Starting a New Job: Your 30-60-90 Day Game Plan

Starting a new job is more than just learning names and logging into new systems, it’s your chance to make a strong impression from day one. And the first few months are critical! 

Not only are you building trust but you're also proving your value and setting the tone for what comes next. 

A clear structure will help you stay focused and avoid common missteps made by most newbies. Break your first 90 days into manageable goals so you can build momentum and show your new team they made the right choice.

What to do when you’re starting a new job

You may be itching to jump into the role and start doing the things mentioned in the job description. Just hold on a little minute, though. This is the time to build good habits, set boundaries, and learn how your new workplace actually works. 

Here are seven things every new hire should keep in mind:

1. Don’t forget your personal brand

You may have the right title, but your employers and colleagues know nothing of your reputation. Be sure you’re being intentional with everything, from how you communicate to how you show up in meetings to shape how the new people around you see you. 

2. Remember that trust is earned

Have you ever been in a role and saw someone new come in and start asking for changes or flexibility? Don’t be that person. You have to prove yourself first. When you start by building trust, you can use that as currency later on to get and do some of the things you want.

3. Set healthy boundaries

There is no reason under the sun for you to become a ‘Yes’ person just because you’re in a new role. True, you may be trying to prove yourself, but you don’t have to do so at the expense of burnout. If you’re getting pinged outside work hours or asked to take on too much, speak up early. It’s easier to set expectations now than fix burnout later.

4. Mind your own business

It may sound harsh, but every company has history, alliances, and tension points. You’re not a part of that – yet! Watch, learn, and stay neutral until you learn the lay of the land. 

5. Choose work battles wisely

Not every hill is worth dying on. If you’re frustrated by a process or workflow, try to understand why those processes are in place before pushing for change. Feel free to ask questions, but do so in the spirit of learning, rather than with the mindset of changing things.

6. Build good time management skills from day one

One thing you can count on is that the people who hired you are watching for things like missed deadlines, whether you’re organized, and if you do what you say you’ll do. Buy a calendar or use some sort of task management tool to be sure you’re staying on top of things. 

7. Ask questions – sometimes

No one expects you to walk into a new job knowing how to do everything. In fact, for the most part, if you walk into a new role with that type of ‘know-everything’  attitude, you’ll probably just end up annoying the people around you. 

When you ask questions, you show that you’re engaged. Just make sure your questions are thoughtful and not something you could’ve found in the company’s knowledge bank or a Slack thread. 

First 30 days on the new job

Here's what you should aim to accomplish in the first 30 days after starting a new job: 

1. Get clarity on your team's priorities

Your first week at a new job will be a whirlwind of getting access to systems, learning the layout of the office, and jumping into the to-do list left by your predecessor. Sometimes, the opposite happens, and you find yourself sitting around reading system manuals while the team scrambles to find something to occupy your time. 

No matter which way it goes, ask for some time with your manager to have a big-picture conversation about priorities. Try to find out:

• What is the team working on right now? 

• What are the biggest obstacles? 

• What can you do to be helpful from the start?

2. Map out a customized organizational chart

Even if you’re handed a formal organizational chart, build your own! Map out interpersonal reporting and support relationships that are relevant to you and your team. Having something like this handy will tell you: 

• Who actually influences decisions

• Who collaborates often

• How information flows across teams

No department operates in a vacuum, and by understanding the interdependencies between functional teams, you’ll get a good sense for how to connect the dots faster.

3. Spend one long day at the office to get a sense of the flow

Try to be the first one to get to the office and the last one to leave at least once. Simply being present for a full workday will give you insight into when people are available, when requests come in, and how the workload ebbs and flows. If your position requires coordination and collaboration, understanding the optimal time to catch key individuals can make a difference in your productivity and effectiveness.

4. Meet people

In all honesty, you should never stop doing this in your position, but meeting people in your first 30 days is key. 

• Introduce yourself

• Get other people's business cards

• Cultivate meaningful connections on LinkedIn and add them to your organizational chart 

You don't have to limit your conversation to work either. Feel free to ask about their families, hobbies, and interests. It’s all about building great rapport!

