After landing a new position, take these 2 steps

Published 5:34 pm Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Finally, after months of researching employers, conducting first-rate interviews and sending personalized follow-up letters, you accept a great job. Brimming with excitement, you show up for your first day of work. Shake hands with your coworkers. Learn the policies and procedures. Set up your workspace and establish a daily routine.

Despite your enthusiasm, two concerns loom in the back of your mind: How will you hold on to this new position? How will you respond to an unexpected change? These are important questions, particularly since you are the company’s newest employee in an unpredictable economy. There may be mergers, acquisitions or other business transitions in the future.

But, asking these questions is not enough. You need to answer them. You need to be ready.

The best way to hang on to your job is to adopt a two-step plan.

First, do everything in your power to increase your positioning with your new employer. Get noticed. Prove to your new boss that you’re valuable to the company. Second, continue to perform a few specific job-search tasks behind the scenes. Here’s what I mean:

Step one: Improve your reputation at work.

Before diving in to your responsibilities of a new job, figure out what is required of you. What does your boss expect (and hope for) on a daily and long-term basis? Some jobs have clear milestones and endpoints. Others don’t. If you work in a position with indefinite procedures or hazy outcomes, try to nail down your supervisor’s viewpoint before jumping in to a new project.

Once you understand the expectations, outshine them at every turn! Be diligent. Focus on results. And don’t shy away from hard work. Your roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic will help solidify your employment, and this is essential in an unsteady economy. Finish projects early. Negotiate cost-saving contracts. Win new clients. Search for new ways to cut expenses and improve the bottom line every day.

Step two: Persist in your job search.

Now that you feel established in your new position, you can enjoy it. Just don’t get lazy. Remember that the economy is variable and your boss might not warn you of upcoming changes to the business.

Protect yourself by carrying on with certain aspects of your job hunt. It’s OK to lay off the aggressive job-searching activities, such as contacting recruiters and setting up job interviews. But it’s vital to track your accomplishments in the workplace, update your resume and keep up your relationships in the professional community.

Every time you make a positive difference for your current employer, write it down. Make a note of the project, its challenges and the results you achieved. For instance, if you closed a new sale, document the process, any difficulties that you overcame in order to negotiate the deal, and how much revenue you secured for the company.

Take the time to review your achievement list on a monthly or quarterly basis and transfer the most impressive facts to your resume. Highlight significant projects in your cover letter as well.

At the same time, stay in touch with your network. Update your online profile. Check in with your former boss and colleagues. These people are your future support system. They are your referrals. If you keep them close, you’ll be ready. Just in case.

Contact Eve Nicholas at Eve.GetAJob@gmail.com