What to Do After Accepting a Job

What is one thing a job seeker should do after getting a job?

To help you with the next steps after landing a job, we asked business leaders and HR professionals this question for their best advice. From sending thanks to your network to preparing your budget, there are several tips that may help you prepare for success in your new role.

Here are twelve things to do once you get a job:

1. Thank Your Network

Chances are, more than a few people provided contacts, coaching, and encouragement during your job search. So, when you land your new gig, be sure to share the news and thank them each for their assistance. Then, while you’re still filled with gratitude, make yourself a promise to return the favor tenfold. If you’re worried about the time commitment, that’s normal. Just remember that each kindness provided is a gift you receive.

Tim Toterhi, Plotline Leadership

2. Write a Handwritten Note

The Radicati group did a study and found out that the average executive gets 121 emails a day — but only 10 personal pieces of mail a year. Do you want to start out in a positive light? Send a handwritten note to the people that hired you. They will keep that on the edge of their desk for years. I would also find at least 20 or more people on LinkedIn and say hi. Be the friendly face that everyone is excited to work for!

Trevor Rappleye, CorporateFilming & FranchiseFilming

3. Ask Lots of Questions and Build Relationships

Try to get to know as many of your new colleagues as you can right away. They’ll have a wealth of information about your new company that you won’t be able to get from anyone else. Any questions you have about procedures, office and company culture, or even PTO can be answered by them. Building up relationships with your new colleagues right from the start will also give the impression you’re a team player and may lead to new friendships.

Jon Schneider, Recruiterie

4. Complete Your Paperwork On Time

If you’ve been given paperwork to fill out before your first day, don’t waste any time — get it all done as soon as possible. Tax forms, training manuals, and so on can seem tedious to go over, but they’re all necessary. Finishing them quickly will demonstrate solid time management skills early on, giving your new employers a very positive impression of you from the get‑go.

Zack McCarty, Qwick

5. Connect With Your Coworkers On LinkedIn

After landing a job, it is important to start connecting with your new coworkers. Relationship building and networking will help you feel more secure, supported, and connected in your new role. Even though social media isn’t the best way to get to know someone, connecting on LinkedIn before your start date will give you time to learn about your coworkers’ careers and hobbies. Once onboarded, you can take what you’ve learned through LinkedIn and initiate or progress in new workplace relationships.

Adrian James, Markitors

6. Refresh Your Wardrobe to Impress

If your new position requires you to work in the office or meet clients in person, but you haven’t seen the inside of a workspace since pre-pandemic, you might want to go through your closet to see if you need to spruce up your wardrobe. Taking a look at your employer’s company culture will give you a good indication of whether you need to invest in formal business attire or if casual wear will do. Either way, your first day on the job is just like the first day of school, when dressing appropriately goes a long way in helping to make a good first impression.

Jared Pobre, Caldera + Lab

7. Check On the Benefits

Look into all of the benefits the new company is going to provide. Make sure you know about retirement benefits and health benefits. It is also a good idea to check on the benefits from your previous employment and make sure you check on rolling over your 401(k) to your new employer. Also, make sure they send you a formal job acceptance letter which may include information about some of the benefits offered.

Sarah Pirrie, Healist Naturals

8. Take Some Time to Rest

Job hunting is hard. From application forms and skills tests to interviews and rejections, looking for a job can be both physically and mentally exhausting. That’s why it’s important to take some time to rest once you do find a job so that the person who comes in for work is the best version of you. Find an activity that makes you happy and refills your energy levels. Whatever that means for you, resting before your first day will help you tackle your new job with enthusiasm and prove to your employer why they made the right decision to hire you.

Johannes Larsson, JohannesLarsson.com

9. Notify Other Companies

Once a candidate is offered a position and accepts, they should immediately let any other companies they were candidates for know that they’re no longer in the market for a job. Even if no other offers have yet been made, it’s wise to do the courteous thing and let other hiring managers know you’ve been hired elsewhere. This will enable those hiring managers to finalize their own decisions, while you can fully focus on getting acquainted with your new position.

Phillip Lew, C9 Staff

10. Stay in Touch With Your Recruiters

Good recruiters are dedicated to ongoing communication. Once you get a job, stay in touch and let them know how they did. Candidate feedback is important to any recruiter’s continued success. Drop them a line to let them want know how your felt about their process — and your new role.

Paul Breen, Strelcheck Healthcare Search

11. Introduce Yourself Over and Over Again

Fear in new situations can stem, in part, from a lack of confidence in how to present ourselves. It’s a natural reaction — when you’re new, you might hesitate to draw attention to yourself. However, you want your passion to shine through in the early days of new employment. So, pick a time that seems good for you, and deliver a fast, lively introduction to the folks you don’t yet know. If meeting new people is extremely important to you, you can enlist the assistance of others. Mention to your manager that introducing oneself is a top priority for you, and request a list of people you should meet. In meetings, you could request that the organizer give you some time at the start or conclusion to introduce yourself.

Lauren Cook-McKay, Divorce Answers

12. Prepare Your Budget

Start preparing a budget, now that you know the full terms of your offer — and don’t forget to include taxes, rent and utilities, student loan payments, transportation expenditures, savings goals, and pre-tax retirement contributions. The huge sum labeled “salary” on your formal offer letter may be misleading, as it represents pre-tax income for a complete year, which must cover a range of expenses. Now that you have some extra money coming in, spend 30 minutes figuring out how much you’ll need to cover your monthly expenses.

Kathryn Smithson, PathSocial

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