The first 90 days: Crafting an outstanding first impression at a new job

This question originally appeared on Quora.

What are some tips to best utilize the first 90 days of any new job?

Answer below by Quora user Mira Zaslove.

The answer to this question will vary if you are an entry-level employee at an established company, or the VP of sales at a startup. In the former case, the first 90 days are largely a training period, and in the latter case you could be shown the door if you don't bring in transformative results.

I'm going to answer this question from the point of view of a manager of entry to mid-level employees. Below are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Under-promise and over-deliver

Keep positive. When I managed employees in their first 90 days, I loved seeing the possibilities of the company through their eyes. However, don't be so enthusiastic that you are actually being unrealistic. You don't want to promise what you can't deliver. Don't say "yes" to everything.

If given a project you think will take a week, let the team know you think you can do it in two weeks. That way, if you run into challenges, you have a buffer. If you deliver ahead of schedule, you look awesome. 

The last thing you want is to be unreliable.People who get promoted and selected to work on mission-critical projects surprise on the upside.

2. Mr. President, Bill or Bubba?

Your manager, Michael Smith III, may go by Mike. However, just because the CEO calls him Junior doesn't mean you should. When in doubt, ask. I once had a new employee who insisted on calling me "Ma'am" even after I told him I preferred to go by Mira. It really distracted me. In the middle of training sessions when he raised his hand and said, "Ma'am, I have a question," I looked around the room for my grandmother.

Similarly, when you are speaking to your manger be clear who "him," "her" and "they" are. I once had a new employee work massive overtime on a complex contract amendment because "the big man" told him to. I assumed he meant the CEO. Yet, when he came to me for final sign-off, I said, "The CEO approved this?" To which he told me, "No, the other big man." He was referring to the big and tall guy. And this other "him" did not have the authority to authorize the project. So, when you are speaking to your team, make sure you don’t just say vague statements like, "Oh, marketing wants it done this way." Come prepared with a name. Be precise.

3. Don’t worry about things outside your control

As a new employee, you want to spend your time wisely. Work on your projects. Wasting time and energy worrying about other people's work is not productive. 

Don't go rogue and make your own job description. You've been hired to do a job. The company will generally have defined goals for you.

Make your manager look good. And work toward the goals that the company has defined. If you are working for Oracle, don't suggest the company move to Salesforce because you are more comfortable with that platform. Worrying about what it isn't going to happen will drain your energy and zap your spirit.

4. Be friendly, but professional

Smile, and be friendly to everyone. Find someone who knows the lay of the land, and who can get stuff done. Power, control and knowledge are often not easily discernible form the organizational chart. Be respectful to everyone. Help when you can. Say "thank you" when someone helps you. Appreciate your coworkers' time and you’ll get more of it.

Don't be a jerk. Sexist, racist or otherwise rude jokes are not acceptable. No matter who else at the company is doing it. Don't get drunk or engage in unprofessional behavior at company parties or off-sites. If you have a tendency to go overboard, or need to blow of steam, skip the work party and hang out with your friends instead.

5. Recognize patterns

In the first 90 days, you aren't expected to know everything, and you probably won't be able to master everything. So look for patterns. Developing pattern recognition will save you time, and help you ramp up quickly.

Develop selective attention. Learn what really matters for the outcome you desire, then focus on it. Each job, company and project will have its own set of patterns that lead to success. Aim to remove all unnecessary noise, and save your energy to focus on working smart, being calm and following through.

More Q&A on Quora: the best answer to any question. Ask a question, get a great answer. Learn from the experts and get insider knowledge.

• Career Advice: Why do people quit their jobs at dream companies like Facebook or Google?
• How do good, challenging interviews correlate with good qualities of a company?

Mashable Job Board Listings

The Mashable Job Board connects job seekers across the U.S. with unique career opportunities in the digital space. While we publish a wide range of job listings, we have selected a few job opportunities from the past several weeks to help get you started. Happy hunting!

• Front End Web Developer-Designer at Launch That in Orlando, Florida
• Account Manager, SEO / SEM Digital Marketing atHayStak Digital Marketing in Tampa, Florida
• Online Content Manager at Vista Higher Learning in Boston, Massachusetts