The first 90 days of a new job

When is the last time you tried a new workout? Did it have a 90-day plan to begin? If so, I would imagine it outlines the ups and downs that come with changing your diet, your exercise, and your sleeping patterns. In many ways, the first 90 days of a new job are similar.

First of all, you have to commit to leaving behind an old way of life. With a workout plan it might be most difficult to give up eating the foods you love. Or perhaps sleeping in until 7:00 instead of waking up to an alarm at 5:30 am. With a new job you may tend to focus on the good you left behind in your previous job. There was obviously some reason that you left in the first place, but as you adjust to a new work schedule and environment, it is human nature to wonder if you made the right decision. Maybe you used to have a perk or two at your previous employer that you don't have any longer, and it creates some doubt in your mind. Don't allow that to creep in, especially in the first 90 days. Focus instead on the reasons why you left the old way of life (or job) behind.

Next, you have to acknowledge there is bound to be some pain with the gain. When you start a new workout, you are bound to have muscle soreness and fatigue. That is your body's way of re-building and healing as you gain strength. The same concept will come with a new job. You have to learn new office politics, build new friendships, take some risks, and be uncomfortable at times. If you can really embrace this and pull the Band-Aid off early, your transition will be much more smooth.

Then after some initial gain, you might plateau and not see results. With a workout that can be really frustrating. You see immediate results in a few weeks and then for a few weeks don't see much at all. With a new job this part may not be quite as frustrating, but it happens quite often. The first few weeks are exciting and may even involved a bigger company event or accomplishment. Then a few more weeks go by and you're waiting to start a new project or something is put on hold. I have even had candidates tell me during this part of the transition that they are bored. While certainly not a good thing, some of this is bound to happen. Patience is the best medicine here, along with having someone to talk to, like a mentor or third party recruiter. These moments usually don't last for long and you are back on track before you know it.

Lastly, you get to the end of the 90 days and almost have another decision to make. With a workout plan it is whether or not to dial it down or try something different. With a job you can't be quite so cavalier. But there is certainly some truth to the idea. You will have had a chance to see most of the inner workings and culture of a company or department in 90 days. Be honest with yourself and assess if this is what you really signed up for. Most times it is in my experience, and then it is time to face all of the challenges of maintaining and improving upon your routines to have a "happy and healthy" next 90 days!