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Your first 90 days at a new job: Make the most out of it.

Starting a new job can be scary, especially if you are fresh out of university and jumping into your first job. However, starting a new job as a mid-career professional can be equally, if not more, daunting. This may be your second or third job, after spending years at your first full-time role. You may feel like you have the hang of how things work. But, the truth is, it can be scary moving to a new place with new people.

In today’s post, we want to share some important things to remember for your first week, first month, and first 90 days at a new job.

The first week: Getting your feet wet.

No matter if it’s your first job, or if it’s your second or third job – spend your first few days getting your feet wet. Be ready to introduce yourself to a lot of people. You may feel a little tired after repeating yourself, and you may not even remember all the people you met. That’s completely OK. Take your time to get to know people, and don’t be shy to ask them to reintroduce themselves if you forget their names. After all, there will be a lot of information thrown at you, so it’s understandable for some names to get tangled up.

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Photo by Saulo Mohana on Unsplash

Having your first one-on-one meeting with your manager is essential. This can help you to get on the same page with your manager and to understand their management style further. Ask about their biggest pain point and consider what you can do to lessen their burden. You can also ask about their expectations from you, including how they want to be informed of your work. Do they want weekly updates via email, or do they prefer a regular check-in meeting?

You should also take some time to go through old documentation to familiarize yourself with the work. You may or may not be in a similar position in your previous company, but the work may be done in a different way. Ask your colleagues about the standard procedures and processes.

A key thing to remember: Be a sponge and soak up everything.

The first month: Understanding where you fit.

As excited as you may be about making a change, bringing in new solutions, and proposing innovative ways to solve problems, you need to understand how your role fits into the overall company structure. Yes, you are excited about your new job, and you’re keen to make as much impact as you can. However, it is important to understand the company’s culture and environment before making drastic proposals.

Take some time to talk to some of your colleagues and team members. Understand how their roles work, and how your own role can support them in their goals. Spend time on building meaningful relationships in the office. This also involves understanding the history and how things worked before you joined. Sure, your role may be to bring in innovation and new changes. But you cannot propose new ideas without first taking the time to understand the processes that have helped the company to get to where they are now.

Chat with your manager to get an idea of the people within your team and outside your team who you will be working closely with. Try to schedule a one-on-one with each individual to understand their needs and goals, and what they expect from you. This can help you to clear any misunderstanding about your role, and also realign your own expectations about what you need to do.

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The first 90 days: Owning your work.

3-months into your new job, and it may be time for you to challenge yourself. Set ambitious goals on what you want to achieve and push hard to try and achieve them. If you haven’t already, it may be time to consider what other resources may be available to you within the company. Look into training opportunities to upskill yourself further.

Schedule a check-in meeting with your manager to review your work and see how you have been doing. This is your chance to ask for feedback and find areas for further improvements. After all, you are not an expert in everything. See what went well, and what can be improved. Talk to your colleagues and get their insights as well. Keep a running document about your achievements and successes so far, and of lessons learnt. This can be a great reference for future review meetings.

Wherever possible, you may want to participate in company-run events and activities. This can range from social activities to volunteering for sports teams and organizing committees. However, it is important also to learn how to set boundaries. While you may want to participate and get to know your colleagues, you do not want to overcommit yourself.

Setting yourself up for success.

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