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Career Growth
First 90 Days in a New Role
Set yourself up for long-term success in your new position from day one.
9 min read Career Coaches
The first 90 days in a new role are critical. This is when you form first impressions, establish your reputation, and lay the foundation for your future success at the company. Get it right, and you'll set yourself up for a long and successful tenure.
This guide breaks down the first three months into clear phases with specific actions you can take to make an immediate impact while building for the long term.
The 90-Day Framework
Days 1-30: Learn & Listen
Focus on understanding before acting
Key Goals:
Understand the company culture and team dynamics
Learn the tools, processes, and systems
Build relationships with key stakeholders
Identify quick wins and longer-term opportunities
Learning
- Review all onboarding materials thoroughly
- Schedule 1-on-1s with team members and cross-functional partners
- Document processes and ask lots of questions
- Find and study past projects for context
Relationships
- Set up coffee chats with 8-10 colleagues
- Join team channels and observe communication patterns
- Attend team events and social gatherings
- Find a mentor or buddy within the organization
Quick Wins
- Identify low-hanging fruit you can tackle immediately
- Volunteer for small tasks to contribute early
- Fix obvious inefficiencies you notice
- Share relevant expertise from past experience
Days 31-60: Contribute & Build
Start delivering value and building momentum
Key Goals:
Take ownership of meaningful projects
Demonstrate your value and capabilities
Deepen key relationships
Establish your working style and communication preferences
Execution
- Lead your first significant project or initiative
- Contribute meaningfully to team meetings
- Start proposing ideas and improvements
- Deliver high-quality work consistently
Visibility
- Share progress updates with your manager regularly
- Present your work to broader teams
- Write documentation for processes you've learned
- Celebrate team wins and give credit generously
Growth
- Identify skill gaps and create a learning plan
- Seek feedback on your performance
- Set clear goals with your manager for the coming months
- Start building your reputation in specific areas
Days 61-90: Optimize & Lead
Solidify your role and look ahead
Key Goals:
Establish yourself as a trusted contributor
Take on more strategic responsibilities
Identify long-term growth opportunities
Set yourself up for continued success
Leadership
- Mentor newer team members
- Lead initiatives that align with company goals
- Present ideas to leadership
- Take on stretch assignments
Reflection
- Conduct a 90-day self-review
- Schedule a formal check-in with your manager
- Celebrate your wins and learnings
- Identify what's working and what to adjust
Planning
- Set goals for the next 6-12 months
- Identify projects you want to lead
- Create a professional development plan
- Build your long-term career path at the company
Building Key Relationships
Your Manager
- Schedule regular 1-on-1s and come prepared
- Understand their priorities and how you can help
- Ask for feedback early and often
- Clarify expectations and success metrics
Your Team
- Learn everyone's role and expertise
- Offer help without being asked
- Be a good listener and collaborator
- Respect existing processes before suggesting changes
Cross-Functional Partners
- Understand how your role intersects with theirs
- Build rapport early through informational chats
- Be responsive and reliable in joint projects
- Proactively communicate and set expectations
Senior Leadership
- Observe from a distance at first
- Contribute intelligently in any direct interactions
- Understand company strategy and priorities
- Look for natural opportunities to add value
Important Questions to Ask
Week 1-2:
- • What does success look like in this role?
- • What are the biggest challenges the team is facing?
- • Who are the key stakeholders I should meet?
- • What projects should I prioritize first?
- • How do you prefer to communicate?
Week 3-4:
- • What metrics define success for our team?
- • How can I best support the team's goals?
- • What skills should I develop in this role?
- • Are there any landmines I should be aware of?
- • What's the best way to propose new ideas?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to change everything immediately without understanding context
- Not asking enough questions or pretending to know more than you do
- Isolating yourself instead of building relationships
- Missing opportunities to deliver quick wins
- Not seeking regular feedback from your manager
- Comparing everything to "how we did it at my last company"
- Being invisible—not communicating your progress and wins
- Burning out by trying to prove yourself too hard
Key Takeaways
- Focus on learning and listening before trying to make changes
- Build strong relationships across the organization early
- Deliver quick wins while laying groundwork for bigger impact
- Seek regular feedback and adjust your approach accordingly