13 things successful people do between jobs

Flickr/soundmanThey relax.

Suppose you were just offered a new job and the company is fairly flexible with your start date. How much time should you take, if any, between gigs? And what should you do with that time?

Career and workplace experts suggest taking at least one week off to allow yourself to refresh, recharge, and refocus- but some say two weeks is ideal, if you can swing it.

Cali Williams Yost, CEO of Flex+Strategy Group/Work+Life Fit, Inc., blogger, and author of "TWEAK IT: Make What Matters to You Happen to You Every Day," says taking time off can help you mentally prepare for this next big chapter in your life. "There is always a learning curve, and you'll want to be your best and freshest when you start."

Taking some time between jobs also gives your brain a chance to take a break, to process leaving your old job (which can be pretty emotional, whether you loved or hated it), and to prepare for all the new challenges to come, adds Sara Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of FlexJobs.

If you're starting a new job, here are 13 things you should do in the interim to set yourself up for success: