Setting yourself up for success in the New Year

It’s December! Soon, we will be saying goodbye to this year and welcoming in the new year! 

This past year you may have experienced a drastic career change due to a layoff, furlough, or workforce reduction or you are hanging on to and grateful for your current job. 

Whatever your case may be, now is the time to set yourself up for success in the New Year!

Action Items

• Search for the job you want next.

  Spend some time on LinkedIn, Indeed.com, or Idealist.org and seek out the type of role you picture for yourself in the future. Save it, print it, paste it on your 2022 vision board. It’s time to kickstart the law of attraction and let the universe know you are ready to activate your career.

• Update your resume!

  The best time to update your resume is BEFORE you need it. Take time to catalog all your past accomplishments, review your performance reviews, and consult with a professional resume writer. Creating an optimized, professional, modern, job-getting resume takes time. Do it now so that is ready when you need it. 

• Find a mentor.

  Mentors can be your sounding board, personal consultant, advocate, cheerleader, and truth talker. Review your LinkedIn connections, past and former colleagues, or industry leaders to find the best person to support you and your career goals. 

• Create a career action plan.

  “A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.” I love this quote. Spend time during the rest of 2020 and develop a step by step plan for your career. Focus on what you wish to accomplish in the first 90 days of 2021 and then continue to update your plan each quarter. 

• Be kind to yourself.

  For many of us, this has been a tough year.  You may not be exactly where you hoped to be at the end of 2020. It’s ok. Now is the time to reflect, rethink, regroup, and recharge. And most importantly, move forward into the new year.