You've landed your new position - you have an offer in hand! You want to tell absolutely everybody, but should you ? ? ?Chances are, if you have been looking for a job, in today's tough, tough employment market, you are
working really hard at your job search. And, when you find a lead, that turns into a real, potential opportunity, and it turns into a bona-fide offer, you've succeeded! You want to race out and tell everyone! You want to celebrate, and want everyone who has helped along the way to share in your success. But, instead, WAIT A WHILE!
Hard as it may be to keep your great news private a little longer, a better tack to take is to calm down, share your good news confidentially with only a select few "trusted" confidants and supporters, and wait a while.
What are you waiting for? That first paycheck from your new firm!
A Phenomenon of landing a job - I've seen it time and time again
In the many years during which I have coached job seekers, I have seen a phenomenon occur:
- Job seekers received the long-awaited, coveted offer, and they believe they are all set.
- Believing they are now all set and ready to go to their new job, or new role, they call and e-mail their entire network, family, and friends and share the good news.
- And then, . . . . . . . the unthinkable . . . the job falls through!
- Now, you're stuck, again, without a job. What do you do?
It's one of the mysteries of the job seeking world - Job offers appear and then - poof -- disappear! The firm, or organization, that extended the offer . . . . . rescinds it. They are very sorry, and wish you the best of luck, but that doesn't solve your problem, does it? And, . . . you don't have a job - again.
Why does this phenomena occur? In most cases, firms make the offer with good intentions of bringing you on board as a employee. but then, things happen in the hiring companies that affect the open position. Here are some reasons that jobs go away:
- Companies, and organizations, change their minds! . . . . . Due to any number of reasons, including reassessment of staffing costs, a chance in priorities and therefore the skills needed by the firm, they decide to eliminate the job. And, along with it, you - the collateral damage of their staffing decision.
- The employee changes their mind! . . . . . The departing employee, who had previously filled the position, decides to stay. Viewing this change in events from the company's viewpoint, it is more cost-effective to let them return to the role that taking on a new employee who will need time, and possibly training, to be as productive as one who had been there . . done that when it comes to performing the job.
- Job combining occurs. . . . . The firm reassesses how this particularly function is done, and decides that it can be done by in-house staff, if they divvy up the job duties and assign 1 or 2 duties to a few staff members.
- The need goes away! . . . . An anticipated contract is not won, or predicted product/service expansion doesn't occur. Either way, the need for your services goes away. There's no job for you to do!
- The Chairman's daughter graduates! . . . . The Chairman's, or CEO's, or a popular manager's, just a valuable team member's family member graduates from college, and needs a job. Sorry, they win out over you! Yes, Virginia, . . . nepotism does exist!
Almost as important, recognize that it is not personal to you. Happens all the time. However, what is more important, is to know that it can happen and how to handle an offer!
However, what is important to this discussion, is to recognize that jobs do go away.
Almost as important, recognize that it is not personal to you.
How to handle the potentially-disappearing offer!
Certainly, when you receive a job offer, or even a promise of an offer, you're first inclination is to tell everyone. Your second inclination is to shut down your search. Don't do either one. Here's why:
STRATEGY 1: Don't tell the people in your network about your offer . . . just yet.
Why? They will stop helping you. Leads to new positions, introductions and referrals to members of their network will cease. Why? Because in their eyes, you're now OK. You have a job! As the previous discussion shows, that may or not be the case.
Action to take while you wait: I know you've got to tell someone! You want to share the good news!
- So, select one or two confidantes who you know have only your best interest at heart and share the news with them; also share the need, during the short-term, to keep the information confidential and why.
- Use this time to prepare your "Thank You" e-mails and calls to the members of your network. When you are ready to announce your new job, you'll be ready!
STRATEGY 2: Don't shut down your search.
Why? The answer is pretty obvious! If your offer goes away, you will need to re-start your search. Recall, the effort it took to begin your search. Don't put yourself back in that boat.
Action to take while you wait: Keep your search going!
- Although you may not want to pursue new jobs with the intensity you did prior to receiving your offer, still continue to seek out and apply for interesting opportunities.
- Continue to network.
- Continue to attend your professional association meetings and your Job Search Work Team meetings.
- Keep an eye on on-line listings and network, apply for interesting ones.
STRATEGY 3: Don't announce your new role as you begin your new job.
Why? Give yourself time to begin the new job, gain familiarity with your new role and environment, and assess its fit for you.
Action to take while you wait: Work in the job a couple of weeks and see how it fits!
- Announce your new job to your network after you receive your first paycheck. Not only will you be safer in delaying announcing your job, but waiting a couple weeks will give you a little more information to share about your new role.
- If you have doubts, delay a bit longer - till your 2nd paycheck. Give yourself time to assess how you feel about the job; decide if it is a good career move or a mistake.
NOW, Shout it from the rooftops!
Summing it up, don't move too hastily in announcing that you have found a new job and that your job search is over. Instead, give yourself the luxury of a little more time, generally a couple of weeks, to gather your thoughts, gain knowledge about your new job and how it works for you, prepare your success announcement to your network, and then, feel free to . . . . . shout it from the rooftops! Congratulations on your success!
For additional information on marketing yourself and your capabilities, please refer to the many articles found under the Articles tabs of the AJC–Career Strategy website.
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Linked In: www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-c-gober/6/14b/965
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