When Is It Appropriate to Tell People About Your New Job?

Receiving a job offer is the best. Your job search has come to an end, and those feelings of stress and depression have been washed away by a rush of pride now that someone has recognized your value as an employee. You’re pumped to start a brand-new chapter in your life, and you can’t wait to tell the world about it.

But simmer down. We understand the excitement, but there’s an appropriate time to tell people about your new job, and an order in which you want to tell certain people. When is that appropriate time?

When The Job Is Officially Official

Wait until the offer is official and the job locked in—basically, when you’ve signed the paperwork and have a transition plan to move from your old job to the new. You then have free rein to tell the world. Call your parents, tell your friends over drinks, and shout it from the rooftops—or the safety of your (private) Facebook wall.

You should wait until then because you don’t want to tell everyone you’re starting a new job only to have the offer fall through. It is never pleasant to have to discuss why your amazing opportunity didn’t work out, even if through no fault of your own. More importantly, once word gets out, hiring managers may pull back on offers they would have sent your way, believing you’re off the market.

While it’s rare for a job offer to fall through, it does happen, and waiting until your new job is official will give you a safety net to land on.

Order Of Operations

When telling people about your new job, there is a preferred order of operations. Certain people need to know you’re leaving your old job right away, while others can wait until the important work is done.

Here’s the order:

The company making the offer. This may go without saying, but we’re going to say it: Tell the company you plan to accept their offer before you talk to anyone else. It’s the only way you can make it official, negotiate your start date, and ensure you have that safety net we discussed.

Your current boss. As soon as the new job is official, tell your current boss. She will need to prepare for your departure and start searching for your replacement. The more time you can give her the better. Plus, you don’t want her finding out through the office gossip line. Telling her first and face-to-face will make for a much more graceful exit.

Other companies you interviewed with. Yeah, yeah, we know. Far too many hiring managers never reach out to let you know the position has been filled, leaving you waiting anxiously for a callback that will never come. Remember how bad that made you feel? Don’t be that person. Email the hiring managers to let them know you’re off the market, and thank them for their time. This is also a great networking tip. These hiring managers will remember your professionalism and courtesy, which will come in handy if you apply at their company later on.

People who helped you along the way. If someone served as your reference or provided a stellar introduction, then it’s likely they feel at least somewhat invested in your job search and wellbeing. Take some time to personally contact these people to let them know you got the job. Even if it’s not the job they made the effort for, thank them for their time and help, and let them know you appreciate them.

LinkedIn. Since LinkedIn is a business-oriented networking site, it deserves extra consideration. You’ll want to be careful about updating your profile and remember that it isn’t just you, but your relationships with businesses and fellow professionals on display to the world. Wait until you’ve spoken to everyone mentioned above before updating your profile. We recommend the first day of your new job at the earliest. Even then, you’ll want discuss the matter with your new supervisor beforehand. Your employer may want you to wait—for example, until your training is complete or the role is better defined if it’s a new position. You’ll want to accommodate them and start things off right.

With the must-tells out of the way, you can now trumpet to the whole world about your new job. Call your family, have a celebratory night out with your friends, and wallpaper your social media accounts with the good news. Live it up! You’ve earned your moment in the spotlight. Well done! Enjoy your new job.