Finding a new job is an exciting experience. Indeed, don't forget to celebrate because you deserve it after all your hard work!

Following the celebration, send letters or cards to your network of contacts informing them of your new position and thanking them for their assistance. In turn, you should offer them assistance and support if they require it (and they will, eventually).

The first few weeks of a new job are typically both exciting and stressful. You may have been the "top dog" or an expert in the past, but now you're the "new kid on the block." Or you might find yourself as the person who knows the least about a new technology, procedure, or "the way we do things around here." As you figure out how to fit into your new environment, your new relationships and the unfamiliar corporate culture can be a source of anxiety. You've learned a lot about yourself during your career transition process, including your strengths, preferences, and how you're "wired." You worked hard and successfully "hired your new employer." Now is the time and place to maximize the impact of your self-discovery journey! Make all of the elements you've identified work for you.

Begin by learning about your boss's priorities and the expectations for your new position. However, before you rush to meet these priorities and expectations, make sure you understand the organization's culture, style, and way of doing things.

Building the Future by Learning from the Past

By answering the following questions, you can increase your value to your new employer and your chances of long-term success:

• Do you have any areas where you can improve as you prepare for your next job? If so, what do you need to learn to work more effectively?

• What can you do differently if you were previously laid off or downsized to make yourself more valuable in THIS job? (Learning new skills? Improve your attitude? Exercise more initiative?)

• How will you keep up with job market trends in your field?

• Do you have a clear vision of where you want to be in a year, three years, and five years?

• What can you start doing right now to help you achieve these objectives in the long run?

The Initial 90 Days

Some experts believe that you only have 90 days in a new job to make an impact and leave a lasting impression on people in the organization about you and your leadership abilities. In terms of gaining respect, visibility, and credibility in your new position, you'll either "cut it" or you won't. The precedents you set in your first 90 days will last for the rest of your time at that organization. As a result, the "thumbprint" period is critical.

Here are six priorities to focus on during your first 90 days:

• Develop positive relationships with your new colleagues and good communication habits to keep those relationships going. Be truthful, open, friendly, dependable, and clear.

• Create a reputation for delivering tangible results and keeping promises. Begin a "success file" right away to keep track of your accomplishments, contributions, and positive feedback from others.

• Communicate your plans, progress, and results to your bosses and team. Develop a reputation for setting clear goals and completing projects on time and within budget.

• Begin developing your internal contact network. Develop relationships with everyone in the company, including those at higher and lower levels. Learn everyone's name. Contact the mailman, the security guard, the IT expert, your manager's Executive Assistant, and everyone else! You want solid contacts all around you in a 360-degree arc.

• With your manager, go over and fine-tune your job description. During the first 90 days, sit down and create an Individual Development Plan for yourself and your role, including short-, mid-, and long-term goals. This will ensure that the job you landed becomes the job you love — because you created it!

• Maintain a healthy balance between your professional and personal lives. Make certain that your enthusiasm for your new job does not "go overboard." Family time, hobbies, and "recharging your batteries" are all important parts of maintaining your effectiveness and success.

Conclusion

Getting a new job provides you with incredible opportunities that go far beyond the position itself. You now have the opportunity to design a completely new professional experience for yourself. You can enter the new job with your eyes wide open, fully aware of the situation and completely capable of handling yourself like a winner.

The focus of your attention should extend beyond your day-to-day work tasks as you successfully navigate the new company's politics and culture. This is the approach that is so important — not only for maximizing your chances of success in the first 90 days, but also for long-term career management success!