Interview Question: "What Are Your 30, 60 and 90 Day Goals?"

During a job interview, hiring managers ask many questions to learn about your qualifications for a position and the goals you want to accomplish in a new role. One question they may ask is what you plan to achieve in your first three months of working in the position. In your answer to this question, you can convey your enthusiasm for the job, show your understanding of the position's requirements and highlight the qualifications you have for the role. In this article, we explain why employers ask "What are your goals for the first 30, 60 and 90 days?" and describe some steps you can take to answer this interview question, with several examples to help you prepare your own response. Related: 125 Common Interview Questions and Answers (With Tips)

Why employers ask about your goals for the first 30, 60 and 90 days

The first 30, 60 and 90 days of employment represent your first three months of working in a new position. During this time, new employees learn about their specific job duties, company processes and the culture of the organization. Employers often ask this interview question to gauge how you might transition to a new position. They want to know how quickly you can adjust to the job and the company. They may also ask this question to determine how well you understand the duties and expectations of the position. When you answer this interview question, your response can help employers envision the role you may have in the company as an employee. You can prepare an effective answer by researching the company and the position and describing the realistic goals you have for your first three months in the role. This type of response can help you show your interest in the position and your commitment to working hard to do the job well. A specific and well-researched answer to this interview question can help distinguish you from other candidates interviewing for the position.

How to answer "What are your goals for the first 30, 60 and 90 days?"

An effective answer to this interview question can help you show employers how you plan to use your skills, experience or training to make an impact in your new role. Here are some steps you can take to answer this question:

1. Research the position

Before the interview, research the position and company to help you prepare your response to this question. Read the job description or search online for similar job postings to help you understand the primary responsibilities of the position. If possible, speak with someone in a similar position and ask them questions about how they successfully transitioned into the role. Research the company by reading articles or searching its website for information about its business operations and strategic goals. This research can help you tailor your response to show employers you understand the expectations of the role. Related: The Complete Guide To Researching a Company

2. Consider your goals

When preparing your response to this question, consider the goals you can reasonably accomplish in your first three months. Think about the projects you may want to complete or the tasks you plan to handle. Using your research of the position and company, determine the priorities of the job or the objectives of the department or organization. Then write down several goals you have for the position. While your goals may vary based on the position or industry, here are some common goals you may set for the first 30, 60 and 90 days in a new position:

30 days: In the first 30 days, you may set goals to complete trainings related to the position or company, meet your coworkers and supervisor, review company processes and learn about the organizational culture. The work you do in your first 30 days can help you establish a foundation for success in your new role.
60 days: After your first 30 days, you may plan to continue your training while learning more about the position by working closely with your supervisor or team. Some goals you may have for the second month include learning more about the industry and identifying opportunities for your position or department.
90 days: During this time, your goals may focus on how you can implement the training you've had to become effective in your new position. Your goals may include building meaningful relationships with coworkers, supervisor or clients and fully integrating into the company in your new position.

3. Outline your qualifications

After you have some goals for your first three months, consider how your skills, education and experience align with those objectives. In your answer to this question, outline your qualifications to show how you plan to accomplish the goals you have for the role. If you're applying for an entry-level role, you can discuss your education or any relevant training, such as an internship. For mid-level or management positions, you may speak about similar responsibilities you've handled in another role and how you could use that experience to achieve your initial goals with a new company.

4. Provide examples

In your response to this question, be specific about the goals you have for your first 90 days and the plans you have for achieving them. It's helpful to include examples of other times you've set and accomplished professional goals. If you have prior experience related to the position, provide some examples of work you accomplished in your initial three months in the role. If you have little or no related experience, discuss specific times when you took initiative to learn new skills or responsibilities and how you effectively managed any challenges you may have experienced.

5. Speak confidently

When you answer this question during an interview, speak confidently to communicate your goals and demonstrate your willingness to achieve them. Make eye contact with the interviewer and speak slowly so they can understand the goals you have for your first three months with the company. Use nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and hand gestures, to portray confidence in your response. It's helpful to practice your answer before the interview so you can feel confident about delivering your answer. Record yourself practicing out loud or ask a friend to do a mock interview with you.

6. Ask a follow-up question

Interviews are two-way conversations, and asking follow-up questions can show hiring managers your commitment to excelling in the position. After you discuss your goals for the first 90 days, briefly pause and then ask whether your response aligns with their expectations for the role. You can also ask questions at the end of the interview, when employers typically ask if you have any questions for them about the position. Here are some examples of questions you may ask about your first three months in the new role:

What type of training can I expect to receive in my first three months?
What are some goals you may have for the first 30, 60 and 90 days in this position?
How can I be successful in my first three months in this role?
What are the short- and long-term goals for this position?

Example answers

Here are some example answers to this interview question for entry-level, mid-level and management positions. Review these answers to help you prepare your own response depending on your level of experience:

Example 1: Entry-level position

"In my first 30 days as a social media specialist, I want to work with other members of the marketing department to learn more about the company's current social media strategy. During the next month, my goal is to create an editorial calendar to start planning social media content in advance. I can use this calendar to post content on the company's platforms every day to engage with followers. After 90 days, I plan to begin tracking social media growth to show the outcomes of this strategy, with a goal to gain 1,000 new followers each month."

Example 2: Mid-level position

"With my five years of sales experience, I'm confident I can adapt quickly to a new position as a sales representative at your company. During my first month, I plan to meet with other members of the team and learn about the company's sales processes. After my initial 30 days in the position, I expect to begin working toward my sales goals by contacting prospective customers and using my sales, communication and negotiation skills. In my previous sales position, I began meeting my sales goals within three months, and I expect to do the same in this position."

Example 3: Management position

"I have several goals I plan to accomplish in my first three months as a customer service manager. Over my first 30 days, I plan to schedule one-on-one meetings with each member of the team to learn more about their responsibilities and gather feedback about department processes. After meeting with everyone on the team and observing their workflows, I plan to use my second month in this role to identify areas where we can streamline operations to provide quality customer service more effectively. In my third month in this position, I want to establish benchmarks to evaluate new processes or strategies. For example, in my previous position as an assistant manager at a call center, I worked to simplify the paperwork for representatives so they could spend more time answering calls. As a result of this new policy, customer wait times declined by 15% in three months."