Preparing For New Job Portland OR

You've just hung up the phone after accepting a job offer, putting an end to a nerve-racking search. Since your start date is six weeks away, you can just kick back and enjoy yourself until then, right? Wrong.

OK, you can take a few days off to decompress and put your head back on straight. But there are still several things you can do in the following weeks to prepare yourself personally and professionally for your new career.

Stay in Touch

Let's say you accept a job offer early in the semester, several weeks or even months before you're scheduled to start. Don't fall off of the face of the earth until your first day at work. Keep in touch with your employer. This doesn't have to be anything formal or elaborate, just a simple phone call, email or letter to let them know how things are going with you. If you have six weeks before you start, contact your employer five weeks, three weeks and one week before you show up in person.

Since employers may hire dozens of graduates, this communication will keep your name fresh on their minds and reinforce that they made the right decision hiring you. You are laying the groundwork for your professional reputation and staying in touch before your first day will create an excitement about you. Plus, most employers are busy and love to be reminded that someone will soon be helping with their workload.

Start Studying

Ask your employer if there is anything that you should look at, read or do to prepare for your position. Is there a software program you can brush up on? Are there any competitors that you can study? Is there a trade journal or industry publication that you can read? Is there a professional organization that is sponsoring a meeting you can attend? Are there any manuals, brochures, press releases or anything else that you can review beforehand to help you get a feel for the company so you can get up to speed more quickly? There might not be anything, but by asking, you are making an impression that you are eager to learn and willing to do what it takes to improve....