Getting a new job, especially your dream job, is incredibly exciting. It can also be a bit nerve-wracking as you prepare for your first days in a new setting, with new coworkers and responsibilities. 

This is a topic that comes up at CAC often. According to our career coaches, research shows that your first 90 days in a new job are the make it or break it time for success. This is the time that you’re assimilating, managing your energy, learning the culture, and developing relationships. Remember that you don’t need to overwork yourself, and should focus instead on creating a simple plan for managing all of the new information that you are taking in.

It’s important to learn and understand what it means to be successful in your new company, and to remember every company is has it's own quirks that will take getting used to. A helpful article on Idealistcareers.org addresses many of the concerns that come up in this situation, and lists helpful questions and actions to help you break the process down into small, manageable pieces and guide you through your first 60 days. 

Questions to ask yourself include:

• How does my boss like to communicate?
• What are my key projects/goals within the first 30-90 days?
• How does my department support the other areas of the organization?
• How is my department positioned to contribute to the company’s goals and strategy?

Actions to take include:

• Review business/ department goals/objectives 
• Review your job description & org charts
• Schedule meetings with key colleagues
• Learn departmental processes & systems

The full article can be found here. For even more information on returning to work after cancer, check out our Back to Work After Cancer page.