Smart Prep: Using AI to Navigate Your New Role

Starting a new job can feel overwhelming. What if you could have a strategic partner to help you navigate those crucial first weeks? Enter AI – a surprisingly helpful tool for professional onboarding.

Turning Job Descriptions into a Personal Strategy

The power of comparing your job ad and contract lies in their contrasting perspectives: the ad paints an aspirational picture of your ideal role, while the contract provides a precise, legal blueprint of your responsibilities. By juxtaposing these documents, you uncover nuanced expectations that neither alone reveals. An LLM can then bridge these narratives, transforming marketing language and legal text into a strategic roadmap that captures both the big-picture potential and the concrete demands of your new position. It's like having a career translator that helps you understand not just what you're supposed to do, but the fuller context of how you can truly excel.

Your AI Preparation Prompt

Try this template with Claude or ChatGPT:

I'm starting a new job on Monday and I'd like to prepare. I'll provide you both my contract's description of the role as well as the job ad's description of the role.
Contract Description:
[Enter Contract description]

Job ad Description:
[Enter Job Description]

Can you set up some OKRs and KPIs that can be measurable for my first day on Monday? Give me a first week's action plan, and achievable milestones for my first 100 days,

What I Discovered

I put in my new job description(s) and got a very clear list with:

1. Meaningful, Measurable Goals

Move beyond vague intentions to concrete objectives:

• Objective: Build strong working relationships
• Measurable Result: Conduct individual meetings with 10 team members by Week 2

2. First Week Framework

• Day 1: Introduction and initial orientation
• Days 2-3: Key meetings and system familiarization
• Days 4-5: Initial project understanding

3. 100-Day Development Path

• First 30 Days: Deep learning and observation
• Days 31-60: Active contribution and skill integration
• Days 61-100: Demonstrating value and refining approach

Overall Assessment:

I got a list of objectives with clear, measurable key results, an impressive first week plan that is both granular and achievable, a 100-day roadmap shows a logical progression from learning to execution and includes realistic timeframes! Not super great: Some very ambitious milestones depending on the company size.

These are absolutely real and manageable goals for a the Senior PM role position I am starting with. Ultimately, I got a plan that demonstrates a structured approach to onboarding, learning, and adding value, with clear milestones and a strategic progression.

I like to think of LLMs as as a strategic advisor. It transforms job descriptions from corporate language into a clear, actionable plan. No more second-guessing your priorities or feeling lost.

Note: I used a LLM to help me edit and expand this post. The irony of using an AI to write about using AI for job preparation isn't lost on me.