What Is A 30-60-90 Day Plan?
A 30-60-90 Day Plan is a proposal written by a candidate to demonstrate what they will accomplish in their first 90 days in a position. The plan serves as an outline to present the value and qualifications that a candidate can bring to the company. Once developed it is presented to the Hiring Manager and/or the candidate’s manager.
Candidates can use the Plan during the hiring process or after they start their new position. While some companies may ask for a Plan it is not always a requirement. When not required it can be a powerful tool during the hiring process. Not only can it separate a candidate from the rest of the field, it demonstrates initiative and outlines their knowledge of the company and products. The Plan can be used to document that they are the most qualified candidate. These qualifications are based on their work ethic, sales territory knowledge and knowledge of the company’s technology.
Once in a new position the Plan can serve as a roadmap for the first 90 days. It will outline and document goals and accomplishments for this time period. The Plan can help a new employee stay on track during their initial time in the position. It can be reviewed with their manager on a regular basis to document that milestones and goals are being achieved.
Developing A 30-60-90 Day Plan
In a 30-60-90 Day plan, the content matters more than the format in which it is presented. The Plan can be either a digital or physical document, and can be as simple as a one-page Word document. Regardless of format it should contain three sections. These three sections are for the 30 day, 60 day and 90 day time periods. When developing the Plan, each section should then contain clear objectives that will be accomplished during the timeframe.
The true focus of the 30-60-90 Day plan is to show that this candidate understands the company’s technologies and their assigned territory. It should show that the candidate understands these areas better than any other candidates being considered. This knowledge can be found by reviewing company resources, company case studies, speaking to colleagues and using web resources. A key goal is to identify and understand the key selling points associated with the company’s products.
Once the company’s technologies are clearly understood, the next step is to focus on the territory to be covered. The candidate should document their initial pipeline. Identify 5 to 6 potential customers within the territory who can benefit from the company’s technologies. Focus on potential customers where they already have executive contacts and relationships. The Plan should also talk to generic actions such as training and meeting with team members. Finally include any other items related to learning the company’s products and systems.
Continue on to the next post for more detailed information on writing a 30-60-90 Day Plan. The post also contains an example of a 30-60-90 Day Plan template and links to other examples and resources.
