Almost half of all new hires fail in their first 18 months on the job, cites a study by Leadership IQ, a management consulting firm. Most of these failures are the result of mistakes such as failing to obtain buy-in, or focusing energy in the wrong areas, explains LaVonne Dorsey, executive career coach and human resources practitioner for Feroce Consulting. New hires are under heightened scrutiny, says leadership coach Kym Harris, Ed.D. “Job transitions can be riddled with pitfalls,†Harris states, “but, careful planning, preparation, and purposeful action can enable to professionals get off to a successful start.â€