Why the First 100 Days in a New Job Matter
Your first day on the job is more than just a new calendar entry – it's the starting signal for a phase that largely determines how your career will develop in the new company. During the first 100 days, you make your first impression – and it tends to stick. You get to know the company culture, build relationships, and position yourself both professionally and personally within the team. This phase is like a foundation: if it's solid, you can build long-term success on it. But if you're too passive, overwhelmed, or invisible, it will be much harder to gain a foothold later on.
In short: the first 100 days are your chance to hit the ground running – with a clear mind, curiosity, and strategy.
Preparation Phase – Before You Even Start
There’s a lot you can do before you even set foot in the company:
- Actively learn about the company: its culture, customers, technologies, and workflows. Take a look at their social media channels – they often reveal more about day-to-day work than the official website.
- Clarify the basics: Where’s the entrance? Who’s your contact person? What documents do you need to bring? Is there a dress code?
- Define your goals: What do you want to achieve in the first few weeks – professionally, organizationally, and personally?
Tip: If the setting feels relaxed enough, ask ahead if a small welcome treat (like coffee and pastries or a pretzel round) would be appreciated. It’s usually well received and makes a friendly, team-oriented first impression.
Your Onboarding – First Impressions Matter
A structured onboarding means you’re given clear tasks, contact persons, and a plan. Ideally, it includes:
- An onboarding roadmap with goals for weeks 1 to 4
- Regular check-ins with your manager
- A mentor or buddy to answer your questions
Tip: Ask to be shown key processes and join meetings actively – even if you don’t understand everything yet. Being present helps you settle in faster.
What to Expect in the First Few Months of Your New Job
1. Orientation and Overview
Especially in technical roles – whether in production, engineering, quality assurance, or project management – it’s crucial to develop a solid understanding of the company within the first few weeks. This goes beyond just learning workflows; it includes understanding structures, responsibilities, communication channels, and company culture. How does internal coordination work? Who are the key contacts? Which tools and systems are used? Which processes are essential for day-to-day operations – and what specific requirements apply in your area? These are the kinds of questions you’ll need to answer in order to feel confident and capable in your role. A good employer won’t leave you to figure this out on your own – instead, they’ll provide a structured onboarding process, often including onboarding plans, mentors, or job shadowing opportunities.
2. Between Watching and Doing
Finding the right balance between learning and performing is essential. In the first few weeks, you’ll naturally want to prove that you're not only motivated but also capable. That’s completely understandable – after all, you want to make a good first impression and confirm that you’re a valuable addition to the team. But just as important as showing what you can do is taking the time to observe, listen carefully, and understand the context. Jumping into action too quickly without grasping the bigger picture can easily lead to mistakes or misunderstandings.
So give yourself permission to learn. Ask questions – even if they seem obvious. Pay attention to how your colleagues approach tasks, how decisions are made, and what’s communicated between the lines. This will help you build a solid foundation that allows you to make informed decisions and work effectively later on.
Think of the first weeks as a kind of training camp: it’s not about delivering top performance right away, but about understanding the rules of the game, finding your role in the team, and gradually building confidence. Those who take this time early on will act with greater focus, clarity, and impact down the line.
3. Team Integration
Alongside all the technical tasks, tools, and processes, there’s one key question that’s just as important in the first few weeks: How does the team tick? Even with the best qualifications, you’ll only be truly successful and satisfied if the interpersonal dynamics are right – if the chemistry fits. A strong team spirit doesn’t just happen by itself. It thrives on open communication, mutual respect, and genuine interest in the people you work with every day. At the start, it’s often not the big team events that matter most, but the small, everyday interactions: a quick chat in the coffee kitchen, solving a problem together, or a casual “How’s it going?”
Tip: Pay attention to the team’s overall mood, the unwritten rules, the humor, rituals, or how conflicts are handled – all of this speaks volumes about the team culture. Show that you’re open as well: listen, get involved, and offer help – but without forcing yourself into the spotlight.
How to Introduce Yourself to Your New Team the Right Way
✅ Dos
- Keep it short, honest, and friendly: Share who you are, what you’ve done so far, and what you’re looking forward to. A smile goes a long way.
- Show genuine interest: Say something like, “I’m excited to get to know the team and really looking forward to working with you.”
- Stay open, even if others seem a bit reserved at first – many technical teams just need a little more time to warm up.
❌ Don`ts
- Avoid making too many comparisons to your previous employer – it can come across as critical or arrogant.
- Don’t jump in with improvement suggestions right away – take time to observe and understand first.
