New Joiners: How to Succeed in Your First 90 Days

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4
min read
March 24, 2025
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Starting a new role is exciting but can also feel overwhelming. The first 90 days are your opportunity to learn, build relationships and make an impact. A structured approach will help you feel confident, engaged, and set up for success.

Key milestones for your success

First week: get settled and start learning.

  • Meet your manager and team - build key relationships early.
  • Make sure you have access to the tools, systems, and resources you need.
  • Clarify your role expectations - understand how success is measured.
  • Ask lots of questions - learning now will help you ramp up faster.

First 30 days: build confidence and make progress.

  • Gain a clear understanding of your role, priorities, and ways of working.
  • Have your 30-day check-in with your manager to discuss early wins and challenges.
  • Take stock of what you've learned – the first 30 days are a steep learning curve, so reflect on progress rather than aiming for perfection.
  • Seek feedback – your manager, colleagues and key stakeholders can all provide useful insights.
  • Start to think beyond onboarding – how you can add value and grow in your role over the next few months?

First 60 days: deepen your knowledge and add value.

  • Reflect on your progress – consider what you’ve learned, how you’re contributing and any skills you’ve developed.
  • Identify any knowledge or confidence gaps - ask for training, mentoring or additional support if needed.
  • Deepen and widen relationships - build connections with people beyond your immediate team too.
  • Show initiative - look for opportunities to contribute beyond your core tasks.
  • Seek constructive feedback – now is the time to refine your approach and improve where needed.

First 90 days: review and plan for the future

  • Evaluate your journey – reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ve adapted.
  • Assess your impact – what contributions have you made so far? What’s next?
  • Start to think longer-term – what will you be able to achieve in this role?
  • Schedule your end-of-probation check-in with your manager - review progress and next steps.
  • Celebrate your progress - by now, you should feel confident in your role!

Best practices for a strong start

  • Be proactive – take initiative, ask for what you need and seek out learning opportunities.
  • Build relationships – your success isn’t just about what you do, but also who you work with.
  • Seek feedback and act on it – growth comes from learning so ask for feedback and use it to improve.
  • Stay curious and open-minded – adapt, explore, and understand how your role contributes to the bigger picture.
  • Own your development – discuss and agree career goals with your manager. The first 90 days are just the beginning!

Remember: you don’t have to know everything immediately - learning, growing, and adapting are all part of the process. A strong start leads to a successful and fulfilling career!

What about Managers?

See Appraisd guidance for Managers: How to Successfully Onboard New Employees in the First 90 Days

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