A friend has just found a new job. He’ll serve his time with his old company, but has asked me whether he should start immediately the next Monday, supposing your new company is flexible in start date. How much time should he take, if any, between jobs? And what’s the best things to do with that time?
I suggest taking at least one week off to allow yourself to refresh, recharge, and refocus.
Taking a break between jobs gives your brain a chance to take a break, to process leaving your old job (which can be pretty emotional, whether you loved or hated it), and to prepare for all the new challenges to come.
If you’re starting a new job, here are dozen things you should do in the interim to set yourself up for success:
1. Get organised and plan your new schedule Minimise the stress of your first week in a new job by taking time to organise your personal life. Finish those projects at home, or with friends. If your work schedule is shifting at all, are you taking on overseas travel. It’s likely you’ll be working more in the next six months. It’s important to organise things like childcare, household responsibilities, and your personal routine.
2. Disconnect. Take advantage of not having to be reachable during the day, and stop checking your email or looking at Facebook for an afternoon or two it gives you a chance to reset your brain.
3. Maintain your network. Before starting a new job, take the time to ensure that you are maintaining the relationships you had formed at your previous job. Make sure you have contact information for the people that you worked with in the past, and plan on checking in with them on a regular basis once you’re in your new role.
4. Catch up with friends and family. You might not have a chance to do lunches or coffee with people for the first few months bedding into your new job, so your break is a great time to do these. When you start any new job you should expect to work longer hours — at least the first several months. So utilise time between roles to make the most of being at home.
5. Take a mini-vacation. Whether you can get away for a night or a week, take a trip somewhere to recharge, see new sights, and take full advantage of your time off, you’ll probably not be able to take leave for the first six-months.
6. Research your new company. Sure, you researched the company while you were job hunting. But there’s a difference between being a candidate research and sh*t I’m the boss now research. In today’s competitive job market, the more senior the position, the more you will be scrutinised in those first few months. You’ll be expected to hit the ground running versus spending time learning the ropes. Get a head start by researching the industry and the company, and learning as much as you can about the position and the team you will be working with.
7. Set new near-term personal and professional goals. Presumably, this role will be a step in your career plan. Give some thought to what you want to do differently from the start in this new job. Time to make new habits or break old bad habits. Are you going to try to wake up earlier and get to the gym a couple of days a week? Are you going to try to schedule a networking lunch outside of the office once a month? Use this time to establish your next stage plan.
8. Reflect on your long-term career goals. During this rare lull between jobs, think about where you are headed. Where do you want to be in five years? In 10 years? How will this job help you get there?
So those are the top eight things I’d suggest to my friend he uses his week between jobs to do. And here’s a bonus two…
Update your social media profiles. Be sure that your LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook profiles are up-to-date with your new company and title.
Schedule appointments and run errands. Your break between jobs is the perfect time to schedule doctor appointments and deliveries that require you to be home, and to run any errands that may be difficult to get done once you start your new job.
Worried that it may be difficult to get back into the swing of things if you’re too relaxed during your time off? Don’t worry, enjoy some time away. Then start into your new role with a new outfit, fresh outlook, and a plan.
What did you do between jobs? Why not share your wisdom with us?
where was this article when I was between jobs.
I started the day after I finished my old job, the new boss said they wanted me quick, but I didn’t do much for my first two weeks… but i was behind on all the things I had put off when I was serving notice in my old job.
Is good advice
H.
Having recently moved jobs, yes I started right away and I should have taken this suggestions and had a spare week in between. What with kids exams, new job, errands to run- that week would have been useful. I feel as though Im in a rut already and ive only been in my new job two months.