CNBC.COM
How you start a new job can set the tone for your overall experience at a company, including the relationships you build and opportunities that come your way in the future.
That's why being strategic about your first 90 days is crucial, says Donna Morris, executive vice president and chief people officer at Walmart. Morris has been in the C-suite for almost 10 years, and has held executive-level roles since 1998.
Morris says her success is due, in part, to dedicating the first three months on a new job to communication and clarity — and she recommends that others do the same.
"In the first 90 days, do as much as possible to really understand who you'll be working with, how they work and what's expected," says Morris.
That means tapping into your interpersonal skills and asking your boss, managers and co-workers not just about their jobs and responsibilities, but who they are and how they show up best at work.
Actively listening to their responses can help you be more likable and influential in the workplace, and make you sound smarter, Harvard University associate professor Alison Wood Brooks recently told CNBC Make It.
"Foremost, make sure you understand what your job is and what's expected of you. Sounds like a basic [idea], but it's so important," Morris says. "And to go a little bit further, take what you've understood to be what's expected of you, write it out and share it with your manager, and make sure that you're both aligned."
Morris' advice comes as workers feel increasingly disconnected from their bosses. Nearly 50% of employees say their bosses don't understand them or their jobs, according to the April 2025 Workplace Perception Gap Survey from HR platform The Predictive Index, which sampled 1,000 workers across different industries, age groups and job levels.
The result: 44% of employees said they were overlooked for raises or big, exciting projects because their boss didn't understand the scope of their role, their skills and their work habits, like how they prioritize tasks or organize information. And 48% said their leaders and managers regularly undervalued their contributions, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
This miscommunication could possibly be avoided if employees and bosses discussed expectations, working styles and goals early on.
You don't have to have a decades-long career to have these conversations — even interns and associates should go above and beyond to ensure their first 90 days at a new job are productive. This helps you exude confidence and make a good impression, says Morris.
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