First 100 days

The 100 days research points out that you need to 'start the job before you start the job'.. ie start figuring out your plan well in advance. Arguably this starts from the moment you start investigating the company.

But consider the first interview. This might be the first time you have the chance to really find out about where your potential new role fits into the organisation, what the challenges are, why they're hiring, and who you might have to deal with.. The nuggets you pick up in this first hour can be so important - not just to persuade / dissuade you about the job, but to help you start figuring out your likely gameplan, not to mention helping you say the right things in interviews 2,3,4.....

So some serious do's for first interviews:

1. Get some frank opinion about the nature of the job - are you being brought in to keep a sinking ship afloat? fix problems ? or create the next step change?
2. Get the interviewer's opinion on the history of the business, and their hopes / aspirations for the future
3. Find out the names of the key players - knowing who's doing what will help you with your plan, and ensure you appear in the know in further interviews...

And, on a lighter note, here are some not so serious don'ts...