Starting a New Job: The First 90 Days Done Right

Starting a new job successfully means making a great first impression while learning everything you need to excel long-term. You need to introduce yourself confidently, ask smart questions, and build relationships with the right people.

Preparing Before You Walk in the Door (1 Week Out)

Before you set foot in the office (or log in from home), there are a few steps you can take to make your first week feel less overwhelming and more intentional.

#1. Research everything

Your prep work doesn’t stop at accepting the offer. Take time to dig into your company’s latest news, their competitors, and any relevant changes in the industry. These insights help you walk in with context that others will appreciate.

Look through your team’s LinkedIn profiles to understand who’s who and find common interests. Read through the employee handbook carefully, flagging anything that’s unclear so you’re not blindsided later. A quick email to your manager a few days ahead asking about the dress code and what to bring also shows you’re thinking ahead.

#2. Do a practice run of everything you'll need on day one

Eliminate surprises by running through your first day before it happens. Time your commute during rush hour or test your home office setup, including your internet speed, camera, and any required software. Lay out an outfit that matches the company vibe you picked up during interviews.

Prepare a quick intro—something simple that includes your name, your role, and a detail that helps people remember you. If you’ll be onsite, make a list of what to bring to personalize your workspace; if you’ll be remote, make sure your home workspace is professional and distraction free. The more smoothly your first day starts, the more confident you'll feel.

Shining During Your First Day and Week (Days 1–5)

Once your prep is done, it’s go time. Your first few days at a new job set the tone for how others see you and how quickly you get up to speed, so approach them with purpose—and a little strategy.

#3. Arrive early and make yourself known

Showing up early gives you breathing room for hiccups, whether that’s parking confusion or a last-minute password issue. It also signals professionalism. Once you're in, introduce yourself enthusiastically to everyone, including receptionists, security guards, and assistants. These early conversations will help you feel grounded and help others start remembering you.

In meetings, don’t sit quietly waiting for someone to call on you. Offer your intro when it makes sense, using the one you practiced. To remember names, repeat them when you meet someone and jot down details after interactions; this shows effort and makes future conversations smoother.

#4. Ask strategic questions

Questions are essential, but timing and framing matter. Keep a running list of the topics you’re curious about, and group them so you aren’t interrupting every five minutes. Tailor your questions to help you contribute sooner rather than later; avoid asking things you could find out with a quick search.

When you do ask, be specific: asking someone for five minutes of their time to walk through a particular process is better than a vague, “Can I ask you something?” Save broader, long-term questions for your one-on-one with your manager so you can dive in properly.

#5. Find an office friend within the first 48 hours

Having someone you can turn to early on makes everything easier. Look for the person on your team who seems the most approachable and suggest lunch or a coffee chat by midweek. If there are other new hires, you might find a buddy who’s in the same boat.

Ideally, connect with someone who’s well versed in the company’s unwritten rules—they’ll be able to save you from missteps. Be generous in return: Offer to help with a small task or grab an extra coffee. The goal is to build trust and show you’re there to be a team player.

Building Your Foundation (Weeks 2–4)

These next few weeks are when you lay the groundwork for long-term success and start becoming someone your team can truly rely on.

#6. Schedule a deep-dive meeting with your manager

Once the first week’s chaos dies down, set aside time with your manager to go beyond surface-level chats. Ask how they define success in your role—not just at 30, 60, and 90 days, but also in terms of the qualities they value most. Learn how they prefer to communicate and what their current pain points are. 

Come to the meeting with ideas for how your strengths could help solve any issues you’ve noticed. Take notes, review them regularly, and refer back to what you discussed in future meetings to show you’re listening and applying feedback.

#7. Become the connector who makes everyone else's job easier

You don’t need a leadership title to lead. Start inviting people from other departments to lunch or initiate quick calls to understand how different parts of the organization operate. If you notice two colleagues who should know each other but don’t, make the introduction.

Passing along helpful info or connecting the dots across teams makes you valuable fast. Look for cross-functional projects where you can lend your skills and show you understand more than just your own silo. People remember the ones who bring others together.

#8. Start building your expertise in one specific area

Pick one thing—just one—that your team needs and that genuinely interests you; then, start mastering it. Whether it’s a tool, a process, or a niche topic, immerse yourself in it. Learn from books, courses, and colleagues who are already good at it.

As your confidence grows, share your knowledge by creating helpful guides or offering informal workshops. Position yourself as the go-to person in that area—not an expert on everything, just the best in your immediate orbit. It’s one of the fastest ways to become indispensable.

Proving Your Worth (Month 2)

By your second month, people have a sense of who you are. Now is your chance to show them what you can really do.

#9. Identify and map the real power structure

Titles don’t always tell the whole story. Take time to understand who actually influences decisions at your company. That might mean noticing who your boss consults before approving a project or who seems to get things done quickly. Don’t overlook assistants or coordinators either; they often have the pulse on everything.

Turn casual acquaintances into allies by showing genuine interest and offering help where appropriate. Keep track of these relationships so you can nurture the ones that matter most to your growth and goals. When in doubt, consider drawing your own Power Map of the power structure at your job, like the one below.

#10. Add measurable value without stepping on anyone's toes

Look for low-hanging fruit: tasks or processes that are clearly broken but easy to fix. Ask your manager about small daily frustrations and suggest ideas to make things smoother. Volunteer for tasks others avoid if they let you flex your skills.

If you spot inefficiencies, come up with solutions, not just complaints. Your goal here isn’t to prove you’re the smartest person in the room; it’s to make your team’s life easier and earn trust by being thoughtful, helpful, and humble.

Establishing Long-Term Success (Month 3 and Beyond)

This is the stage where consistency, boundaries, and smart systems start to shape your reputation and long-term growth.

#11. Set boundaries

Being dependable doesn’t mean being endlessly available. Say yes to high-impact projects, but don’t hesitate to push back when your plate is full. Be upfront about your bandwidth—your reputation is built on what you actually deliver, not what you say yes to.

Let people know your working hours and preferred communication style so expectations are clear. Use your vacation days and take real lunch breaks; it sets the tone for sustainable success. Once you’ve proven you can crush your main responsibilities, you’ll have more room to say yes strategically.

#12. Create systems that will make you indispensable

Long-term success isn’t about working more; it’s about working smarter. Create systems for staying organized, whether that’s through a project management tool, a color-coded calendar, or simple checklists. Document what you do so others can learn from or build on it. Establish routines for keeping up with trends in your field and growing your skills.

Think beyond your current role—what could this job evolve into, and how can you prepare for that now? Make sure your goals are realistic for your next 90 days based on what you’ve learned about advancement opportunities. The clearer your systems, the easier it becomes to scale your impact.

Taking Action After You’ve Found Your Dream Job

Landing a job you’re excited about is a huge win, but it’s just the beginning. If you want to thrive, you need to stay proactive. That means becoming a recognized expert in a specific subject, building bridges across your organization, and maintaining a relationship map that tracks who really influences your career.

Learn to take feedback without getting defensive and advocate for your own value without downplaying your worth. Whether you’re on payroll or running your own thing, standing out is the new normal. Luckily, even small consistent actions will put you ahead of most people.

If you want a no-fluff roadmap to earning more, owning your worth, and building a Rich Life on your terms, make sure you read my New York Times bestselling book I Will Teach You To Be Rich. Use it as your playbook to get one step closer to living your Rich Life.