Starting A New Job? Don't Just Show Up - Prepare To Stand Out!

First days are always overwhelming. If you've joined a new job recently, you know how it feels to be a completely new to an unknown place with no friends, confusing floor plans, new faces, and different management and working styles. Compound that with the fact that almost every company in today's world has a relatively high turnover, putting the people who have been at the company on edge (For example, per Business Insider, as of 2013, Google has a median tenure of 1.1 years).

You are the fresh blood being infused in the company, in a team, and the expectation is for you to be a "go-getter." And no one knows you. And you know no one. This can be overwhelming, and extremely stressful.

There are so many articles and blog posts that talk about how to prepare for an interview. No one is talking about what to do next. Just show up? No - you can do better! You can stand out from the crowd; you can gain momentum fast, infact, even on your first day, IF you are prepared. Having been through a few 'first days' myself, here's what I recommend on how to prep:

A FEW DAYS BEFORE JOINING THE JOB:

1. Job Description & Interview Notes:  Re-read your job description. When you read it initially, it was for interviewing purposes, so your context was different. You read it with a mind set of 'how would I respond to the responsibilities listed'. Now read it in context of 'how will I satisfy these responsibilities'.
   
   In conjunction, read the interview notes you took, type them up and organize them by job responsibilities.
   
   Create an org-chart.
2. 90-Day Plan: Take a stab at a 30-60-90-day plan. People who interviewed you told you all the problems they are trying to solve - the reason why they are even talking to you. Rank the problems, write down your solution to the problems, and be ready to meet with your manager to review the plan. It may all change, it may become invalid on day 2, but now you have accomplished 2 goals:
• You have started internalizing the problems and got your mind working on the solutions.
• You will demonstrate to your new management that you are someone who takes initiative. You will stand out from the crowd.
  
  (Pro Read: Many moons ago, I read the Michael Watkins book The First 90 Days (2003 edition) - when I read it, it was already obsolete - something I didn't realize at the time, so I went in to my job thinking I had 90 days to get my act together. Fifteen days in, I realized I had already lost the time to get it all together. Michael Watkins published an updated version - which I haven't read, but I am assuming it addresses the challenges I faced)
  
3. LinkedIn is your friend: Use LinkedIn to research each member of your team, your manager, your peers, and your directs. Jot down, not their skill set as much as their traits. Read the recommendations, which will tell you what makes them tick. Have that portfolio handy.  

DAY 1:

Ah the day is finally here! Nervous energy mixed with excitement, mixed with confidence - its a cocktail for exhaustion - pace yourself. Once you settle in your chair, next step is to figure out the answer to the following questions (use this as a checklist):

GETTING STARTED:

1. Do you have a project/body of work ready to go?
2. Who will you be working with? 
3. What stage is the work at?
4. What are the deadlines?
5. What is the budget?
6. How much of the budget is remaining?
7. Do the deadlines and the remaining budget feel realistic to you? 
8. Is your draft org chart accurate?
9. Do you have a meeting setup with your boss?
10. Is the expected method of communication formal or informal?

LOGISTICS:

1. Where's the bathroom? 
2. Where does your boss sit? 
3. Where does your team sit?
4. What do you need in your space to make you more efficient and motivated (plants, water bottle, family pictures, coffee mug, pens, papers, pencils, markers, highlighters, stapler etc.)
5. Who holds the key to the supplies (is it help desk, is it someone's assistant)?
6. Where's the coffee?
7. Where's the cafeteria?
8. Where's the vending machine?
9. Where are the conference rooms?
10. How do you book meetings/conference rooms?

Once you know the answers to the 20 questions up above (and obviously feel free to add more to your personal list), you will be ready to take off! 

Remember - everyone feels lost or overwhelmed, but you wouldn't be there if they didn't want you, and if you didn't like the job, so get organized, stay focused, and get going! 

The better you are prepared, the less time it will take for you to become a productive member of the team. 

Good Luck!