As a millennial who graduated from university in 2010 at the height of an economic crisis, I’ve switched between jobs and roles within organizations multiple times.

No matter how much I pretended to be calm and collected, I was pretty terrified and overwhelmed every time. There is just so much ‘newness’ to contend with – the commute, your colleagues, lunch habits, what to wear, the job itself, clients, and the industry.

There are the inevitable feelings of panic about having made a horrible mistake, and sadness on your last day with your previous employer. At the same time, there is also excitement, anticipation, and energy. Your new role is a fresh opportunity to move closer to your career goals.

With a little planning and forethought, you can reduce the stress of changing roles and maximize your first few days and months on the job.

In this article, I’m going to share some general tips for your first day and suggestions for creating a 90-day plan. Let’s get started.

Preparing for Your First Day

No doubt, you want to make a stellar first impression. You are ready to dive straight in and make everyone believe you are the best choice for the job.

However, at this point, you simply do not know enough about the company and its internal workings to make the right first impression. Instead of appearing overzealous or incompetent, focus on being as prepared as possible.

I suggest a two-phased approach:

1. Know the Company and the Team

Before starting your new role, immerse yourself in your company and industry. Expand on your interview preparation by reviewing the company website, social media presence, and media coverage. Ask for a copy of the employee handbook and any relevant presentations or marketing materials to help you really understand the company’s culture.

If the role involves any software or processes you are unfamiliar with, ask HR or your manager which specific project management tools your team uses, such as Jira, Asana, or BrightWork 365.

You can then try to cover the basics with some online research and tutorials. This way, you can get started quickly without distracting your colleagues from their own work. Here are additional steps for your pre-start routine:

• Look at competitor websites and investigate industry trends to grasp the business landscape you are entering.
• Connect with your new team on LinkedIn, and if possible, meet them in person before you start.
• Practice your commute a few times and have a backup route ready just in case of unexpected traffic or delays.
• Finally, confirm your start time and important information, such as parking norms and dress code, with HR.

2. Nail the Basics

Morning routines can be easily disrupted by small mishaps like hitting the snooze button too many times, traffic, misplaced keys, or a forgotten phone. To avoid any extra stress on your first day, use the day before to:

• Pack your bag, including any required documentation.
• Decide what you will wear in advance. While this may seem trivial, you will save time and energy with one less decision to make.
• Prepare your breakfast, lunch, and any snacks. Munching on sugar-laden treats in a rush is not a great way to start your day!
• Make sure your keys are within reach.
• Relax and try to get a good night’s

At this point, you are familiar with your company and team, know where you need to be and when, and have prepared for a stress-free morning. The next step is getting to the office on time before jumping into your first day!

4 Tips for Surviving Your First Day

First things first – remember to enjoy your first day. Focus on learning as much as possible about it, but don’t worry too much about starting new tasks straight away.

1.       Build Connections

Even if you have met your team before, introduce yourself to everyone again and meet the wider team.

Using an individual’s first name helps to build trust and rapport, so try to address each person by name. If you can’t remember – just ask! Accept invitations for coffee or lunch.

2.     Observe and Learn

Be curious: ask questions, attend meetings, and learn how the team works and makes decisions. Find out about current and upcoming projects, and any key initiatives you should know about.

Avoid comparing your new team to previous employers, as this may be viewed as very critical, so it’s best to park these thoughts for now.

3.     Clarify Expectations

You should also confirm your responsibilities and onboarding plan. Set up a meeting with your manager to clarify what is expected during the first few weeks, or better yet, offer to prepare a 90-day plan to outline your early goals.

4.     Focus on What Matters for Project Managers

The above suggestions will help anyone starting in a new position. Project managers also need to get to grips with a range of areas, including project management processes and tools, the project pipeline, and clients. This simply isn’t possible on your first day, so a 90-day plan will help you settle in efficiently.

Your 90-Day Plan

A plan brings order to a stressful situation and helps to align your efforts with organizational success metrics. Developing the plan demonstrates your commitment to the role and ensures you acquire the necessary skills and experience swiftly.

