30-60-90 Day Plan

Developing a 30-60-90 Day Plan for a new job that you are interviewing for is a great way to set yourself apart from other candidates.  It shows a potential interviewer/employer how you will organize and prioritize your time, during the first 90 days at your new job. You can use the job description, skills/experience required and company research, as well as information you learned in your phone/skype or first in-person interview to develop your performance goals. You want  to show how you will master your core duties in your 30-60-90 Day Plan.

You can also use your 30-60-90 Day Plan to help you make a great first impression, meet your performance goals and make a smooth transition into your new position.

Here are some things to think about when developing your goals for your 30-60-90 Day Plan. Goals can usually be divided into two categories. They are Learning Goals and Performance Goals.  Learning Goals are what you need to learn, to be able to perform successfully in your new job. Performance Goals are objectives set for performing the tasks, duties or responsibilities of your position at the skill level expected.

Many companies are using SMART goals for employee performance evaluations. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely.

Specific – What specific Learning or Performance Goal do you have in mind?

Measurable – How will you measure your progress? What milestones do you need to reach?

Achievable – Is this something you have control over? Is it realistic that you can achieve it?

Relevant – Why is this goal worth reaching and does it support my team, company, and responsibilities?

Timely – Date or time frame for achieving this goal.

30-60-90 Day Plan Template

First 30 Days
What will you accomplish during in your first 30 days of work?
In the first 30 days, you should focus on training and learning, or have a plan to make the most of your training, so that you can get up to speed quickly.  This will also depend on what level your skill is when you are hired, as your training period may last longer or be shorter, depending on your prior experience. Your goal is to meet or exceed your new employer’s expectations for your progress.

30-60 Days
What will you accomplish in your 2nd month of work?
In 30-60 days, you should focus on being able to perform your duties on your own. You should have a plan to get feedback on how you are doing.  Being proactive and taking initiative, to make sure that your performance is meeting or exceeding expectations in your new job, will impress the company you are interviewing with and help you be successful in your new position.

60-90 Days
What will you accomplish in your first 90 days of work?
In 60-90 days, you want to focus on how you will be up to speed and working independently. You may want to bring up what you will be able to do for them after 90 days, or the contributions you intend to make. You may also want to bring up what you will do to go above and beyond your basic duties, or what processes you can improve.