Interview Chatter

Whip Cream With A Cherry On Top!

by Darlene McDaniel on December 9th, 2007

So you got a job offer!! Yippee!! ————- Time to celebrate right!? Yes, I would say go to dinner, have some dessert - maybe a sundae, but then what? Are you ready? Can you really do all the things you said you can do? A long time ago, someone said to me, the cream always rises to the top.” I believe that and have lived in my career with that perspective in mind as I go about doing the various jobs I have had the privilege to do over the years. An ice cream sundae is not quite a sundae without the whip cream and cherry on top. I want to encourage you that your job search may be over, but there are a few things you should consider to wrap up your job search. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind to wrap up your job search:

 1. Write Thank You Notes to all of the appropriate people. Every interviewer you met with, gets a Thank You Note. Anyone in your network that helped you get your foot in the door or who helped get you in front of the right person, gets a Thank You Note.

2. Give Yourself Feedback about this process. What went well and what could you do differently? Ask for feedback. Write down lessons learned and apply them when you are in the midst of your next job change - job search.

3. Keep your resume dusted off and updated! That may sound shocking to you coming from me. But just because you have landed a great offer, doesn’t mean you forget about the next opportunity that may come up for you in the next 2-3 years.

4. Meet new people in your new job opportunity and network with people in your past. Nurture your network. Find someone you can help. You never know, when you may need to tap into your network. Don’t wait until you need your network to connect.

5. Set goals in your new job opportunity. What kind of employee do you want to be? What value will you bring to your new organization. Spend some time thinking about how you want to impact this new organization.

6. Grow! Invest time strengthening your skills and abilities. Go back to school. Learn new skills. Grow! This will position you for your next job search.

So congratulations on your new job!! The new job represents the ice cream! It’s good stuff! But the whip cream and cherry on top will be represented by all the things you do to strengthen yourself and prepare yourself for the next job search. It will come. Whether you want it to or not. We live in a generation of constant turnover, buyouts, layoffs, promotion and demotion. So enjoy the ice cream, but add the whip cream and cherry and enjoy the ride!

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POSTED IN: Feedback, Post Interview, Preparation & Planning