Congrats! You landed a job. All of your hard work searching for a job has paid off. But now is not the time to rest! You have to prove to your new boss that you are worth every penny they are paying you, and more. Typically in most organizations, your first three months, or 90 days, is your “probation” period. During this time, your employer will cut you some slack if you don’t know where things are and for some foolish mistakes you might make. After 90 days, you should have a good grasp on the inner-workings of the office and of your job responsibilities. Below are 7 tips to help you get from “where are the bathrooms?” to becoming CEO (OK, maybe it won’t happen that quick.)

Let Others Know You Want Feedback

Getting told that the job you just completed is not up to par is not fun. But how are you going to learn if no one says anything to you? If you aren’t open to constructive criticism, then the only way you will find out you aren’t doing a good job is either when they give you a warning or they simply fire you. No one wants that.

By letting others, including your superiors, know that you want to be told about your performance, you can take action right away to improve yourself and your work. Don’t look at the feedback as a negative, look at it as a growing opportunity.

Ask Your Boss Three Questions

After you get hired, you need to have a sit down with your boss and ask him or her three questions:

What do you expect me to do in the first 90 days?
What do you want me to do on top of those expectations in the first 90 days?
What do you consider to be exceeding expectations during the first 90 days?

Make sure you are writing down the answers. Once you have the answers, do everything in your power to make them happen. Remember, if you do just what is expected of you, then you really have no reason to expect an increase in your salary. You are doing what you are paid to do. If you want more money, a senior position, or both, you have to earn it. That means taking on more responsibility and workload.

Say ‘Yes’ To Lunch

I am all about brown-bagging your lunch. But in some cases, it is better to go out with others for lunch. Your first 90 days is a great time to do just that. In fact, I would encourage you to invite some co-workers out to lunch with you. Doing so will allow you to learn some of the inner workings of your new office and the personalities of some of your co-workers and vice versa. It’s a win-win for all.

Be Resourceful

On the first few days on the job, it common to ask your new co-workers where some things are located or what the extension is to human resources. But make it a point to venture out on your own and figure things out without relying on others.

Show Up Early and Stay Late

This ties in to exceeding expectations. You may not have enough work to do to warrant coming in early or staying late, but that shouldn’t stop you. Take the extra time to walk around the office and figure out where everything is. Ask a co-worker if they have any work that they need help with. Obviously it has to be something you know how to do, but it’s a great way to get exposed to your co-workers and to some work you may be doing in the future.

Volunteer

If another department needs help with a project, volunteer to help out. You will get to know co-workers that you may not otherwise have encountered and learn about other departments as well. This will help you get an even better understanding with how the company operates.

Observe Company Culture

While you are interacting with everyone using the above tips, be certain to take note of the company culture. Make sure you work to fit in to it. I am not saying you need to completely change who you are, but rather try to operate a different way. You may be surprised at what you find. Additionally, if you think there is a better way to do something, don’t speak up right away. Try to get a better understanding why things are done the way they are. Maybe the way they do something is the ideal way for them. Once you understand it, then speak up. You can make a stronger argument when you know all of the information.