You just got a new job! Now, it’s time to sit back, relax, and … start working on your resume, networking, and personal branding!
You’re probably thinking, “But wait! You’re confused! I just GOT a new job! Those are the things you do BEFORE you get a new job!”
Well, you’re right. And you’re also wrong.
Once you land a new position, the best thing you can do to drive consistent career growth is to begin preparing for your next one – whether you think it will be an internal promotion, an external promotion, or a lateral move. Many professionals I work with say they haven’t had to prepare a resume in years. Why? Because jobs just seem to fall in their laps. But, if you look at the habits of these people closely, they are consistently doing what it takes to attract a pipeline of opportunities and offers. These habits include expanding and fostering their networks, updating their LinkedIn profiles, recording their accomplishments, and keeping the door open for creative conversations.
Now that you have a new position, you can spark a steady stream of offers by engaging in these habits. Here’s how.
- Set a schedule for updating your personal branding documents and tracking accomplishments. Whether you have a LinkedIn profile, resume, one sheet, bio, all 3, or something else entirely, set a schedule for updating your documents to include new training, certifications, accomplishments, acknowledgments, awards, and experiences. While you might not include everything you’ve done in every branding document you create, doing regular updates can ensure you have “master” documents that reflect all of your skills, accomplishments, and experiences. This way, you can quickly pick and choose from the most relevant information when you are responding to a specific offer or demonstrating your qualifications for a promotion. I recommend that you update your documents at least quarterly. However, I also suggest that you regularly keep track of your wins. You can do this on a daily, weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly basis using tools that work most effectively for you. I am happy to help you create a strategy for tracking your wins that not only helps you stay positive about your career but that also enables you to quickly and effectively keep track of key data about your contributions and experience.
- Dedicate time to in-person and online networking events. Built your network before you need it is one of my most often-repeated mantras. Just because you aren’t actively looking doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend time attending networking events or connecting with folks on LinkedIn. In fact, this is one of the best times to network because when you need an opportunity immediately, networking can be stressful. Allowing opportunities to present themselves more organically can result in more ultimate success (and a more positive reputation across your network). However, keep in mind that consistent action produces consistent results. When you dedicate a consistent amount of time to networking, you will likely produce a consistent pipeline of opportunities and connections. For some professionals, 100% online networking is best. For others, a combination of face-to-face and online networking events is most helpful. Also, how much time you spend networking and what exactly you do during that time depends on your industry, what career stage you are in, and your ultimate goal. However, if you create a strategy and keep with it, you’ll likely find new opportunities arising.
- Get a clear picture of what you want your future to be and how you get there. Exploring, discovery, excitement, and visualization. These are all crucial components of the career development process. Odds are, your vision of your future – both professional and personal – will change throughout your life, and that’s OK. The important thing is that you spend some time thinking about it. This might strike you as strange. Of course, I’ll spend time thinking about my future, you might say. But, I often find that so many professionals are too busy working to spend any real time in earnest thought about their futures. Just like the other recommendations in this article, thinking about your future is best done regularly on a schedule, and it’s helpful when you have a tool that makes your visualization more effective. I recommend journaling, listing, or recording your thoughts. When you think about the future, spend time considering the people you’ve met – especially those in the positions above yours. What do you like about their job duties and their lifestyle? What don’t you like? What other opportunities are open to someone with your career path? Do some informational interviews to find out. Again, the strategy you take will depend on your industry, background, and skills, but the importance of this step is universal.
You can excel in your career by jumping into action, even if you’ve recently landed a job. If you’d like to talk more about how you can stand out in your job and job search, book a free call here: