As most of you already know, I started a new job a couple weeks ago! I had a nice three month work hiatus in-between jobs and now I’m feeling refreshed and more ready than ever to tackle a new project. One of the things I thought about a lot during the last few weeks at my old job was what day I wanted to quit. It never really concerned me though to think about what day I wanted to start my next job.
Once I got my job offer and finished negotiating, they asked me to select a start date. I wasn’t given a whole lot of choices since I had to start on a Friday and there was only a 3 week period to choose from but the date I settled on was Nov. 1, 2013. That might seem like a fine day to start a new job, but there were a few hiccups that came with that date that I’m going to share with you.
Some employers might already have a specific day of the week for you to start but a lot of smaller ones have more flexibility. You might as well take advantage of that and start on the day you want.
Never On a Monday
I think Monday is one of the worst days of the week to start a new job. A lot of companies won’t be very well prepared for new hires and by starting on a Monday you could potentially be sitting there all week without a computer or much to do. That actually happened to me at my first job! I started on a Monday and although they had a desk, there was no computer or no phone. That turned into one of the longest weeks of my life!
For whatever reason, most organizations are never really ready for a new employee on Monday. Try asking for a mid-week start date. That way, the company will have a couple days to prepare for your arrival.
When Did You Leave Your Old Job?
During the last couple weeks at my old job, a lot of people asked me why I hadn’t secured a new job before leaving. I really didn’t think it was a big deal since if I was going to get hired, I was going to get hired. I didn’t see what having a job had to do with getting hired for a new job. But either way, it enlightened me to the fact that a majority of people don’t take any time off in-between switching jobs. Nearly everyone I talked to said that they couldn’t afford to do so.
I think taking time off in-between jobs is one of the smartest things you can do but if you’re adamantly against it then why not give yourself at least a couple days off? By starting mid-week or towards the end of the week you’ll at least give yourself a mini break from work.
My Start Date Was a Big Mistake
At the time, I didn’t think much of selecting a Nov. 1 start date but I came across one minor and one major issue. I forgot thatt Nov. 1 is the day after Halloweeen! This wasn’t a huge deal but it would have been nice to be able to go out on Halloween and have some fun. Instead, I still went out but I was designated driver and I had to go home early at 11 pm so that I could be rested for my first day of work.
The bigger issue though turned out to be my health insurance. I kind of figured that I would be enrolled in the company’s health plan the day I started but it turns out that they don’t enroll you until the first day of the following month after your hire date. So if I would have started on 10/31, I would have been covered, but since I started on 11/1, I don’t get coverage until 12/1! It turned out to be kind of a big deal since I’m paying $100 per month for a high deductible plan and I would have paid $0 in premiums through my employer and actually received a $50 employer contribution to my HSA. So it was a $150 swing.
I thought I was pretty smart when I got two free months of COBRA health insurance but this little fiasco put me back in my place. Next time I leave my job and start a new one though I should be fully prepared.
Readers, what day do you think is the best day of the week to start a new job? Would you have pushed your start date back to get health insurance?
-Harry @ PF Pro
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We start people on Mondays, and as you’ve mentioned, it is not the best choice. Everyone’s always running around, not ready for a new person.
I actually have a bit of a project going with HR, I’ll have to see if Tuesday start days might be an option. I think Mondays might be the best for shifters and we tag weekly people on, but I’m not sure.
Yea I really don’t know why companies start people on Mondays since it’s so inefficient. I’d go for a Wednesday or Thursday if I was in charge of hiring.
That’s funny because my employer’s health insurance kicked in on the first 1st of the month you were working there. I could only start on a Monday, so it was really nice that there happened to be a 1st of the month on a Monday in the month I was starting and magic, I got health insurance right away! It was still a bit annoying though because I didn’t get the card in the mail or know my subscriber ID for several weeks despite paying for health insurance that whole month. It was also confusing because our insurance plan year ended at the end of my first month!
Haha I never would have guessed that my company wouldn’t start my insurance until the 1st of the month after I got hired. They didn’t even tell us during the hiring process or even in orientation. I had to call the benefits hotline to find out..
So interesting! I just got a new job and I have to start on Monday. Hopefully they will be ready for me!
Congrats! Small or big company? Seems like the bigger ones are the ones who are less prepared.
Health insurance is the number one reason why I don’t take a significant break between jobs. Every job I’ve had always has a probationary period without health insurance so I have to start sooner so I have it.
You’re right about starting on Mondays though… I need to remember to have a Wednesday start on my next job.
Interesting, did you know about the 2 free months of COBRA insurance you can get though? That should give you a nice month long break and another month before your new health insurance kicks in!
https://yourpfpro.com/get-2-free-months-health-insurance-cobra/
I’ve never actually gotten to choose my own start date, but I’ve notice the past few jobs I’ve had did start me on a Tuesday or Wednesday. I also had one job where I sat around without a computer or phone for a week…it was torture!
Yea that’s how my first job was and it definitely is pretty bad. For my most recent job, I started on a Friday and nearly everything was set up for me, it was pretty nice!
Different companies would have different best start days.
As a manager, I always try to give my new hires a heads-up. For example, to enroll in our 6-month ESPP, there is a cut-off date every 6 months. Missing that date could mean another 6-month wait to obtain the benefit. I always try to provide the relevant information to help the new hire make an informed decision.
That’s nice of you. I wish they would have told me how healthcare worked because then I would have started a week early! Other than that though, they were pretty well prepared for me.
I started on Monday in my last job the company gave me one week to comply all my requirements. My first day was pretty good and also my coworkers are friendly, but my job was only lasted for a year.
Hopefully your new boss is treating you well 😉
I started my current job back on 1985 on a Monday. That was a very bad choice. I was hung over like a dog. I had just finished my Senior design project the day before at Laguna Seca Raceway. It was a high-mileage motorcycle. My team and I had already received our A’s for the project months before that, and had graduated, but the actual competition was the day before I started work. And so, of course we celebrated when the competition was over. I can still remember, 28 years later, the office manager telling me all sorts of small details that went in one ear, and right out the other.
Haha I hate being hungover at work. That’s why I made sure not to drink the night before even though it was Halloween and my friends were out celebrating.
Which day of the week I’d start a new job has never been something that’s crossed my mind! But after reading your article, there are certainly benefits to starting later on in the week.. I’ll keep it in mind when I start a new job!