BLT #24 | Starting a new gig with confidence.

Picture this: you've been working hard for months trying to land a new role. You've sent dozens of applications, had multiple interviews, and have finally have an offer in hand! You're elated, you sign the offer, and then you wonder....Now what?

WE BELIEVE:

Your onboarding starts before your first day.

We see it happen all the time: someone finally signs an offer for a new gig and then things go radio silent between them and the hiring manager before their first day. Managers often say that they don't want to have someone "work" before their first day, and employees often say they don't want to "burden" their manager with questions before they're fully onboard. Both sides are well intended, but we believe that there is more to gain by lightly keeping in touch between the day you sign and the day you start. We call this the pre-boarding period.

SOMETHING WE LOVE:

Taking control of your own pre-boarding.

In a dream world, a hiring manager has a beautifully designed pre-boarding process to keep you engaged and connected before your first day. However, the more likely reality is that they're busy, potentially distracted, and simply haven't had the time to really build out this process. That's why we love when folks take control of their own pre-boarding experience: it signals that you're confident in ambiguity and that you take initiative to set yourself up for success.

YOU SHOULD TRY:

Connecting once a week during pre-boarding.

Generally speaking, one touch point a week leading up to your first day is a healthy cadence. Each touch point should show that you're taking proactive action to get ready for the role, and offer up space for them to make suggestions. That may sound like this:

"Hi Raj,

We've got two weeks left until my first day! I'm really excited.

As we get closer to my start date, I've been doing some work on my end to make sure I'm as up to speed as possible. I read through the company's website and feel like I have a strong sense of the direction we're going and the leadership team at the helm. I'm going to continue learning more over the next two weeks with what's publicly available, and if there's anything specific you think would be helpful for me to get ahead of, let me know!"

Outside of researching the company during your pre-boarding period, you can also:

• Make sure you've got a copy of your new job description saved, and (if applicable), start to brainstorm some ideas for how you'll tackle some of the early work in your new roles.
• Say hello and connect with new teammates on LinkedIn.
• Pre-game your calendar for the next few months and note down any trips or prior commitments that you'll want to let your manager know about when you start.
• Get ahead of any HR paperwork if applicable, such as requesting and reviewing a Benefits overview so you can quickly make your elections when you start.
  

Regardless of how much time you have between signing an offer and your first day, taking charge of your pre-boarding experience will help set you up for success on day one and beyond.

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