5. Have a status check-in with your manager

Before the month ends, sit down with your manager to talk about the status of the projects assigned to you and ask any lingering questions you may have. This is a great opportunity to get some early feedback on what you are doing right, what needs to be done better, and how you can spend your time to best benefit the team.

First 60 days on the new job

At this stage, you’re settling in but you’re still learning how things really work. The habits you build now will shape how your team sees you and how fast you grow.

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1. Continue to meet people

It seems obvious, but it's important! Continue to reach out and meet your co-workers and other professionals everywhere you go. Offer to sit in on meetings, even if you are not in a position to contribute yet. Keep good notes on everyone you meet as well, because dozens of new names and faces will begin to blur together after a while.  

2. Ask questions, listen, and observe

You’re still new, so asking questions is expected. You’re still not at a place to jump to fix things, so focus on understanding how and why things are done the way they are. Listening more than you talk helps you build credibility before suggesting changes.

3. Track your work

Keep close track of your accomplishments and tasks. It will make you look like a super-organized rock star, simplify quick status updates to your boss, and help you make progress across your multiple priorities. If your team uses a project management tool, learn it and use it. If not, even a basic spreadsheet works.

4. Notice what’s frustrating the team or slowing them down

As you keep your eyes and ears open, take note of things that are challenging for the team. Perhaps it's a step in a workflow, a particular procedure, or a difficult person. Take time to understand why they are that way before you suggest any changes.

5. Take care of your energy

Willpower, endurance, and the ability to learn are all impacted by your hydration, nutrition, and rest. Treat your body as a performance engine by feeding it well and giving it time to relax and recharge. You’ll learn faster, stay focused longer, and recover more easily from stressful days.

First 90 days of the new job

By now, you’ve got the basics down. You know the people, the systems, and the daily flow of things. This is when you shift from learning to leading, even if you do it in small ways. The decisions you make now set the tone for how others will see you long-term.

1. Find a mentor

After you have been with the company for a few weeks, you probably have a good sense of who has the knowledge and the temperament to help you succeed. Some companies set up formal mentorships for new hires while others leave it up to each professional to pursue. 

Look for someone who knows the business and is willing to share insight. This doesn’t have to be your manager, sometimes a mentor outside your team gives better perspective.

2. Clarify expectations

Continue to work with your manager to refine and clarify expectations. Sure, you may have had the conversation on your first day, but after a month or two, you may begin to notice that your stated goals and targets do not align with your daily tasks, or that urgent pop-up assignments are taking time away from steady progress to important goals. 

By staying in the conversation, you can eliminate surprises at performance reviews, make better decisions, and align yourself with larger company goals.

3. Watch for unspoken rules

Every company has its own unspoken rules. From labeling the food that goes into the communal fridge to where to sit, how meetings really work, which Slack channels people actually use. Pay attention to the small stuff. You’re still building your reputation, and knowing how things work behind the scenes helps you avoid missteps.

4. Treat every task like part of the interview

Remember that the first few months on the job are essentially an extended interview. Treat every task as such, even if it's minor or tedious. Keep your mental focus on the right things, manage your emotional reactions, and don't let your professionalism slip. You are setting up your professional reputation.

5. Reconnect with your old network

It may seem counterintuitive, but do find the time to have coffee or drinks with your old co-workers. Keeping your network active means you’re building long-term career equity! Find the time to send an email to your old mentor or chat with a friend from the old office.

Your first 90 days are the reputation you’ll ride

Every task, every conversation, every choice you make early on builds your internal brand — long before performance reviews or promotions come into play. That reputation? It sticks. So make it count.

The people around you are paying attention! Not just to how fast you learn, but also how you handle pressure, treat others, and whether you follow through. While you don’t have to be perfect, you do need to show up sharp, stay curious, and own your role.

Starting a new job isn’t just about fitting in. It’s about becoming someone your team knows they can count on.

Before you can crush your first 90 days, you’ve got to land the right offer. Start with a free professional resume review that can tell you whether your resume is something that will make hiring managers take notice.

This article was originally written by Natalia Autenrieth. It’s been updated by Marsha Hebert.