New job? A guide to surviving and thriving in your first 90 days

So, you’ve got through the application process, negotiated a great offer and you are about to take the next step on your career journey in a new role.  Congratulations! Quickly the initial excitement can be replaced by nerves and fear. You want everyone to see why you got the role but being in a new place with colleagues you’ve never met before is scary stuff.  

Don’t underestimate the first 90 days in the new job.  You’ll no doubt be keen to prove yourself and you may fall into the trap of being quite self-critical or even overextending yourself.  Your nerves mixed with overwhelm and a desire to impress may trip you up. 

It’s only natural to feel pressure to perform. When you are new in a role you’ll want to make your mark. Or you might be feeling out of your depth.  If this is a step up in your career you might also be struggling with a bit of imposter syndrome, wondering if you’re up to the task or waiting to be found out. Whatever you are feeling, please know that it is normal and has been felt by thousands of other people in exactly the same position as you are now.  Transitioning from one role to another will take some adjustments.  Don’t expect to get everything right straight away. 

Here are my top tips to help you survive and thrive in a new role

Ask questions

In fact the more the better.  Many people are afraid to ask questions.  Especially if they’re in a senior position and they need to ask someone junior, everybody expects the manager to be the expert.  But you’re relying on the people around you for information. 

They fear revealing gaps in their knowledge and they don’t want their managers to doubt the decision they made to employ them. 

Asking questions demonstrates that you are actively learning and by doing this understanding more deeply.  It also helps with rapport building.

Introduce yourself

Think about how you will do it. Be warm, be friendly. Reserve your judgment. Everybody’s different and some people take longer to warm up than others.  That person might not be rude, they might be an introvert.  That person might not be loud, just keen to make a good impression. If you’re meeting a new team they could also be nervous about meeting their new boss.  They’ll be sussing you out too.  

Don’t make it all about you. Change isn’t just happening to you, it's unsettling for everyone. If you’re a new manager, your team could be wondering what this means for them and whether their job is about to change. 

Sort out the logistics

Being prepared is always a good start. Where do you need to be and when? This is especially important with hybrid working. Make sure you understand what the protocol is in terms of where and how you divide your time. Is there any equipment that you need to have with you? What is your new commute like? Where will you be parking? Do you have a stable internet connection? These are all basic but important things to think about and feeling prepared will make you feel calmer. Pre pandemic it may just have been a case of turning up on your first day, sitting in reception, and waiting until someone came to get you.  It's not like that now.  Find out where you need to be ahead of time and reduce your first-day nerves.  

Clarify your objectives

Don’t wait to be told.  Take the initiative and ask to meet with your boss and be ready to ask lots of questions.  And practice active listening. Don’t be afraid to ask your seniors what success looks like for them and how they will be measuring your success.  

Balance meeting time with learning time

Give yourself time to engage and not just receive.  Try not to make the mistake of being asked to ‘sit in’ on meetings as a way to get up to speed.  Think about how you learn by reflecting and block out time in your diary for this.  A day of meetings is exhausting.  Try and stay in control of your diary from day one. 

Start building your new network

Building your network is how you’ll get stuff done.  It’s about finding the levers.  Get help understanding what the business culture is. Who are the key individuals in the organisation?  Who are the priority people you should get in touch with? Try to book time in their diary so you can sit down with them and ask questions.   

Seek out a buddy

If you aren’t given a buddy when you start, try and find someone who can help you settle in. A buddy is not the same as a mentor. This is someone who will help you navigate your new environment. Choose someone who has been with the organisation for a while and who knows how things work.  They can usually point you in the right direction for some mundane but important things like booking annual leave or where folders are kept on the shared drive. You’d be surprised how much time is wasted waiting to be given this information. People forget that what's obvious to them isn’t obvious to the new person.  

Be kind to yourself

My final tip is to accept it's going to be a rollercoaster.  Don’t expect to transform an organisation or overhaul a department in your first 3 months.  It’s probably not going to happen.  Be realistic with your time and your energy.  Build time for reflection and thinking into your schedule.  Try to create healthy new routines. If you slipped into bad habits at your old job, a new organisation is a perfect time to reinvent yourself.  Find ways to stay calm and know that it will get better as you settle. 

Don’t expect to feel great all at once.  Respect and accept that you will move at your own pace.  That's why most probation periods are 6 months, it's to have time to settle in and learn. 

Always remember that settling into a new job takes time.  The fact that it does take time isn’t a reflection on your skills or ability to do that job.  You were given the job because you demonstrated that you had the skills, attitude, and aptitude for it.  You don’t have to prove yourself in the first week or even in the first month.  Be proactive, make the effort to take responsibility for your induction, and get to know your new colleagues. Be realistic about what you expect from yourself and finally congratulations on the new job and the next step in your career journey.

Get in touch if you are an organisation that would like to help your new hires maximise their first 90 days in post. You can reach me at amanda@amandaowenmeehan.com