100-day plan for a new IT job

If you are starting a new IT job, there will be a learning curve in terms of what you are expected to do and how your new office operates. It may be prudent to have a plan--or in this case, a 100-day plan--for a successful transition. Computerworld.com suggests five action items for anyone getting ready to start a new IT position.

The first bit of advice is to assess the situation, keeping in mind that companies want new talent to bring something to the table. If IT is running smoothly, they want you to help move the organization forward. If something's wrong, they want you to help fix it.

On the tactical level, the article suggests scheduling action items for your to-do list on a week-by-week basis, and consulting with peers, team members, supervisors and any other stakeholders to help develop the most complete assessment of what you would be doing. You will also need to determine expectations and know how your boss defines success for your position. But to find out, you need to both ask and observe. Computerworld.com also recommends that you identify stakeholders and build alliances. Most of all, identify the individuals who will directly and indirectly affect your ability to get the job done.

Other tips include the need to understand the corporate culture and office politics, and target an early win to establish your credibility quickly. If you screw up, admit your mistake, apologize and quickly fix what you broke.

For more on this strategic plan:
- check out this Computerworld.com article

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