So, you’ve landed a new job. It’s exciting, but at the same time can feel a bit overwhelming. Overcoming the learning curve that comes with a new position, plus the desire to leave a lasting impression on your new employer, is a lot of pressure. Fortunately, there’s a way to map out and prioritize your time, allowing you to seamlessly adapt to your new environment—it’s called the 30-60-90 Day Plan. Follow this plan during your first 3 months and you’ll soak in as much information as possible, master your core job responsibilities, and leave a lasting impact on your new team.
What is a 30-60-90 Day Plan? It’s a plan for new employees that lays out a clear course of action during the first 30, 60 and 90 days of their new role. Setting concrete goals for each stage of your plan will help visualize a successful transition and empower you to step into the role with confidence.
If you haven’t been asked to craft a 30-60-90 Day Plan by you manager, it’s a good idea to draft one for yourself anyway. Follow these guidelines to set up a plan and push yourself to perform at your greatest potential:
First 30 Days
In the first 30 days, all employees are learning the ropes; the theme here is to be a sponge. Your goals should reflect setting up a strong knowledge-base on the company and your department.
Examples of Learning Goals
• Study my company’s mission and vision.
• Understand my company’s culture code and why it’s implemented.
• Meet with all department leads, to gain an understanding of their business and biggest challenges.
• Get an understanding of the company’s brand, business strategy, and goals.
• Meet with your manager to gain a clear view of their expectations.
Examples of Performance Goals
• Complete new hire training.
• Make one performance goal specific to your department and role. If you need help in this area, ask your manager for a recommendation.
Example of Personal goals
• Grab lunch or coffee with everyone on your team to get to know them better on a professional and personal level.
Second 30 Days
Use the second 30 days to stand out as an outstanding contributor and make a name for yourself on the team. You were hired for a reason! Speak up at meetings and share your ideas for improvement from a fresh perspective.
Examples of Learning Goals
• Deep dive into my company’s business roadmap and strategy.
• Review various customer profiles and target audiences to gain a full understanding of your customers are and their pain points.
• Conduct a competitor analysis to learn how others operate and how to better grow your business.
Examples of Performance Goals
• Set up specific metrics with goals attached to them for each week.
• Make 1 goal specific to improving a project you've taken initiative on.
• Share at least 1 new idea at a team meeting
Example of Personal Goals
• Meet with colleagues on other teams to develop relationships outside of your own department.
Final 30 Days
By the end of 3 months, you should have a strong understanding of your role, be confident in your abilities, and be directly contributing to your team. At this point you’ll have set yourself up to be seen as a future leader by your peers. Continue to contribute and take initiative on new projects.
Example of Learning Goals
• Conduct an analysis of your team’s production metrics to determine the lowest performing area and make a suggestion for improvement.
Examples of Performance Goals
• Expand your metric goals to increase week over week, as you exceed them.
• Brainstorm one idea outside of your role and start the conversation with the department head.
Example of Personal Goals
• Join one of your company’s extracurricular clubs or committees.
Mastering the nuances of your new role isn’t an easy task, but with a strong 30-60-90 Day Plan, you’ll accelerate your development, adapt to your new work environment, and position yourself to excel within the company.