The past couple months have been super busy over here on a professional front, with me leaving my previous job and moving on to an exciting new position. While I don’t write much about my work-life, I did think that this could be a great chance to share a few of my tips on getting all your ducks in a row when making the jump.
Tip #1: Use Your Benefits to the Fullest
Once you’ve made your decision, it is a great time to maximize your current benefits before they expire. Most health insurance policies end shortly after you leave a job, so be sure to use them while you can. Schedule your annual check-ups, dental cleanings and other appointments before your last day – especially if you’re already up to or close to your deductible. We hit our deductible by August this year, so in September we had ALL the doctor’s appointments and refilled all our prescriptions!
Tip #2: Take Advantage of PTO and Sick Days
Before giving your notice, check your PTO balance and see if you can use some time for things like personal appointments, mental health days or even a short vacation if you’re feeling burnt out. In my case, I had vacation time that would be paid out when I left… but any sick time would be forfeited. So, it made sense to use those sick days to knock out my doctor’s appointments. Even better – I got them all finished BEFORE I put in my formal notice of resignation.
Tip #3: Book Personal Appointments
When you start a new job, you may want to hold off on taking time off for a while as you settle into your new position. I planned my transition by ending my previous job on a Wednesday, so I could use the rest of the week getting items off my ‘to do’ list, like an annual meeting with my kid’s school and a haircut for myself. Now I’m all set until the new year!