- Don’t hide behind your screen. Being present and visible is key to becoming part of the team.
How to Position Yourself Within the Team
The first few weeks are your stage. Use them to show who you are and what you stand for:
- Be reliable: Say what you’re going to do – and follow through.
- Be communicative: Transparent communication builds trust.
- Be confident – but humble: You bring fresh perspectives, and that’s valuable. At the same time, you’re new – it’s okay (and expected) to ask questions and keep learning.
Tips for a Successful Onboarding
1. Ask Questions – and Then Ask Again
It may sound simple, but it’s true: those who ask, lead. Especially in the first weeks, curiosity isn’t a sign of insecurity – it’s a sign of professionalism. When you ask targeted questions, you show that you’re engaged, eager to understand, and taking responsibility for your own onboarding. Ask about workflows, responsibilities, background information. Don’t hesitate to ask twice if something isn’t clear – it’s better to get clarity now than to work with assumptions later. These conversations often lead not only to useful insights but also to valuable exchanges with colleagues that give you a deeper understanding of the bigger picture.
Bonus: it increases your visibility. You’ll be seen as someone who’s proactive, curious, and communicative – and in the early days, that matters far more than being perfect.
2. Document Your Learnings
In the first few weeks, you’ll be hit with a flood of new information: workflows, key contacts, technical terms, tools, internal abbreviations, and processes – often all at once. To stay on top of things, it’s incredibly helpful to document what you learn in a structured way. Whether you use OneNote, a classic notebook, or a simple Word document doesn’t matter – the key is to write things down. Keep track of processes, common questions, login info, helpful tips from colleagues, or anything else that stands out to you. You’ll be surprised how much knowledge accumulates in just a few days – and how often you’ll refer back to it later.
Tip: Organize your notes by topic (e.g., tools, contacts, projects, open questions). That way, you’ll gradually create your own personal reference guide – tailored exactly to your role.
3. Build Your Network
Whether you work in production, engineering, or administration – it’s always worth reaching out proactively to colleagues from other departments. Cross-functional connections often lead to valuable insights, fresh perspectives, and practical tips on how things really work day-to-day – beyond the official processes and theoretical guidelines. You might find out which tools actually work best, how internal coordination is handled, or where common pitfalls lie. Often, it’s those casual chats at the coffee machine or quick hallway conversations that give you exactly the input you need – while quietly building trust at the same time.
When you show genuine interest in the tasks and challenges of other departments, you gain a broader understanding of the company and lay the foundation for future collaboration. Especially in complex, interdisciplinary projects, that kind of network can make all the difference.
4. Show Initiative
In a new job, simply waiting for tasks to come your way isn’t enough anymore – especially in technical or project-driven environments. If you really want to hit the ground running, you need to be proactive: ask questions, think ahead, and get involved. Take a look around your team: Where are things getting stuck? Where could someone use an extra hand? Are there smaller tasks you could help with? Even if you don’t yet understand the full picture, just offering to take on something or support a process shows drive and engagement. Especially in technical fields, initiative is a big plus. It shows that you’re not just completing tasks, but thinking critically, taking ownership, and actively contributing to the team’s success.
Common Mistakes in the First 100 Days
- Trying to improve everything right away – Sure, a fresh perspective brings fresh ideas. But if you start questioning processes or trying to “do everything better” from day one, you may come across as arrogant.
- Being too passive – If you stay in the background, ask few questions, and remain barely visible, you run the risk of being overlooked. Especially in the early days, presence matters – not loud, but clear.
- Only communicating with your manager – A good relationship with your boss is important – but it’s not everything. Take time to get to know your colleagues, understand the interfaces, and build trust within the team. Your network counts.
- Not asking questions – “I didn’t dare to ask” is not a useful strategy. No one expects you to know everything. Questions show interest, a willingness to learn – and help you avoid mistakes.
- Complaining about or constantly comparing to your old employer – “We did it better back at my old company” rarely goes down well. Comments like that can come across as patronizing and stall your fresh start. Better: stay open, understand first – then contribute.
The first 100 days aren’t an exam marked with a red pen – they’re a phase full of opportunities. With an open mindset, genuine curiosity, and a bit of strategic thinking, you’ll lay the foundation for a successful future in the company. Whether you’re starting as a tool designer, project manager, or welding technician – it’s the small, consistent steps that make a lasting impact.
So: bring your personality, don’t be afraid to ask questions – and stay true to yourself. Then nothing stands in the way of a successful start.
