How to Nail Your First Week at a New Job

Two weeks ago, I started a new job as an experiment. For one week, I stepped into the role of Head of Product at a company of about 20 people. My goal was simple: to be the best “onboardee” they had ever seen. I was able to apply what I thought was the best way and get feedback.

Most people are passive when they start a new job. They wait around for onboarding instructions, attend the scheduled meetings, and keep a low profile as they "settle in."

But we're not like most people, are we? We want to hit the ground running and ensure our boss has zero doubts about hiring us. So, how do we achieve that?

Where Most People Get It Wrong

• Over-relying on Your Boss: Your job is to make your boss's life easier. If they find themselves working 30% more just to help you ramp up, you've missed the mark. Yes, you need some guidance, but the more you can figure out on your own, the better.

• Slow Start: Many spend months "getting used to things" without actually adding any tangible value. Don't let that be you.

My Tips on a Strong Start

When you watch an action movie, a lot of the time you start at a point with maximum action. It get’s you excited and interested to move to the next part. You don’t start an action movie where the main character is trying to figure out how to do something. (usually)

This is what’s called a “Strong Start” and we’re going to have a strong start for our new job. So, here's how I approached my onboarding, and how you can use the same tactics to stand out in your first week.

1. Create Your Own 30-90 Day Plan and Manage Your Manager

Before I even walked in on day one, I made my own 30-day plan. I mapped out the key things I needed to learn, set up, and who I needed to meet within the organisation. I identified the company's goals for the quarter and proposed what my Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) could be. Then, I sent this plan to my boss.

Why did I do this? Because it reduces friction. When you present a plan to your boss, there's only one of two responses you'll get:

1. "This is perfect! You saved me heaps of time."

2. "This is great, but let's tweak a few things."

Both responses are wins. In either case, you've shown initiative, reduced your boss's mental load, and provided a concrete starting point for your role.

Action Step: Within your first week, draft a 30-90 day plan covering what you need to learn, who you need to meet, and what immediate contributions you can make. Share this with your manager and ask for feedback.

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2. Identify Quick Wins to Build Momentum

Your first month is all about momentum. Spending too much time on planning and preparing without achieving results can leave you looking inactive. Even though most bosses understand there’s a learning curve, you want to exceed their expectations.

In my case, I identified a few quick wins: streamlining some internal processes, suggesting minor but impactful product tweaks, and taking ownership of a small project. These weren't earth-shattering changes, but they showed I was there to contribute immediately.

Action Step: Look for opportunities to add value fast. This might mean reorganising shared files, implementing a small growth hack, or contributing a new product idea. Pick something achievable in a short time frame that shows you’re already thinking about improvement.

3. Offer a Fresh Perspective

Early in your onboarding, you'll have an outsider's view—a perspective that gets harder to maintain as you settle into the role. Use this to your advantage.

During my week-long stint, I reviewed the company's product and systems and offered my thoughts to my boss. I framed it like this: "Hey, I thought it might be useful to offer my thoughts while I'm still new. Feel free to ignore this if it's not useful, but I wanted to share an outsider's perspective."

This approach does a few things:

• Shows you're proactive and analytical.

• Opens a dialogue about potential improvements.

• Signals you're here to contribute, not just follow instructions.

Action Step: Within your first two weeks, review the product, systems, or processes and offer thoughtful feedback to your boss. Position it as an optional, outsider's view so they don't feel pressured but see your initiative.

I hope this helps when you inevitability start a new job or perhaps you’re in the process right now. You can always bookmark or save this for later.

Until next time,

Ajay