The “I Just Got A Job” Checklist

Congratulations! You did it! You’ve accepted a job offer, your work clothes are at the dry cleaners, and you’ve circled your first workday on the calendar of your new life. It’s time to celebrate – and tie up loose ends.

Do I add my new position to my resume? 

Unless you’re unhappy with your new job, you probably do not need to add your new position to your resume at the moment. Your resume serves you best when it focuses on your accomplishments and includes quantifiable metrics. Since you just started, it’s unlikely you have accomplished anything yet. With that in mind, don’t forget to keep track of those accomplishments and metrics as they happen because at some point, you will add your current (current!) position to your resume, and if you have a bag of metrics to reach into and make it rain accomplishments, you will be happy you took the time to document your achievements.

What should I do about all the job boards (e.g., Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, etc.) where I have my resume posted?

It’s probably a good time to take down your old resume and make it not visible to employers. There is no reason to spend time deleting all these accounts, but make sure to change the visibility settings. You don’t want your current employer to risk seeing your resume still posted online and questioning if you’re already planning to jump ship. And you’ll probably want to go into your settings and deactivate the notifications and alerts about job opportunities.

What should I do about my LinkedIn profile?

LinkedIn is more than a job board, and your LinkedIn profile is more than a marketing brochure. Your profile should be much more in-depth than your resume. LinkedIn is a unique ecosystem with its own recommended changes to consider once you’ve started a new job.

• If you’ve activated any of LinkedIn’s “Open to Work” features, time to shut them off. That way, your new employer doesn’t think you’re looking for a new job, and neither will recruiters and hiring managers on the hunt.

• Revise and/or remove any language you may have added to your profile about searching for a new job or anything that makes it seem like you’re actively seeking employment.

• Add your new position to your LinkedIn profile. Since you don’t have any accomplishments yet, you’re okay with a one-liner about the new company and a general description of your position.

• LinkedIn Premium (the paid subscription) is a great tool when you’re looking for a job, but it also has other benefits for the happily employed, such as training as well as search capabilities and InMail messages that may be helpful for those in sales and business development. If you find Premium to be an unnecessary expense, this is a good time as any to cancel.

What should I do about other jobs for which I interviewed or am in the process of interviewing?

Contact the appropriate people and close the loop on any other positions for which you are a candidate. That is the professional way to handle it, and it is what you are expected to do. Email is acceptable, but if you’re at the final stage of an interview process, it is better to get on the phone with those involved.

Am I forgetting anything?

Send out your thank you notes! A formal “Thank You” is appropriate for anyone who referred you, or aided you in any way during your job search, whether or not it’s the job you accepted. Expressing proper gratitude is a polite and civilized way of handling your professional relationships and investing in your future.

Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.