Hooray! Your job search is OVER. You just landed the most wonderful job.
You would think that there were some important “lessons learned” during the time in transition. But, for many executives, it’s back to “business as usual.”
This translates to:
1. Don’t bother letting your network know your new contact information. After all, you landed and you don’t need them anymore. Besides, these individuals knew you at a very vulnerable time in your life and you don’t want to associate with “those people”.
2. Don’t bother returning the phone calls of individuals who are still in transition. You’re “too busy” in your new role to care about them. Sure, they may feel rejected, but so what.
3. Never, ever return the phone call from a search consultant. They’re probably just calling because they want your business.
4. Stop going to networking meetings. Your time is too valuable to waste it meeting your peers.
An executive that I’ve known for many years was treated in the above manner when he was in a job search. He swore he would never treat anyone the way he was treated. He’s currently in a very senior role for a major financial institution. He’s responsive and returns phone calls and e-mails. It really doesn’t take very long to return a call or answer an e-mail, yet it creates a strong feeling of good will. He devotes a few hours per week (after business hours) to meet with an executive in transition and offer his advice and counsel. He always returns calls from search consultants. They’re a wonderful source of information on what’s happening in his profession and they can offer insights into his personal career management. He continues to go to one or two networking meeting per month to keep his contacts “fresh” because “hey – you never know when you’ll need them”.
We’d be interested in hearing your story about how you changed your attitude, behaviors, etc., after you landed your fabulous job.