The 1st thing that you should do if you start a new job is to put your best foot forward. Putting your best foot forward means that you should do your best. You should be on time every day. You should also make sure that you learn your job quickly so that you can get your work done in a timely manner. You are being watched very closely during the first couple months at a new job. You want to show your new employer that they made the right decision by hiring you.
The 2nd thing you should do if you start a new job is to review your benefits package thoroughly. You should go over your medical insurance options immediately. If you’ve been out of work for a while and haven’t had insurance you may want to schedule a physical and also get any medications that you may need to have refilled. You also should check out the type of dental and vision insurance as well. You should also see if your new employer has a 401k or other type of retirement program. You may also want to see if they offer any stock options. One of the previous companies that I worked for offered them. I didn’t know much about stocks at the time, but I signed up for them anyway. Some employees also offer discounts with their benefits package. Some of the discounts could be on things such as hotel rooms, rental cars and cell phone plans.
The 3rd thing that you should do if you start a new job is to create a new budget. In the previous post, I stated that you should eliminate some things from your budget to help you save money during your job loss. With your new job, you may be able to add some of them back. I would only add things back if they are truly needed. That mocha latte every morning isn’t technically needed. Try to keep your expenses as low as possible with your budget. Also, replenish any money you withdrew from your savings during your time of unemployment.
The last thing on my list for today is to live below your means. Some people have the tendency to spend more once they get a new job where they are earning more. Don’t fall for that trap. That’s one of the worst things that you can do. Sometimes people spend more to keep up with the Joneses and other times it’s to buy something for instant gratification. That’s not financially smart at all. Living below your means will allow you to save more money and pay off some debt quicker.
What are some things that you would do if you started a new job?
Jason Butler
Jason Butler is an Atlanta native, as well as businessman, blogger and teacher. Not only is Jason a prolific flipper, marketer, writer and side hustler his number of years in higher education and student support have given him expert knowledge in understanding the economics of the student loan industry.
Good advice. When our son got his first job out of college, we sat down with him and reviewed his retirement and insurance benefits. We convinced him to contribute as much toward retirement as allowed and to take an insurance option that was best for him but (at the time) reasonably priced. Then we helped him create a budget around those items, giving suggestions but ultimately having him create his spending categories and amounts. Obviously over the years his life situation has changed but I think/hope that our earlier advice still provides some guidance.