New Year, New Professional You :: 5 Tips for Success

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New Year, New Professional You :: 5 Tips for Success | Columbia SC Moms Blog

A new year kicks off and we begin to embark on achieving our New Year’s resolutions, there may be a resolution your forgot to make – getting your professional self together! Never fear, there is still plenty of time! Here, are five tips for how to make this your best professional year yet!

1. Your Resume

When was the last time you looked at your resume? Better yet, when was the last time you revised your resume? Your resume is your professional self on paper. It is YOUR marketing tool. So, you want to make sure it is a great representation of your skill set and what you can offer an employer. Make sure everything is neat, clean, and typo free. Sell yourself in bullet points under each experience you have had. Each bullet point should always start with an action verb (i.e.: supervised, taught, collaborated, etc.) and should highlight your skills.

There are 2 good exercises I encourage with resumes:

  1. Find a position you want to apply for and highlight all the skills/qualifications they are looking for that you have. In the margin, write down where you got that skill and how. Be sure to represent this on your resume in your bullet points!
  2. Give your resume to a friend/family member for 12 seconds. After the 12 seconds is up, ask them what they remember about your resume. Are they remembering what you want them to remember? If not, how can you get them to? Employers do not look at resumes for that long, so you want to make sure those 12 seconds count.

2. Network

Make this the year you meet people! “Networking” can be a terrifying word. It is intimidating and scary. But it doesn’t have to be. “Networking” is relationship building; simple as that! Get out of your comfort zone and go to an alumni event at your alma mater. Go to a local event where you know you will meet other professionals in the area. Update your LinkedIn profile and make connections with people you’d be interested in talking to. You can also ask your friends/family/colleagues who they know that you may want to get to know. I love the saying “it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you” and that is very powerful! So, get out there and build some relationships!

3. Professional Development

This can be as simple as reading an article relevant to your career or it can come with more planning such as attending a professional conference. If your work allows and provides you funds to attend conferences, take advantage of those! If you cannot attend a professional conference, see about becoming a member to a professional organization. Membership often comes with great benefits such as receiving publications, access to networking events, and inclusion on listservs.

4. Learn Something New

There are so many awesome opportunities to learn something new (especially in Columbia!). Check out the Richland Library for a whole bunch of workshops from gardening to couponing to origami to home DIY projects (and everything in-between!). While you’re at the library, check out a book to learn something new. If you’re wanting to get back in the classroom, Midlands Technical College and the University of South Carolina offer lots of different courses. Learning something new not only adds to your skillset but can also be another great way to network.

5. Set Goals for Yourself

When setting goals, I always follow the SMART goal method (S: Specific, M: Measurable, A: Attainable, R: Realistic, T: Timely). This approach helps set you up for success. To remain accountable, share your goals with someone else. Things come up (that’s life) so checking-in frequently can help you see where you’re at and change things accordingly without getting too far off your mark.

What tips would you add to the list?

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Ashley Byrd-White
Ashley Byrd-White identifies as a Yankee-Carolinian who was born and raised in the tundra of Upstate, New York but currently calls the Midlands her home. She began her professional career in Buffalo, NY in higher education. She continues her dedication to education at USC working full-time as a Career Development Coach to college students. She currently holds a BA in psychology and an Ed.M. in higher education administration. Moving to Columbia, SC 4 years ago so her husband could pursue his teaching career was the most challenging time in her life … until motherhood! She has been together with her high school sweetheart husband, Chad, for 13 years (married for nearly 4). Ashley is a first-time mom as of February 2016 to Oliver. She loves being a mom, is proud of her continuing breastfeeding journey, and is thankful for her mama tribe. Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, drinking coffee and wine, pinning crafts she will never have time to create, and making her son laugh.

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