What to Expect in Your First 90 Days at a New Job

Exciting times! You just got a new job. 

Statistics show that if someone plans to leave their new job, it is going to happen in the first 6 weeks. This is why the first 90 days is vital not only to learn new ropes but to build relationships, and establish yourself in the way you wanted to be perceived in the workplace. 

So what to expect in the first 90 days at a new job? 

1. Turn up. The most important of all, turn up on your first day and be on time. This doesn't require any formal skill or training at all. Just good old work ethic that could make or break you. 

Simple things such as doing a practice run to give you an idea what the traffic is like, what to expect in the route you're going to take to your job can prepare you to be on time and make a good impression on your first few weeks. Make an effort to be always on time at least on your first month on the job. 

2. Let go of your previous job. Don't you just hate it when you are on a date, and your date won't stop talking about how his ex does things? It is kind of like that in a new job.

You can't really go in and talk non-stop about what works for your old company or how your old company does things better. This shows that you are not eager to start this job -- you are still holding on to the past. It can be quite difficult to let go especially if you worked for a company for a while. Talking about your old colleagues, the good old boss, can hinder you from making new connections. 

Sometimes an employer may take you in to get ideas from your old company, their fierce competitor. You don't want to hang on too much and say "oh, this is how they do it." Be guided and share best practices constructively. Make a conscious effort to stop hanging on to that old job, there is a reason why you left. 

3. Learn How They Do Business. Push forward and learn the ropes. Though you might be working for the same industry, each company has their way of doing things. 

Teams behave differently. Your job in the first 90 days is to observe what the culture is like so you can inject your personality in an appropriate way. Sometimes one can be too enthusiastic, wanting to change everything. It can definitely scare people off. Just stand back a bit and learn.

4. Introduce Yourself. Make the effort to introduce yourself to the team. You don't want to be someone who is 9 months in the job and people are going, "Who is that walking at the corridor?"

You want to find out everyone's name, so it'll be easier to reach out if necessary. One good practice that some companies do is they blast out introductory emails to the entire organization to introduce them to the team. It also informs them what their roles and responsibilities are. 

5. Build Credibility. You just started working at a new job and you want people to take you seriously. There is no better time than on your first 90 days to make a good impression. Execute your plans and make an effort to deliver.

It is also a good chance to know what are the possible challenges that may hinder you in doing your work. This can help you prepare accordingly and be on the lookout for these flags.

6. Be Proactive in Updating your Social Profiles. Happy about that promotion you received from your brand spanking new job? Update your LinkedIn profile, turn off the open for opportunities switch. 

In this day and age, it is vital to update your LinkedIn profile to let recruiters know that you're out of the market. This saves you time in responding to queries if you're still open for opportunities. 

7. Self-Reflect. Is this the right role for me? Did I deliver what was expected?

When you know, you know. Sometimes even after doing all these steps, you just can't seem to brush off the feeling that this company is not for you. On the other hand, you can't wait for Mondays and start work! 

It is also a good time to reach out to your boss and ask how you're doing. Wishing you all the best in your first 90 days! 

Whatever you might be feeling, the first 90 days is the best time to evaluate if you will stay or go. Make the time to reflect and plan your next course of action if needed.