Career To Do's for the New Year
Career To Do's for the New Year
The start of a new year is a common time when people talk about
making changes, particularly when it comes to their jobs.
Whether you are seriously ready to make a move or you are still
thinking about it, these 5 "Career To Do's" will help get your
year started off right.
1. Update your resume. In today's uncertain economy, you need
to be ready to move at a moment's notice. If your company were
to close today, how long would it take you to prepare for a job
search? When was the last time you updated your resume? Do you
remember every assignment or special project you've worked on
over the past year? Can you recall all of the classes or special
training you've received? Every year, at least twice a year,
invest some time in updating your resume. Use performance
evaluations and job descriptions to ensure you are accurately
demonstrating your skills and accomplishments in the most clear,
concise, and flattering manner.
2. Network, network and network. Nobody likes a person who only
calls when they want something. Don't put yourself in a position
of not having a job and needing to reach out to old colleagues
and acquaintances that you haven't talked to in 5 years. Now is
the time to nurture those relationships. Join or renew your
membership to a professional organization, subscribe (and
contribute) to an industry journal or newsletter, send former
co-workers a "hello" note. Should you ever find yourself looking
for a new job, your network is already in place and ready to
work for you.
3. Review old goals and set new ones. Ships don't set a course
at the beginning of a journey then sit back and hope they reach
their destination. Instead they periodically check their
position and make adjustments as needed. Planning your career
success is no different. Last year, what were your goals? What
position were you hoping to be in? How much money were you
expecting to make? Take some time to compare your current
situation with what you were hoping for last year. What
adjustments do you need to make?
4. Get a real performance evaluation. No matter how high your
self-esteem is or how great you think you are, the reality is
that your success is highly dependant upon how other people
perceive you. If your company does not do periodic performance
reviews ask for one. And don't just seek praise (although that
may be useful information when it comes time for a salary
adjustment), but also get 2 or 3 areas for improvement. Ask for
specific suggestions and follow up in a few months to check your
progress. Performance evaluations are not only useful for
finding your weaknesses, but should you find yourself in a job
interview, you can use specific examples from your review to
highlight your strengths.
5. Invest in your personal development. Take a class. Attend a
conference. Learn a new computer program. The minute you stop
trying to improve yourself is the minute you stop growing. Your
personal success will depend upon you making an investment of
time and sometimes money. Even if your company does not offer
any training, its worthwhile to make the investment in yourself.
And if your company does offer any kind of training, then (and I
apologize for the insult) you'd be a fool not to take advantage
of it.