How to craft the perfect 90-day plan for your new job

You’ve aced the interview process and secured yourself a job. Just as you had to impress the hiring manager in the interview, you’ve now got to impress your new colleagues. And there’s no better way to do it than to set some clear objectives.

One survey found that 27% of executives know whether a new hire is right for the job within the first few weeks. That doesn’t sound like very much time to make a good impression, but thankfully the same survey found that 78% will make their decision within a three-month time frame.

So, how do you craft the perfect 90-day plan that will make sure you make a great impression from the very first day in your new job?

Why do you need a 90-day plan?

First, let’s start with the why.

Your goal for the first week is going to be very different from every other week. In those initial days, your attention will be concentrated on learning everyone’s name, figuring out who is who in the business, and getting to grips with any new systems. In essence, you’re going to have different short-term and long-term goals throughout the first few months. It’s important to figure out what those are and determine how you’ll achieve them.

A 90-day plan will ensure that you establish concrete goals, set priorities, and measure your success in your new job.

Set SMART goals

Goals hold you accountable. Plus, they motivate you because they give you direction.

You’ve probably heard that you’re more likely to achieve a goal when you write it down. A more recent study found that you bump up your chances of achieving your goals even more when you tell them to a friend. But you can take it a step further. The study found that the best way to set yourself up for success is to send your goals, action commitments and weekly progress reports to a friend.

Setting SMART goals is one of the steps you should take to achieve your career objectives.

S – Specific goals make it clear what it is that you want to achieve.

M – Measurable goals help you track your progress.

A – Attainable goals are challenging but reasonable to achieve.

R – Relevant goals align with your long-term objectives.

T – Timed goals ensure you have an end date for when you want to achieve them by.

Define your priorities

You can’t learn everything in the first 90 days, and no one will expect this from you. In any job, whether you’re a junior sales representative or an experienced sales manager, there is a learning curve.

Rather than overwhelming yourself trying to prove that you can do it all, why not narrow your focus to what is important? You might notice that your team needs help keeping the workflow organised, or your manager is looking for new ways to increase efficiencies.

Find the areas where your help is needed most. This way, you’ll maximise the value you add to the company and show your new colleagues that you’re a team player.

Allow yourself some flexibility

Lastly, it’s important to give yourself some leeway. There are going to be moments when you trip up in your new job. The key thing to remember is that mistakes are all a part of the learning curve.

Is it time for your next career move?

Now that you know how to craft the perfect 90-day plan for your new job, it’s time to put it into practice.

If you’re looking for your next role, why not explore careers at IQVIA? If you want a job where you can make a difference, we might just have the role for you. With over 61,000 colleagues working across 100 countries, the career opportunities are endless.

View our current medical sales representative jobs  hospital representative jobs or browse our other job markets to find the position that is right for you.