A huge congratulations to my mentees who have got into new healthcare job roles this month. It's tempting to sit down and relax when you have been offered a new job, or maybe you are already starting to feel the gremlins in your head telling you, you have made a mistake, and you can't pull this off. In today's post, I want to remind you that you really can do this, and you are the best person for the job. So, you can relax. 

However, don't relax for too long and miss the opportunity to strengthen your network before leaving. A job transition is an ideal time to strengthen your professional network.

Rundown this checklist of ideas for extending and deepening your professional relationships as you change employers; after all, you have 1-2 months till you step into your new role if your next job is external.

I can't stress this enough, when leaving your old job, resign as gracefully as possible. Leaving on cordial terms protects your professional reputation and allows you to maintain connections that you might need in the future.

Once you get the offer in writing and you are expecting your references to come through:

1. Prepare your boss. Give your boss a heads up before you submit your formal resignation letter. Schedule a meeting to tell them about your plans and express your appreciation. Try to be as positive as possible.

2. Support your coworkers. Extra work may fall on your colleagues. Minimise the impact by staying productive in your final days and participating in a smooth transition. You might even volunteer to train colleagues you may give a handover. Some job posts go unfilled for a short while after an employee has left.

3. Stay in touch. Some relationships are likely to fade once you no longer work together. On the other hand, you can make specific plans for the contacts you want to keep. Let your boss and office friends know you look forward to seeing them at nursing and health care conferences and events or your private lunch dates.

These strategies have helped me grow my professional network as I have moved along in my career, and I hope they will help grow yours as you start your new job:

1. Give generously. Whether you've been on the job for one day or ten years, the essence of networking is providing value to others. Start sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm as soon as possible.

2. Study the environment. Of course, that also means being respectful of your new setting. Pay attention to the hospital and ward culture and policies, so you'll be able to reach out appropriately. If you work in the community, pay attention to the culture in your organisation and team

3. Bond with your line manager. Your manager is one of the most influential colleagues in your career—schedule time to meet and ask for feedback.

4. Connect with newcomers. Are you the only newbie in your team or organisation, or you are one of many? Share your experiences at induction training sessions and other activities.

5. Consult others. Introduce yourself to others around the organisation. Set up exploratory meetings and coffee dates. Ask lots of questions and take an interest in their work.

6. Identify key players.Establish priorities and spend time engaging with those in your team and other teams in the organisation who have the most significant impact on accomplishing those priorities. If you have the golden opportunity to join the organisation and your predecessor is still with the organisation, set up a coffee meeting. They may be an excellent source of recommendations. Don't forget tofind out who the opinion leaders are.Your manager may be an excellent source of advice too.

7. Branch out. Think long term. You may find valuable contacts outside of your department or in other organisations in the system. Crossing organisational boundaries can help you to do your job more effectively and help you discover new passions in your career.

8. Pace yourself. While you may be brimming over with excitement, be sensitive to your colleagues' workloads and schedules. A gradual approach will protect your popularity.

Skillful networking will enable you to succeed at your new job and keep growing in your career. Focus on helping others and building relationships based on shared goals and values.

 I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you on getting into your new role. You have worked brilliantly, and you are the one for the job! Enjoy it.

 Did you know that you can join our Limitless Nurse Membership to help you grow your leadership and management potential as you move forward in your new role? You can learn more about it here.