You’re Hired! Now What? – Targeted Job Search [Updated]

You’re Hired! Now What?

You have just been hired for your dream job! Well, maybe not your dream job, but the next step in your career. You have followed all of the steps in the targeted job search.

Before you read on, this is the sixth in this series on the Targeted Job Search. If you have not read the series, this is a good time to go back to the beginning and read the entire series.

You’re done — right??

I grew up in the day when we expected jobs to last 10, 15, 20 or more years. Today, a job may last three years. Let me lay out a timeline and strategy for you.

The First 90 Days Book

I recommend all of my clients get the book The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, Updated and Expanded by Michael Watkins.  (affiliate link)

I coach my clients through the first 90 days of their new job using the methodologies presented in this book. It is intended for C-level executives (CEO, COO, CFO, …) but the methods work for just about everyone at just about every level.

Six Weeks

It typically takes six weeks into a new job to understand what you are doing and start setting goals. I commonly joke it takes six weeks to just find the bathroom on a regular basis.

Create a calendar entry on the six-month anniversary date of your hire. In that calendar entry, document some realistic goals for the first six months on the job. As you will find this is a repeating theme.

Six Months

You are now six months into your new job. You have been drinking from a firehose for the last six months. It is very difficult to appreciate how much you have learned and accomplished when you are drinking from a fire hose.

Review the goals you set. Did you accomplish everything?

Reflect back on the previous six months. What did you learn and what new skills have you acquired?   You really need to take the time and reflect back on what you learned and accomplished.

I really want you to let all of this sink in and appreciate how difficult the first six months on the job can be. Typically, you have a new boss, team, and responsibilities which is a lot to absorb.

Now is the time to update your LinkedIn profile and resume. Do it NOW!

You must get in the habit of regularly updating your LinkedIn profile and resume because you can become a turkey at any moment. If you are not sure what I mean by becoming a turkey please read my post  Looking at Your Career from a Turkey’s Perspective.

Create a calendar entry on your one-year anniversary date of your hire. In that calendar entry, document some realistic goals for the next six months on the job.

One Year

You have now been in your new job for one year. Hopefully, you are no longer drinking from a fire hose and have gotten yourself into a groove.

Review the goals you set. Did you accomplish everything? Did you set realistic goals?

Reflect back on the previous six months. What did you learn, what new skills have you acquired and what did you accomplish?

Just like at the six month anniversary, I want you to let this sink in. I want you to be able to appreciate what have learned and accomplished and feel good about yourself. Take time to smell the roses.

Update your LinkedIn profile and resume. Do not wait and do it NOW!

Create a calendar entry on your eighteen-month anniversary date of your hire. In that calendar entry, document some realistic goals for the next six months on the job.

Update your target list!

Eighteen Months

You have now been in your new job for eighteen months.

Review the goals you set. Did you accomplish everything?

Reflect back on the previous six months. What did you learn, what new skills have you acquired and what did you accomplish?

Update your LinkedIn profile and resume.

Create a calendar entry on the two-year anniversary date of your hire. In that calendar entry, document some realistic goals for the next six months on the job.

Update your target list!

Start strategically networking for your next job

I know you are probably saying to yourself what about loyalty to the company. Let me ask you whether when hard times come will the company be loyal to you? I bet not!

The idea is to establish a pattern. Even though you start working your target list at eighteen months, it does not mean you will leave. What you are doing is making yourself a good passive candidate. I want you to be prepared to leave whenever you need to leave.

When a position does become available, you want to know about it.

If your company is acquired, you want to be prepared to move on if the culture changes.

You think that your job search has ended. Well, it really never ends. You should stay in permanent job search mode. That is the only way you can protect yourself from creative destruction.

If you think your job is safe from AI, Automation or Robots you are smoking something and you are probably inhaling.

Are you ready for a targeted job search?

To read the rest of the Targeted Job Search series click here.