weeks.
Who it is for
First-time job holders, students starting part-time and summer jobs, career changers, and the counselors and teachers who prepare them.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per job. Prints a first-day sheet, every job or a blank checklist; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Career Resources space in Caveat Vocations.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Add the job the day you accept the offer.
  2. Pick your I-9 documents and find the originals now, not the night before.
  3. Decide your W-4, and gather the direct deposit numbers.
  4. Test the route and plan the first day.
  5. Enroll in benefits before the deadline the checklist shows.

Add your new job

The form every new employee fills in

Form I-9: one from A, or one from B plus one from CList AProves identity andwork authorizationU.S. passport orpassport cardPermanent residentcardEmploymentauthorizationdocumentorList BProves identityDriver’s license orstate IDSchool ID with aphotoVoter registrationcard+List CProves workauthorizationSocial Security cardwithout arestrictionU.S. birthcertificate(certified)Native Americantribal documentForm I-9 documentsOne from A, or one from B and one from CList AProves identity and work authorizationU.S. passport or passport cardPermanent resident cardEmployment authorization documentList BProves identityDriver’s license or state IDSchool ID with a photoVoter registration cardList CProves work authorizationSocial Security card without arestrictionU.S. birth certificate (certified)Native American tribal document
A few examples from each list; the full lists are on the last page of the form. You choose which acceptable documents to show.

The I-9 timeline

Every employer in the United States must verify that each new employee is allowed to work here. You complete Section 1 of Form I-9 no later than your first day of work. You then show original, unexpired documents, and the employer completes Section 2 within three business days of your first day. You choose which acceptable documents to bring; an employer may not insist on specific ones.

The W-4 and your first paycheck

Form W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold. If you have one job and no other income, the basic steps are usually enough. With two jobs, a working spouse or side income, the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator gives a more accurate result. You can file a new W-4 any time your situation changes.

Sources

  1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, instructions and Lists of Acceptable Documents (uscis.gov/i-9).
  2. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-9 Central: completing Section 1 and Section 2 (uscis.gov/i-9-central).
  3. Internal Revenue Service. Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, and the Tax Withholding Estimator (irs.gov).
  4. U.S. Department of Labor. Employee benefits guidance on health and retirement plan enrollment (dol.gov/agencies/ebsa).

The worked example is made up. The I-9 deadline counts Monday to Friday and does not skip holidays; ask your employer if a holiday falls in your first week. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.