Your first 90 days in a new job presents a golden opportunity to make a positive impact, establish your role within the organization and build the foundation for future success.
While beginning any new job can sometimes feel like you’re drinking from a fire hose, it’s important to have an understanding of the things you need to do to succeed.
To make an impact in your first 90 days there are key things you should do to ensure your success.
Ask for a copy of your job description and organization chart - Actually, you shouldn’t have to ask. Starting a new job without a copy of the job description and org chart is like sending a baseball player out onto the field without assigning him or her to a position. Once you have copies of both, thoroughly review them and ask your manager for clarification if you have any questions.
Begin to build your network - Ask your manager for the names of the key people you will be working with. The list can include vendors and clients as well as other company employees. Schedule one-on-one meetings (preferably in person) to introduce yourself and better understand their responsibilities and contact points with you in your new role. This is a great time to ask if there are things you can do in your new role to improve the working relationships across business units or even within your own group.
Gather information - Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions about how things work and why. Don’t jump to conclusions or make a hard play for a specific outcome until you know the politics and history of your job and the organization.
Quick wins - Demonstrate your strengths by taking charge of a project you know you can deliver on and then make sure you do. Nothing is more powerful than showing others what you are capable of and it instantly builds credibility in a way that simply talking about past accomplishments cannot.
Document your accomplishments - We always advise people to keep a running list of accomplishments. Your performance reviews will practically write themselves. That said, start the documentation process immediately upon starting your new job and you’ll never struggle to recall what you’ve done.
Understand your new manager - Getting to know your manager’s expectations of you in your new job is critical to your long-term success, so begin to develop your relationship now. What is their management style? Do they want details or just a summary? Are they collaborative or authoritative? What are the issues they care most about? How do they measure success?
The first 90 days of any job is usually stressful but also exhilarating. Put some extra effort into getting off to a good start and you’ll set yourself up for success for the long haul. Good Luck!