Once the plan is prepared, ask your manager for feedback, including key milestones and metrics for success.

A word of caution – there are instances when you will need to launch a new project or take over a current project almost immediately.

Avoid the temptation to jump in without completing essential onboarding tasks in your first 30 days. You may need to adjust the plan if necessary, but cover the basics to prevent confusion.

The First 30 Days

Your mission is to help your team and organization succeed. During your first 30 days, you should:

• Learn how projects are managed within your organization, including request management, preferred project management methodologies (such as Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or Waterfall).
• Review templates, reporting, resource management, and communication styles.
• Study the company’s long-term strategy and roadmap. A new manager needs to grasp the challenges, opportunities, and internal cultural norms associated with each situation.
• Understand current projects by reviewing project charters, collaborative project sites, and meeting with the project management office or other project managers for practical insights.
• Identify metrics of success and their sources.
• Become familiar with key stakeholders, clients, and vendors.
• Become familiar with the company’s tool stack and foundational documents like the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and project Gantt chart.
• Meet with each member of your team to gain further clarity into their role, challenges, motivators, goals, and communication preferences.
• Set a regular meeting and reporting schedule.
• Spend time reflecting on your leadership style, priorities, and the current team environment.

Essential Project Management Skills to Demonstrate and Develop

Your first 90 days are an important period to demonstrate and develop your project management skills.

Use the first 30 days to observe how the team operates. After that, you can spend the next 60 days actively practicing your technical (hard skills) and interpersonal (soft skills) abilities.

This is also your chance to show your critical thinking and apply problem-solving skills to new challenges.

The Next 30 Days

The next 30 days are an opportunity to build a strong project management culture, set expectations with your team, and refine your working habits.

Project managers need to be resourceful and connected, so make sure you meet all of the ‘right’ people throughout the organization. Instead of a formal meeting, grab a coffee to chat about their department, role, and needs.

Taking Ownership of Project Health

Take ownership of project health by focusing on budget management, practicing risk management to identify and address threats, preventing scope creep, and understanding the performance indicators (KPIs) that define success.

Setting Team Expectations and Aligning Goals

Share your expectations with the team and work together to reach a consensus. Try to reflect on these questions:

• What does success look like?
• How will the team measure, track, and report on their activities?
• Do you want to change any current ways of working?
• How are you going to help individuals achieve their goals?

Getting off-site for a few hours is a great way to work through these points with the team and mark the transition to your leadership.

Managing Time and Avoiding Unproductive Habits

The first few months of a new job are a whirlwind, making it too easy to develop unproductive habits. With your priorities in mind, track your time to ensure you are working on important activities and figure out how to add value each week.

Look for any time-wasters such as badly run meetings, email, or an overloaded schedule. It is important to use your time wisely and intentionally so invest in time-management training. Additionally, documenting activities provides a solid foundation when reporting to your manager.

Finding a Mentor for Development

Find a mentor to guide your personal and professional development. A mentor is a trusted advisor who helps shape the character, values, self-awareness, and empathy of the mentee (individual undergoing mentorship). Learn about your mentor’s goals and projects, and offer to help where possible.

The Final 30 Days

By now, you have a firm understanding of project management practices in the company. You have spent time getting to know your team and key people, establishing ways of working and metrics for success. Your final 30 days are an ideal juncture to review your progress to date and seek feedback from your peers.

Document any learnings, observations, or challenges to tackle in the coming months. Consider new processes or amendments to existing processes or team alignment, and note any additional training you need.

Reflect on communication habits, decision-making, and other common patterns that really matter to your team and organization. These are your future focus. Finally, schedule a review meeting with your manager to discuss overall progress and the implementation of the 90-day plan.

Planning for Long-Term Success After Your First 90 Days

Getting through the first 90 days is a milestone. Now, you can focus on long-term growth.

Your 90-day review is a good opportunity to create a professional development plan with your manager.

Commit to continuous learning and set goals like earning a PMP project management certification to build your expertise and move forward in the organization.