Lay of the land

Lay of the land - nature, arrangement.

Example - "As soon as I get the lay of the land in my new job, things will get better"

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors41/tmb/peter-likins-quote-our-job-is-to-help-him-get-the-lay-of-the-land-as-s.jpg