The first 90 days set how colleagues see you and how quickly you feel at home. This plan splits them into four stretches: before day one, the first week, the first month and the following two months.
It covers the practical admin, the people to meet, what to learn and when to check in with your manager. Dates count from the day you copy it, so clone it a few days before you start.
Adjust it to the role. A junior post and a leadership post will weigh the steps differently, but the order holds for both.
What's in this plan
See every step
Before day one(day 0)
Confirm your start time, location and who to ask for
Ask HR or your new manager. A short email now saves a stressful first morning.
Gather the documents your employer asked for
Employers often need ID, bank details and proof of your right to work. Check the onboarding email for the exact list.
Plan your commute and test it once
Read the company website and recent news for 30 minutes
Write down 5 questions to ask in your first week
Good questions show you have done your homework.
Paste this into an AI assistant.
Prompt to copy
Help me write 5 thoughtful questions to ask my new manager in my first week as a <job title> at <company>. Focus on priorities, how success is measured and how the team works. Do not invent facts about the company.
Choose what to wear for day one
Week 1(day 7)
Meet your manager and agree what the first month looks like
Ask what a good first month looks like and write the answer down.
Set up your accounts, equipment and passwords
Complete the HR forms and mandatory training
Meet each person on your immediate team
A brief chat is enough. Learn their role and what they need from you.
Paste this into an AI assistant.
Prompt to copy
Draft a friendly two-line message introducing myself to a new colleague and asking for 20 minutes to hear about their work. My role is <job title>. Keep it casual.
Learn the team's calendar, tools and meeting rhythm
Write a list of names, roles and what each person does
Weeks 2 to 4(day 30)
Ask your manager for the 3 most important goals for your role
Get these in writing, even as a short email. They anchor everything else.
Read the key documents, plans and past work for your team
Follow a colleague through one core task
Book a coffee with 3 people outside your team
Write down what confuses you and ask about it weekly
New eyes spot oddities you will stop noticing in a few months. Note them early.
Book a 30 day check-in with your manager
Ask what is going well, what to change and whether your goals still fit.
Days 31 to 60(day 60)
Deliver one small piece of work from start to finish
A quick, visible win builds trust faster than a big plan.
Ask 2 colleagues for honest feedback on your work so far
Find the process that wastes the most time and note a fix
Learn how your team's results are measured
Write a one page summary of what you have learned so far
Writing it down shows you what you still do not know.
Paste this into an AI assistant.
Prompt to copy
Help me turn these notes into a one page summary of my first 60 days as a <job title>: <paste notes>. Use plain language and do not add facts I have not given you.
Book a 60 day check-in with your manager
Days 61 to 90(day 90)
Draft your goals for the next 6 months
Base them on what your manager asked for and what you have seen the team needs.
Take on one task that stretches you
Share one improvement idea with your team
Thank the people who helped you settle in
Review your first 90 days against your agreed goals
Be honest about what went well and what did not.
Paste this into an AI assistant.
Prompt to copy
Help me review my first 90 days in a new job against these goals: <goals>. Ask me questions one at a time, then summarise wins, gaps and next steps. Do not judge my performance beyond what I tell you.