If you searched ‘how to build a 30 60 90 day plan,’ you’ll find some recommendations that can really hurt you in your job search and interviews. They’ll tell you to wait to create your plan for a second or third interview. They’ll tell you to do a one page plan. These tips are no longer effective. Even in a great job market, competition is strong. You need to bring your best game to stand out in your first interview to make sure you move along the process to get hired. Find out the real best format for 30-60-90-day plan here.
Why is it so important to get the plan formatting right?
Some job seekers doubt that they need to bring a plan at all. Others feel that as long as they bring something, they’re OK. However, neither of them is right.
A good plan can make all the difference in the success of your interview. It shows that even if you don’t have experience, you can do this job. It shows that you’re someone who can think critically, prioritize tasks, and set and achieve goals. Your resume doesn’t show those things but the hiring manager needs to see that you have them in order to feel comfortable hiring you.
What’s more, job seekers who build plans like I tell them to build them (based on 20 years of experience) consistently get great job offers. If you want great job offers, build your plan like this.
Overall best format for 30-60-90-Day Plan
Your plan is an outline of your tasks and goals for the first 3 months in that new job. Overall, your plan should be 3 pages long—one page for each 30-day section. It can be organized by outline structure or bullet point, which ever you’re more comfortable with. And, it should be as specific as possible to the job and company you’re interviewing for. To do that, you’d include as many details as possible. To uncover those details, do online research and mine your network for people who may be able to answer those questions for you. (See how to find information for your 30-60-90-day plan.)
First 30 Days
In the first month or so, you’ll get to know co-workers, customers, or clients. You’ll learn the computer programs or platforms you need to get the work done. You may even be making initial evaluations of what kinds of things need your attention first. You’ll want to be a specific as possible here by including as much as possible the names of bigger clients, the company software, the training programs, equipment, or other things like that.
So, for instance, some of your bullet points might be:
- Get to know co-workers in X department
- Introduce myself to 3 biggest clients A, B, and C
- Read training manuals for X machine
- Learn (or brush up on) X program
Second 30 Days
During the second month, you should be digging deeper. Possibly, that means getting to know people beyond your immediate team, building relationships with your team, making evaluations, and getting feedback on your progress.
Some of your bullet points here might be:
- Get to know support staff in X department
- Introduce myself to mid-level clients A, B, and C
- Become familiar and comfortable with X machine
- Get feedback from Ms. Mary Manager
Last 30 Days
By the last month, you’ll actively make things happen. Maybe you’ll bring in new customers, or begin some new projects. You might begin implementing strategies based on 2nd month evaluations, or setting long-term goals.
Some of your bullet points here might be:
- Go after new business with X customer
- Begin work on X project
- Make recommendations for purchase of X, Y, and Z machines
- Set goals for 4th quarter
*Note: These are general types of things to include in each section of your plan. Because each job is different, the details are different. However, the process is the same. Every job has periods of getting oriented, settling in, and becoming a proactive part of the team. However, if your job will require a faster or slower time frame than what I’ve shown you here, you can and should adjust the time frames accordingly.
Bottom Line
If you know you need more help and direction to get your plan done quickly, I strongly encourage you to get one of Career Confidential’s proven, tested, pre-formatted plans with video instruction from me on how to find information, how to build your plan, and even more importantly, how to present it in the interview. Each plan comes with a review by me so you can know your plan is exactly what you need.
100% guaranteed 30-60-90-Day Plan templates (with coaching!):
Action Plan (for all jobs)
Sales Plan (for sales roles specifically)
Managers Plan (for management level roles)
Executive Plan (for Directors, VPs, Presidents, or C-Levels)