Interview strategy

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30-60-90 Day Plan: What It Is & Why You Need One



If you've never heard of a 30-60-90 day plan, you're not interviewing as well as you think you are. A 30-60-90 day plan is one of the most effective interview tools any professional can use, no matter their industry or job level.

Unfortunately, not a lot of job seekers know what 30-60-90 day plans are, or why they would need one in the first place.

What Is A 30-60-90 Day Plan?


A 30-60-90 day plan is a timeline for your first three months on the job. It lists your goals and the tasks and actions you will take to accomplish those goals. What will you do when you get hired? When will you do it? How will you make a difference from Day 1?

The idea is to run through your plans/ideas for those first three months on the job in your final job interview. Present your 30-60-90 day plan to the hiring manager and have an in-depth discussion about how you will approach the job and be successful in the role.

What's Included In A 30-60-90 Day Plan?


Man looks at his 30-60-90 day plan for a job interview

There are a few things you should always include in your 30-60-90 day plan. In the first 30 days, outline the steps you'll take to complete any onboarding or company training. Also, explain your process for getting to know your teammates, and list any immediate goals that can be measured.

In the next 30 days, set realistic goals related to people, processes, and productivity. These goals shouldn't be too detailed. A high-level approach is enough.

The last 30 days are the most important part of your 30-60-90 day plan. It's the section that shows your potential as a long-term employee. Here, list achievements you expect to have accomplished by the three-month mark, and highlight additional goals geared towards exceeding expectations.

You'll need to have a solid idea of what the job entails before creating your 30-60-90 day plan, so make sure to ask good interview questions and use the job description as a guide.

Why Create A 30-60-90 Day Plan For Your Job Interview?


Job candidate hands the hiring manager his 30-60-90 day plan during an interview

Ultimately, a 30-60-90 day plan is a competitive advantage. It's something so few job candidates use that if you bring one to your final interview you'll already have that edge over the other applicants. It could be the reason you get offered the job.

When you present your 30-60-90 day plan to the hiring manager, they'll be extremely impressed by your "go-getter" attitude. They will automatically envision you being successful in the position because you've clearly outlined how you will be. And that will make them much more likely to hire you.

We hope you now have a better idea of what a 30-60-90 day plan is and understand why it's important to have one while interviewing for jobs.

Remember: Not only does bringing a 30-60-90 day plan to your interview boost your chances of getting the job, but it also gives you a solid foundation once you start.

With your 30-60-90 day plan, you know that you and your new boss are on the same page. You can start your job with confidence, knowing you're on the right path to success.

So, what are you waiting for? Write your 30-60-90 day plan today! Once you realize what a game changer it is, you'll never interview without one again.

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This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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30-60-90 Day Plan: What It Is & …

5 Ways To Kill Your Chances With A Hiring Manager



I'm a big fan of the X-Men comic books and have always loved the powers of Dr. Charles Xavier, who is telepathic. Who wouldn't want the ability to instantly read a person's mind and affect their behavior? This skill would come in extremely handy during interviews with hiring managers, many of whom seem to belong squarely to the school of “say little and express even less."

Here are five ways to turn off a hiring manager and ruin your chances of getting the job.

1. Lack Of Specificity In Your Resume


Woman hands the hiring manager a resume

A big mistake job seekers make is submitting overly general resumes. This makes sense in theory. After all, the more applications you can shoot off, the more interviews, right? But this can really turn off a hiring manager, who wants to know exactly how your background will enable you to tackle the problems they need to be solved. Clichés just won't cut it at this stage.

Here's what you should do instead:

  • Create a shortlist of 5-10 positions you're an ideal fit for.
  • Study the job postings for positions like this, as well as LinkedIn profiles for people who currently have these jobs.
  • Tailor your resume to quickly communicate fit for these roles.

Once you have a solid framework in place, include metrics-based quantifiable accomplishments on your resume for every major position you've held that proves your ability to execute.

Here's an example: Saved global Telecom company $500M over 2 years through development and deployment of end-to-end Complexity Reduction methodology resulting in purchasing and inventory efficiencies.

2. Too Aggressive About Career Advancement


Hiring manager talks to a job candidate during an interview

Look, it's great to be ambitious. And of course, the job you're after today is probably not the one you want to retire on. But you need to place your focus squarely on becoming the ideal candidate for THIS job before even talking about the next step. Neglect to do this, and a hiring manager will naturally start thinking that you might jump ship within a year, and they'll be back to square one.

Create a short "value presentation" for the interview that talks about how your three to four strongest skills can be applied immediately towards helping the company. It's similar to a 30-60-90 day plan. Get creative here!

For example, if you're going after a product development position, why not run some quick usability tests on a company's products, document them, and develop some design suggestions?

3. Too Open About Weaknesses


Woman talks to the hiring manager during a job interview

A hiring manager is not a career counselor. With the latter, it's perfectly fine to be honest about vulnerabilities in your personality or "pet peeves" that drive you crazy in the work environment. But if you take the same approach with a hiring manager and confide things like you have trouble balancing family responsibilities with workplace demands, you'll most likely get passed over.

They're not only looking to find the best candidate but manage risk.

Learn how to "spin" negatives into something that ultimately leads to success. For example, if you're asked what your greatest weakness is, you can tell a story about how you once had chronic shyness and needed 30 minutes to "amp yourself" up for a simple phone call, and now, through courage and repeated exposure, you can handle dozens of calls with high-level clients per day. Negative to positive.

This is also known as the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model, which is the best way to answer behavioral interview questions. Therefore, you should definitely learn this strategy before your next job interview.

4. Not Following Up


Man follows up with a hiring manager after his job interview

Following up matters! It shows that you're truly invested in landing the position and aren't just treating it as one of many potential opportunities.

We recommend emailing everyone you met at the company within 24 hours of your interview thanking them for the opportunity, followed by an email sent a week later that essentially continues the conversation—adding greater detail to questions raised, sharing an industry article of interest, and so on.

You're making it clear that the interview was the beginning of an ongoing relationship, no matter the outcome of the interview process.

5. Lack Of Enthusiasm


Hiring manager shakes the hand of an enthusiastic job candidate

If a hiring manager has to choose between the most qualified candidate on paper and a less qualified candidate who brings genuine passion to the table, they'll go for the latter every time. You can teach someone almost anything except enthusiasm.

So, if you have a personal connection with the company you're interviewing for, and believe that this is a meaningful step in your life's ambitions, or simply love the unique culture they've developed, take time in the interview to let them know!

It also doesn't hurt to explicitly state, "I'm very interested in this position, and would love to see a positive outcome," or something similar. Excitement fuels job offers!

Making the five mistakes above will ruin your chances with a hiring manager every time. To secure your chances of getting the job, be sure to tailor your resume, create a 30-60-90 day plan, learn how to answer behavioral interview questions, follow up after the job interview, and state your enthusiasm for the position.

It'll be impossible to ruin your chances with a hiring manager with that strategy.

Need more help with your job search?

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

Acquiring Job Advance Your Career Career Changing Careers and Employment Education Internship

5 Ways To Kill Your Chances With …