Mailbag: How to "Win" Your First 30, 90, 180 days on the job
In This Issue:
A senior SWE asks about starting a new role at a large bank
Why your first 30 days aren’t about impressing anyone
Avoiding the 90 day trap
Why the 6 mo mark is arguably the most dangerous window
How to build political equity
The one move that separates people who survive from people who thrive in big corporate environments
The Question
“Hey RR, long time subscriber here. I just accepted a senior software engineer role at one of the big banks. Won’t say which one, but it’s a name everyone knows. I’m coming from a startup where I had a ton of autonomy and could ship fast. Now I’m walking into a place with 100,000 employees with more bureaucracy than I’ve been used to.
I’m excited but also kind of terrified. I’ve never worked at a company this big. What should I actually be focused on in my first 30 days, 90 days, and six months? I don’t want to be the guy who crashes out because he couldn’t figure out the culture. Any advice from the recruiting side would be huge.”
— Jake (fake name for anonymity)
Let’s Talk About What You’re Walking Into
Jake, congrats on the role. Big bank money is real, the benefits are elite, and if you play this right, you’re setting yourself up for some solid income and the chance to work on some coolest projects outside of traditional tech.
Bu let’s be honest also. Large financial institutions are a completely different animal from startups. The org chart alone probably has 10x the layers you’re used to. You’re going to encounter things that feel crazy to you. Approval processes that can take days to weeks, a lot more meetings and code reviews that involve people you’ll never actually meet.
None of that matters right now though. What matters is that you understand the game you’re playing, and it’s not the same game you were playing at your startup.
At a startup, the game is output. Ship fast, break things, prove value through velocity. At a big bank, the game is trust, relationships, and proving that you’re not a liability before you ever get the chance to prove you’re an asset.
The First 30 Days: Shut Up and Listen
