New Year, New Gig: Tackling Your First 30 Days in a New Role like a Pro
"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves." — Thomas Edison
Starting a new role can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially as you begin your career journey as a first generation young professional. Breaking your first year out into segments can help compartmentalize your priorities and streamline your information intake. For example, the first 30 days of a new role are critical for setting the tone of your experience, building relationships, and understanding expectations. In this Article, we outline actionable goals and strategies to help you make a strong first impression and establish a solid foundation with your new team and leadership.
Week One: Understand Your Role and Responsibilities
In your first week, focus on understanding the core aspects of your role. Review your job description and discuss expectations with your manager. Clarify deliverables, timelines, and the key metrics by which your success will be measured.
Beyond the job description, ask for examples of past successful projects or processes to better understand your position's scope. Take detailed notes during onboarding sessions to revisit later, ensuring you don’t miss any important details. Gaining a clear picture of your role early will help you prioritize emerging tasks effectively.
All Month: Build Strong Relationships with Your Team
Introduce yourself to your colleagues and learn about their roles. Not only will this help you understand how your own role fits into the larger team picture, but it will also help you understand the company as whole. Prioritize building rapport with your immediate team members by having short conversations or offering to grab a quick coffee (also works virtually!).
Schedule one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders to learn how your work intersects with theirs, including “downstream partners” (those whose work is impacted by your team) or “top-down” partners (whose work impacts your team). Express genuine curiosity about their contributions and ask for advice or insights. Strong interpersonal connections can lead to a supportive network and smoother collaboration down the line.
First two weeks: Learn the Organizational Culture
Do not underestimate the unspoken rules of office life. These little nuances can either help or hurt your transition to corporate life. To do so, actively listen to how people speak about their work and their coworkers. Avoid the trap of office gossip; people may be testing your attitude or quickness to pile on a coworker. Remember, you just got there and one person’s opinion does not represent the entire office. Find the people who match your vibes and who are quick to compliment their coworkers; these are the people you want in your corner (and who will make your office experience much more enjoyable).
Unspoken norms can be tricky. Ask questions to clarify cultural nuances you may not understand. For example, if meetings tend to start informally with small talk, participating can help you integrate better. Being adaptable to the company culture demonstrates emotional intelligence and helps you build trust with colleagues. One question you can ask right away: what are the expectations on email response times and instant messages?
First week: Identify Quick Wins and Ask for Feedback
Look for areas where you can make an immediate impact. This could involve solving a minor issue, streamlining a process, or assisting a coworker with a time-sensitive task. Start a Word document or other digital list of these wins and add to them as your onboarding continues - this will be helpful to show value from day one, during your first performance review.
Quick wins show your manager and team that you’re proactive and results-oriented. Focus on actions that align with your job responsibilities and avoid overcommitting. Listen to your instincts here: if you feel someone may be taking advantage of you as the newbie, they may be. Clarify any projects that take longer than an hour with your manager to determine if they should be on your plate or if someone if just pushing an undesirable task onto you.
One pro tip: Have the confidence to ask for feedback on these initial wins. Show your willingness to learn by addressing constructive criticism positively and making adjustments as needed. Regular communication helps align your efforts with your manager’s expectations, building trust and credibility (plus makes getting to larger, more complicated wins easier and with less margin for error).
all month: Master Essential Tools and Processes
Training, training, training. Dedicate time to learning the tools, software, and processes critical to your role. Request training resources or tutorials for any platforms you’re unfamiliar with, or any skills that it becomes apparent you will need. Part of this step can be seeking short informational meetings with coworkers who are familiar with commonly used systems, especially if you aren’t receiving extensive formal onboarding.
Beyond: Set Long-Term Goals
Armed with your quick wins list, begin thinking beyond the first 30 days. Identify skills you want to develop, projects you’d like to take on, and areas where you can grow.
Discuss your career aspirations with your manager during your onboarding period. This not only shows initiative, but also helps align your personal goals with the organization’s needs. Setting long-term objectives early ensures your role contributes to both your personal and professional development.
Reflect and Adjust
At the end of your first 30 days, take time to reflect on your experience. Consider what you’ve learned, areas where you excelled, and challenges you faced.
Use these insights to adjust your approach moving forward. For example, if you struggled with a particular task, seek additional training or mentorship. Reflection allows you to continuously improve, setting the stage for success in the months ahead.
By focusing on these goals and actions during your first 30 days, you can build a strong foundation for your career. By approaching this period with curiosity, adaptability, and a proactive mindset, you will position yourself as a valuable and reliable member of your team. When in doubt, ASK - there are no dumb questions in a new role. Remember, everyone wants you to succeed. Good luck!
Editorial Note: ChatGPT assisted our editors in drafting this Article.
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