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5 steps to writing a ‘First 90 days in the job’ presentation
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5 steps to writing a ‘First 90 days in the job’ presentation

Written by Iain Flinn

Helping business leaders in the enterprise software, Cloud/SaaS/PaaS and emerging technology sectors to identify talent and build high performing teams across EMEA.

LinkedIn

Writing a ‘First 90 days in the job’ presentation doesn’t have to be daunting, follow our guide and create a presentation that gets you the job of your dreams.

Are you preparing for the final stage of an interview for your dream job? Don’t let the thought of creating a ‘First 90 days in the job’ presentation overwhelm you. This presentation is your opportunity to showcase your skills, demonstrate your understanding of the business, and impress your potential employer. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a presentation that stands out from the crowd.

Like a honeymoon, only you’re much easier to ditch

The first 90 days of a new role is a grace period, You’re getting to know the people, the business and the culture. But this crucial first 90 days on the job is also the time that lasting impressions are made. Remember, you’re a risk to the business and your employer will be using this period to establish whether they made the right decision.
That’s why the ‘first 90 days in the job’ presentation is as much for you, as it is for your future employer. You stand to gain a lot from laying down the foundations for the first three months.

That’s why it’s important, here’s how to write one:

Start researching in your first interview

If you’re already past this stage, it’s fine, just try to recall the information and don’t be afraid to revisit conversations if necessary. You need to know all about the business needs and ambitions, so ask questions, probe for answers and listen. Then build your presentation around their key objectives and goals.
Good questions to ask:

  • What’s your mission statement and vision?
  • What is the company trying to achieve?
  • What are you (the hiring manager) trying to achieve?
  • What challenges does the department face?
  • What do you expect from me?
  • What critical projects are you managing at the moment?

You’re looking for multiple ways to help them. Have this in your mind throughout your interviews, it’ll put you in a great head-space to be inquisitive and retain control.

Focus on your potential employer’s needs

This is why you need to do the above research. Your presentation isn’t just about you, it’s about your employer, so you’ll need to understand their needs and place them at the centre of your presentation. Get a full understanding of the objectives of the role, the goals of the hiring manager and the department as a whole. Then, demonstrate how your experience and knowledge can support these objectives.

Add your strengths, carefully

Shouting about your skills in a vacuum will get you nowhere, but align them to the goals of your potential employer and they will start to see the real tangible value of your experience. Think feature and benefit, not just feature. For example:
Feature: “I’ve delivered £multi-million field marketing campaigns”.
Feature and benefit: “I’ve built and delivered £multi-million field marketing strategies for my current employer, so in the first three months I’d review the company’s strategy for the roll-out of similar campaigns. Using my industry knowledge, I’ll ensure we’re using the right channels, to target the right audience with the most impactful messages. Furthermore, with my experience of using an array of marketing automation platforms, I’ll ensure we’re using the right systems and tools to correctly measure the impact of our strategy and the overall ROI. At my previous employer, in my last marketing campaign, I was able to deliver this under budget by £18,000, whilst generating a 156% increase in leads for our sales team which resulted in a 71% year-on-year increase in sales.”
Use proven and tangible real-world examples to align your skill set to their objectives. Ensure your examples showcase your skills and experience, but make sure your pitch is in line with their goals.

Say what you’re going to do, day-to-day

Explain to the hiring manager how you’ll fill your days. This will vary depending on your role, but use the actions below as a foundation for more specific contributions:

  • You’ll get immersed in the department and brainstorm how your input can increase company growth.
  • Having gotten a better understanding of the business, you’ll start advising, leading and contributing to the conversation.
  • See more of your colleagues’ desks than your own. Get out amongst the team and get to know them by name, their role, ambitions, challenges and more.
  • Go above and beyond by taking on some tasks outside of your remit. Remember – you’re there to help.
  • Behind all of this sits one unshakable focus – your boss’s expectations of you. You’re always aware of them, and what actions and decisions will you take to ensure that you meet them?
  • Time-stamp your objectives for the first 90 days, and put a tangible project plan in place to show that you’ve thought it through.

How will you over-deliver?

Giving your employer more than they expect is business as usual, but how will you raise the bar and show them what excellent looks like? Towards the end of the third month, you should be feeling comfortable and confident in the role, so use these foundations and consider discussing how you’ll go ‘above and beyond:

  • You’ll be proactive when it comes to relevant company situations and events.
  • You’ll be aware of new projects coming on-stream and prepare potential solutions.
  • You’ll be getting more involved by joining a club, council, board, or committee.
  • You’ll make yourself available to other departments if there’s a need for your skills.
  • You’ll take on work outside of your responsibilities to accelerate business growth.

Do all that and you’ll turn from a risk into an asset

Remember, a strong 90-day presentation will reassure your employer that you’re going to make a positive difference in their organisation. It outlines the skills you’ll bring, how they’ll help and the value you’ll add, making it easier for the business to see their potential return on investment. And for you, it provides focus and confidence at a time when an unfamiliar routine (or lack of a routine) can cause added stress. Channel that pressure to impress and use it to create a ‘First 90 days‘ presentation that puts you way ahead of the competition.

Written by Iain Flinn

Helping business leaders in the enterprise software, Cloud/SaaS/PaaS and emerging technology sectors to identify talent and build high performing teams across EMEA.

LinkedIn