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.

About the Author

Myrtis Smith, the founder of Premeditated Life is a personal
and career coach. Download her FREE eBook "Your Personal
Success Guide" at www.premeditatedlife.com

 Myrtis Smith

More Articles 

Your IT Career: Certification vs. Experience - Chris Bryant CCIE 12933
Whether you're just starting your Information Technology career, or wanting to get further ahead in your current IT career, you have probably thought about earning one of the many popular computer certifications such as the Cisco Certified Network...

Crucial research to catapult your interview performance and your career - Annemarie Cross
Millions of dollars are spent annually on marketing research by savvy companies aiming to maximize their marketing dollars when showcasing their products and services to their prospective clients. They recognize that to capture the attention of a...

7 Secrets to Make Motherhood a Successful Career - Bill Dueease
Have you been a professional mother (it is a true profession, whether acknowledged or not) but now you find your mothering skills are in less demand? Are the fruits of your efforts, your children, growing up? You will always be their...

Career Management in a Jobless Economy - Rebecca Sohn
Recent news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting anemic job growth in a recovering economy and the election of thousands to quit looking for work continues to baffle the experts and depress the unemployed. If only there were jobs…...

Dog Walkers & Your Career - Ian Christie
I was jogging in the park the other day and noticed a number of professional dog walkers. They had many dogs under their care and the necessary tools of their trade. Nothing remarkable about that. What struck me was a) the number of providers I...

Career Counseling Advice: You Gotta Sell Yourself! - Paul Megan
Don't know how to sell yourself? You'll miss out on the best career counseling advice! It all starts with changing some misconceptions about job search. You see, most of us were given career counseling advice that an interview or a meeting...

Education and changing careers - Dale Lawrence
Education can have many different impacts on your career Your education can have far reaching impacts on your career. For example, educations can influence your career in the following ways: • Educations dictate what career fields you can enter....

THE 10 BIGGEST CAREER CHANGE MISTAKES -- AND HOW TO AVOID THEM - Patricia Soldati
Career change is no walk in the park.   If it was easy, the castle gates would have burst long ago under the stampede of restless corporate warriors. Even with a burning desire to escape, the gritty issues of money and future work loom larger than...

THE SEVEN SECERTS OF SUCCESSFUL CAREERS CHANGERS - Erik Rambusch
1) Self Assessment: What do you have in your background that would indicate you have some natural or learned ability in this direction? Looking back to your high school college days, were you on the debating team or have a lead part in a stage...

CSI Has Made the Study of Forensics an Exciting Career Opportunity - Pat Schraier
Forensics is not just one field of study but encompasses several different disciplines. You first decision is to determine which area most interests you. If you would like to work in a crime lab doing analysis of DNA or drug testing, you need a...

A Career that Makes a Difference - Corbin M Wright
I think I have one of the most important jobs in the world. I didn't realize it at the time, because I took it as a temporary job until, what I thought, a real or permanent job came along. I was an accountant, so I was looking for something...

Career Train Wreck - Jaci Rae
If you've ever felt like your career was heading for a train wreck and didn't know where to turn, look no further than your own mirror. While you will find there are many people in the industry who will help you once you've succeeded, it's a far...