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:
- 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!
- 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.